[17], Routier was represented at trial by lawyer Douglas Mulder. [20] In 2018, the Criminal District Court No. Darlie Lynn Peck Routier (born January 4, 1970) is an American woman from Rowlett, Texas, who was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of her five-year-old son Damon in 1996. Photo exhibits of Darlie and her injuries taken at Baylor University Medical Center and the Rowlett Police Department. Her attorneys advised her not to appear on the witness stand, but she testified anyway and "withered under cross-examination by prosecutor Toby Shook. They decided her injuries were self-inflicted as part of an elaborate effort to stage the crime scene and make it look like an intruder had broken into the Routier home. No valuables were taken. Darlie Routier herself had suffered bruises and cuts to her throat and right arm and was briefly hospitalized. [8] The window sills in the garage had untouched layers of dust, including the window that had been cut, implying that no one had actually climbed through it, and the mulch in the flower beds between the garage and the backyard gate was undisturbed. If you would like to support the efforts of Darlie’s defense team — and to be clear, her attorneys are all unpaid volunteers — you can contribute to the cause via PayPal at the Donate link above. Please take time to learn about Darlie’s case. While the police contended that this was merely a ruse designed to falsely implicate an intruder had fled the scene, the defense contended that it proved Routier could not have committed the crime. [23], In June 2011, Darin Routier filed for divorce from his wife, saying that the decision was mutual and "very difficult," and that he still believes his wife is innocent. In short, Darlie is clearly exaggerating her injuries. As of 2020, testing is still ongoing.[2]. Police arrived within three minutes of the 9-1-1 call. [4] They discovered a window screen in the garage had been cut, which indicated a possible entry point for an intruder. Family members point out that the newscasts did not show an earlier video that depicted a solemn ceremony honoring the children. I did the only thing I knew to do to honor him and give him all his wishes because he wasn't here anymore. [16], The prosecution also suggested there was a financial motive for the murders since both boys had a life insurance policy on them. Almost immediately, however, the investigators concluded that it was Darlie herself who had murdered her children.

Ever since that conviction, a team of new attorneys has been working to obtain a new trial and establish her innocence. She has also been charged with capital murder in the death of her six-year-old son, Devon, who was murdered at the same time as Damon. Throughout the book Cruz collaborates with a former FBI special agent on her examination of the case. [15] Crime scene consultant James Cron testified that evidence suggested the scene inside the Routier residence had been staged. Their telling of the story was thorough and compelling. [13] Her youngest son, 7-month-old Drake, was asleep upstairs with her husband Darin at the time of the murders; both escaped harm. To donate to Darlie's Defense Fund that is managed by her defense attorneys, please click. Two appeals filed by Routier, who maintains her innocence, based on allegations of irregularities during the trial were denied, but new DNA tests were ordered multiple times after technology had advanced. Darlie, who had suffered serious injuries herself, including a knife cut on the throat, asked Waddell if any of her jewellery was stolen. "Series Premiere – Darlie Routier: The Crime", This page was last edited on 30 September 2020, at 08:33. [citation needed], The CBS News series 48 hours episode sub-titled Precious Angels is derived from the true-crime book, of the same title, authored by Barbara Davis, which first aired August 10, 2001. The state’s case was circumstantial, arguing that Darlie must have committed the crime because there was no conclusive proof of an intruder in the home. Damon was alive when the paramedics arrived on the scene and the medical examiner testified that the boy could only have survived approximately eight minutes after receiving his injuries. She also told Waddell that she had touched the knife that was used to kill her children, implanting her own fingerprints on it. [21], In June 2008, Routier was granted the right to new DNA tests. Police, and lead prosecutors Greg Davis and Toby Shook, claimed the crime scene was staged and Darlie inflicted her injuries upon herself. [12] Routier was treated at a hospital and released two days later.
All donated funds will be used to further the investigation of the case, and no donations will ever be paid to her attorneys. For Darlie Routier Site Support site, maintained by Darlie’s mom, with case files, legal information, and ways to help. [36][37], The Investigation Discovery network aired the Werner Herzog's series On Death Row episode sub-titled: "Darlie Routier" that covered the case in Season 2, Episode 2, first aired: September 10, 2013. Darlie is on death row in Texas for a crime she has steadfastly maintained she did not commit. [19], Routier was convicted of murdering Damon. The defense also questioned why, if she killed her sons to preserve her lavish lifestyle, she left her youngest son, 7-month-old Drake, alive and unharmed. However, an unknown fingerprint was found on the windowsill that did not belong to anyone in the family. To bolster that circumstantial case, the prosecution relied on a strategy of character assassination, calling witness after witness to testify that Darlie was a bad and trashy person.

The jury found Routier guilty of the murder of Damon, and sentenced her to death by lethal injection. In fact, Charles Linch met with Darlie on June 11th. [38], An American Broadcasting Company (ABC) seven-episode documentary series, The Last Defense examines the death row cases of Darlie Routier and Julius Jones. Their mother, Darlie Routier, was seriously injured in the same attack, suffering multiple knife wounds that included a brutal slash across her throat that went right up to her carotid artery. [27], In the 2015 book Dateline Purgatory: Examining the Case that Sentenced Darlie Routier to Death journalist Kathy Cruz engages legal experts for their assessments on Routier's trial transgressions and highlighting the controversies of the death penalty conviction. They also stated that, despite her injuries, Routier's blood was not found in the garage or anywhere outside the home. Their mother, Darlie Routier, was seriously injured in the same attack, suffering multiple knife wounds that included a brutal slash across her throat that went right up to her carotid artery. Their reasoning for this conclusion included the following factors: The murder weapon came from the house. Investigators said that the garage contained no blood drops, and added that indications were that no one had run through there at all. https://youcouldbewrong.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/dr-06262015103716.pdf, List of women on death row in the United States, List of women executed in the United States since 1976, "Fingerprints in Routier case to be tested | News, Sports, Jobs – Altoona Mirror", "Family of Darlie Routier believes that DNA testing could prove her innocence", https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/maybe-darlie-didnt-do-it/, https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2019/05/11/did-darlie-routier-kill-her-kids-doubts-remain-two-decades-later/, https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2018/06/12/5-controversial-moments-case-sent-darlie-routier-death-row-sons-murder, https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2018/06/19/5-controversial-moments-in-the-case-that-sent-darlie-routier-to-death-row-for-her-son-s-murder/, "Doctor recalls Routier's 'superficial' wounds", "Trial Transcripts, Testimony of Dr. Alejandro Santos, pg. [7], Routier told police that the assailant escaped through the garage. In the early morning hours of June 6, 1996, six-year-old Devon Routier and his five-year-old brother, Damon, were stabbed and killed in the family room of their home in Rowlett, Texas. Had she have sustained life threatening injury, Darlie Routier would have immediately been Use the site map located here, the search tool below, or click on the headers at the top of the page to navigate the site. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. All evidence inconsistent with Darlie’s guilt — including a bloodstained sock found 75 yards outside the home — was simply incorporated into their snap judgment that she had staged the scene to make it look like someone else was responsible. [28][29], The February 2017 book Bloodstained Justice: The Darlie Routier Story by Wanda G. Davis, documents Darlie Routier's family members' arguments that crucial evidence was overlooked by authorities during her trial. [6] After picking up the knife and chasing him away, Routier said she realized that she and her children had been wounded and that she called 9-1-1. [20], Defense attorneys allege numerous errors were made during Routier's trial and in the official transcript of it, as well as the investigation of the murders, especially at the crime scene. She described the attacker as a white male about six feet tall. A growing body of evidence supports her claims of innocence. [16], One crucial aspect of the defense case was the bloody sock found outside the house.
She did have a cut on her neck, but it was not ear to ear. They asserted that it was unrealistic to accuse Routier of staging a crime scene. The first four episodes explored Darlie’s case. 752", "Was Texas death row mom wrongly convicted? Furthermore they asked as to why, if she was willing to murder for money, that she did not kill her husband instead, who had an $800,000 life insurance policy. Routier told authorities that the crime was perpetrated by an unidentified intruder. [30][31], The August 2018 book Darlie Routier: Deaths of Damon and Devon by Pamela Lillian Valemont, in this writing forensic profiles of the individuals involved in the Darlie Routier case are detailed. Regardless, everyone is welcome to review the materials presented here and make up their own minds. Darlie Routier’s story is a tragic one, but it is not finished yet. 3 ordered a third round of DNA testing with the backing of both prosecution and defense.

This site seeks to provide information about the case of Darlie Routier. An appeals court dismissed these claims, as did a court ruling on her habeas corpus petition. On June 6, 1996, at 2:31 am, 9-1-1 dispatchers in Rowlett, Texas, received a call from the Routier residence at 5801 Eagle Drive. Routier was on the phone with 9-1-1 for almost six minutes. Routier later commented on the video, saying, "He wanted to be seven. Darlie Routier’s superficial self inflicted injuries are constantly pumped up by passionate supporters, and claimed as ‘life threatening’! She has also been charged with capital murder in the death of her six-year-old son, Devon, who was murdered at the same time as Damon. [26] The author has since changed her mind and now supports Routier by donating all the income from the book to her family. Recently, Darlie’s story was told in a new documentary series on the ABC television network. Her wounds, described as superficial,[11] came within two millimeters of her carotid artery.

[34][35], Unsolved Mysteries with Robert Stack covered the case in Season 12 Episode 6. Join us in speaking out. Jurors also saw the Silly String video.

Two of Darlie’s current attorneys, Steve Cooper and Richard Smith, were interviewed for The Last Defense.

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