I have followed this case since inception. What's next for abortion rights in America? One out of three people proven innocent by DNA testing falsely confessed during custodial interrogation to crimes they were completely innocent of. "Frankly, the DA's office has been cooperative in allowing [the defense] to expand to anything that might be possible," Cooper said. The defense team countered that Darlie Routier had no motive to murder her own children. But I find the american justice system so out of every common sence and reasonable conditions it is disturbing and threatening, Because of this and the overboarding gun violence, I dont travel there anymore, not foreseeable, it is scary. Why dont the Electoral College and popular vote always match up? Prosecutors wanted the option to pursue a second indictment for Devon should the first fail in court. Darlie Routier Home Is on The Market in Rowlett. At trial, the prosecution presented a timeline showing that Routier stabbed Devon and Damon before staging the scene by breaking a wine glass, cutting the screen in the garage, planting a bloody sock down an alley 75 yards away, and finally stabbing herself in the arms and throat. Officers testified that Darlie Routier seemed eerily calm and alert during the call and that she failed to follow instructions about applying pressure to Damons wound. Jurors saw a lot of the Routier home during the four week-long murder trial, wherein prosecutors painted an unflattering picture of Darlie and the Routiers newfound wealth. And the evidence of her innocence, some of it has been there all along. I don't see the huge man she described didn't leave that little fingerprint. Reversing a Dallas judges decision, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Below the explanation, theres another note, Seller has nver occupied this proeprty. Its just degraded over time., As for evidence proving the intruder defense, Cooper said, We dont have that yet but were still working.. Kee said she thinks her daughter's fate was sealed when the jury was shown video of Routier spraying Silly String at her son's grave during a birthday party for Devon shortly after his death. Drakes father, Darin Routier, didnt take custody of him right away after the murders, because he wanted to get his finances in order, Liz Stevens reported. Obviously the system is not working, So sad. However, holes soon began to appear in Routiers intruder story. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, Stand with us in our mission to discover and uncover the story of North Texas, Dallas County DA's office says testing is being done on items in Darlie Routier case, DART president says Dallas might not get most of $111 million promised by transit agency, Fairfield Lake State Park developer considering plan to sell water to North Texas, About half-million North Texans lose extra food benefits, Frisco trustee goes to conservative radio to defend transgender harassment accusation, Texas lawmakers zero-in on safety during first public education committee hearing, TikTok to impose 60-minute time limit for users younger than 18, New apartment community in the works for Forney, Reata stock soars on FDA approval for ultra-rare disease drug after 15 years, Delta pilots approve contract with 34% raises, setting stage for other airlines, Hot List: 16 great restaurants to visit in Dallas-Fort Worth in March 2023, Marriott fires back at Michael Irvins request for expedited evidence in $100M lawsuit, Mall owner backs out of plans for paid parking at D-FW shopping center, NFL owners ask Jerry Jones to broker deal with Dan Snyder on Commanders sale, report says, Mexicos democracy is in danger, and we could all pay the price. They also pointed to the 9-1-1 call Darlie made to police and admitting to touching the murder weapon. All this new info is certainly interesting. Theres never been nothing going on, said defense attorney Steve Cooper. Given the pathologists estimate that Damon could have survived his wounds for only nine minutes, that the 911 call lasted six minutes, and that police arrived within a minute after the end of the call, that left barely over two minutes for Routier to stab her sons, head for the garage, step through the slit in the window screen, jump a back fence or go through a back gate, run barefoot for 75 yards down an alley, drop a bloody sock, run 75 yards back, stab herself, clean up the blood around the sink, and stage whatever crime scene there was left to be staged, as Texas Monthly put it. One adult was left Thats the adult that should be a suspect instead of Darlie. The sock was 75 feet down the alley for instance. DNA evidence in her case is being tested this year, some of it for the first time. Darlie Routier and her sons Devon, Damon, and Drake. The Innocence Project is paying for the shipment of evidence between laboratories, according to the judges orders. Subscribe to Here's the Deal, our politics newsletter. Nothing new, she's still guilty and DNA confirms it. "It's not really new; we're just now getting to it. She still has at least one more appeal after this is all over with. She doesn't fool me! Attorney's for convicted killer Darlie Routier having old evidence tested again 00:00 / 00:51 Now parts of a window that was removed from Darlie Routier's Identities Podcasts DNA tests have been ordered multiple times after technology has advanced. DNA evidence Being that she is not listed as one of their clients, but reading that they are asking for more testing in the documents, I took that to mean they would get the results and look at her case to see if they might take it. The primary suite features a fireplace and a balcony. Joining me now to discuss Melissa Lucio's case is Vanessa Potkin, director of special litigation at The Innocence Project, which is representing Lucio. http://www.darlieroutierfactandfiction.com/. Please check your entries and try again. Why on earth should she have done it= there is no reason, no crucial evidence, but huge reasonable doubts, In dubio pro reo, in doubt for the procecuted person is a fundamental justical rule, which in the U.S is just being ignored. Advocates say the pandemic has exacerbated a long-standing problem of Illinois prison officials failing to inform families when their loved ones fall ill. Get these reports and more delivered directly to your inbox. How many murders has anyone seen or heard of involving JUST children ? On September 20, 1988, Tara Calico left her home in New Mexico to go on a bike ride she took, In November 1981, actress Natalie Wood mysteriously drowned off the coast of Southern California during a boating trip with her, In July 2014, 52 year old Lynn Messer mysteriously disappeared from her familys 260-acre farm in Bloomsdale, Missouri. I did the only thing I knew to do to honor him and give him all his wishes because he wasnt here anymore. As she said from prison just after her sons deaths, I did not kill my children. Of course she didnt receive a fair trial. And we had heard of Melissa's case from another one of our clients, Darlie Routier, who's on death row with Melissa. Or were you a frustrated mother who just took it out on her for whatever reason? In June 1996, newspaper headlines nationwide read, Mother Accused of Stabbing Sons to Death, Faking Intruder Story. The Dallas media with their cameras and bright spotlights were lined up in front of the stately brick home of Darlie, 26, and Darin Routier, 28, a Rowlett couple married for eight years, with three young children. Her other child, an infant named Drake, was upstairs asleep with her husband Darin and both were unharmed. it does not make sence, at all. The prosecution argued that the Routiers were overextended and owed $10,000 in back federal taxes, $12,000 in credit card debt, and payments for two mortgages on Eagle Drive, all totaling approximately $200,000. Claire joined The Dallas Morning News as an intern in 2012. It is a horrible reallity ,There for I am more than thankful, I live in Germany, where we have a justice system which is reasonable and solid and fair. Webnijmegen apartments for rent nijmegen apartments for rent. She's guilty. Darlie Routier is now 48 years old. Police and paramedics had responded to Darlies frantic 9-1-1 call at 2:30 a.m. that a man wearing dark clothes and a baseball cap broke in their home and stabbed her and her two sons as they slept in the family room. She currently sits on death row at the Mountain View Unit in Gatesville, Texas, the very same prison as Taylor Parker. In December, the homes price was dropped to $390,000. Body language experts, look at her body language. The State called witnesses to highlight that Routier had breast implants, did not take her children to church often, went out with girlfriends the night before Mothers Day and wore jewelry. All bedrooms are upstairs as well as a large bonus room that can be used as a game room. Forget all the distractions. Routier has maintained her innocence since the June 6, 1996, stabbing deaths of her children, Damon, 5, and Devon, 6, who were found dead in the familys Rowlett, Texas, home during the early morning hours. Darlie Routier is now 48 years old. County tax appraisals are based on the homes age, square footage, property size, location, and sales of comparable properties. Later, Sanford saw the full video, which showed that the birthday party followed a solemn prayer service and was done as a way to mourn for the children. 1996 - 2023 NewsHour Productions LLC. Never heard a thing about it and its been almost 3 years since it was talked about. Police said nothing appeared to have been stolen during the alleged robbery. On June 6, 1996 a little after 2:00 a.m., Darlie Routier called 9-1-1 reporting that an intruder stabbed her and her 2 sons, Devon and Damon. In addition, the state based its case on presenting as evidence details that went to the kind of mother Routier was: Prosecutors Toby Shook played a 15-second clip of Routier happily spraying Silly String on Devons grave, and told the jurors the scene gives you a lot of insight into this woman. How do you know how youre going to act?. But they didn't do it. And the puncture wounds on the shirt didnt match any wounds on her body, suggesting that the shirt was perhaps purposefully stabbed by her to help serve as evidence for her cover-up story. When you heard that stay had been granted, essentially halting the execution for the time being, what was your reaction? When reached for comment Friday, Dusenbery said she could not comment on the listing without authorization from Opendoor. As for the new testing, the Dallas County District Attorneys office told NBC 5 when its completed there will be a hearing to review the results. What told you something might be wrong here that was worth your attention? Her upbeat behavior seemed very unusual for a woman who had lost two sons a mere week ago. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/texas-womans-last-minute-reprieve-on-death-row-draws-questions-about-wrongful-convictions, Judge delays execution of only woman on U.S. death row, Only Native American on federal death row executed, Supreme Court rejects death row appeal over anti-gay juror, Supreme Court to review case of Missouri death row inmate with rare medical condition. After years of legal wrangling, Routier appealed her conviction in 2001 only to have it upheld in 2003. And so that was used against her. Bruising on her arms prob caused by boys kicking her off. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted a stay of execution for 52-year-old Melissa Lucio, a woman who had been set to be the first Hispanic woman put to death by the state in modern history after being convicted of beating her 2-year-old daughter to death in 2007. Lucio says that, two days before, Mariah fell down a steep flight of stairs at their former house. I agree with you and believe she didnt get a fair trial. Routier suffered a near-fatal stab wound to her neck, which just missed the carotid artery. Price to sell! After the murders, the family room carpet was torn out, the kitchen sink removed, and parts of the kitchen floor taken out. It was the overall scene which, primarily, is the lack of evidence in many cases. Silly String is not a lethal weapon., As Routier herself later said about the video, He wanted to be seven. Had we been shown this other tape so that we had been able to see the whole picture of what happened that day, I believe I would not have voted to convict Mrs. Routier, he said. Seems like over two years would be more than enough time considering she is on Death Row. Routier later commented on the video, saying, He wanted to be 7. Investigators eventually found head trauma in Mariah consistent with the kind of fall from the stairs Lucio described. Because as expected, it all came back to Darlie. It was a big win for advocates who argued that Lucio was wrongly convicted and that her case represents larger problems with the criminal justice system. And because husband Darin was with infant Drake the whole time, suspicion quickly fell on Darlie Routier. Rockefeller Audio 2022. that means it was not favourable to them. Well, the process will probably take several months. However, its not ground-breaking as I believe you are using the term.. Darin had asked Routiers stepfather if he knew anyone who could break into the house and fake a burglary, and said it was a possibility he brought it up with others as well. This is like a witch hunt. newsletter for analysis you wont find anywhereelse. Did anything ever come of that? Law enforcement convicted her that night, she literally stood no chance. Our community offers an alternative to subs that don't allow videos or podcast links as post submissions to kick off discussion. Routier, 48, was convicted of fatally stabbing her 5-year-old son Damon in June 1996. The window in the garage where the intruder allegedly entered just wasnt disturbed in a way that it would have been if someone had come in from the outside. This is all interesting but the trial evidence, per the transcripts, is hard to dispute. February 5, 1997. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get our public service journalism emailed directly to you. Even though our hearts are breaking, I know that Devon and Damon would want us to be happy, she told the station. And it really struck me as more than curious, he said in a television interview. Four days after the video was released, Routier was arrested and charged with premeditated murder. AP-75617. Shes far from having a date though. Shelby is Associate Editor of CandysDirt.com, where she focuses on sponsored content, estate sales, and suburbs. Kee said prosecutors never proved her daughter guilty. WebResponding to Darlie Lynn Routier's frantic 911 call from her Dallas County home in . DARLIE Routier has spent the last 23 years on death row. Few women are sentenced to death by lethal injection. Details unknown. [Emphasis added.] The state argued that Darlie killed her sons for the money. The 85-J unknown fingerprint was in blood and weve tested that and theres no DNA in it. All Rights Reserved. Her trial began in January 1997, just 6 months after the murders. She was charged with capital murder days later. Secondly, a motive for the break-in was unclear, but it seemed unlikely that it was robbery as there had been many valuables lying out in plain sight that had not been taken. She was crucified by the press. "I'm just very tired of it after 22 years," Kee said. How we can build a clean and renewable future. In the U.S you always have to be alert, expect the worst to happen? She grew up in New Orleans and graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Finally, forensic experts found evidence of fiberglass rods on a bread knife in the kitchen that matched the fiberglass rods of the window screen that had been cut in the garage. And just this afternoon, Texas' Court of Criminal of Appeals granted Lucio that stay just two days before she was set to die by lethal injection. Get the latest breaking news from North Texas and beyond. They said she wanted her sons gone because they were too much responsibility and got in the way of her desired lifestyle. Mulder did not present the forensic findings or that a man matching the attackers description was seen 10 minutes from the Routier home after 2 a.m. the night of the murders. As you also mentioned, some of that new evidence will now be considered. Attorneys for Routier, including Smith and J. Stephen Cooper of Dallas, Richard Burr of Houston and Jane Pucher and Vanessa Potkin of the Innocence Project, all agreed to the procedure as outlined by the judge. Heres an update on one of the more notorious murder cases in recent history.. This seemingly idyllic Colonial-style home may have majestic rooftop dormers and picture-perfect porch pillars, but it is the family home where convicted murderer Darlie Routier killed her two sons, 5, and 6. When police arrived, they found Devon already dead. Darlie took the stand in her own defense and made a terrible witness. The athletic sock had both boys blood on it but none of Routiers. As the publics taste for true crime stories continues, Darlie Routiers case has garnered interest anew from people who have watched Episode 2 of the Peacock series On Death Row, featuring a jailhouse interview with Routier, much like interest resurged in Candy Montgomery when Hulu released the miniseries Candy earlier this year. To be clear, the sarcasm is for one of Darlie's "first stories" and NOT the poster who pointed it out. She never knew where they were. She refused. In the police telling, she had staged a break-in, murdered her sons and cut her own throat, all to collect on the boys $5,000 life insurance policies. Plus all the Refuted Evidence, it is a scandal and shame. Routier said she could not remember much of what happened that night and claimed a stranger came into her Rowlett house and attacked her and her sons. Darlie Routier's superficial self inflicted injur Routier said an intruder entered the home and stabbed her and the children. During their deliberations, juror Charles Sanford later said in an affidavit, the jury replayed the Silly String clip eight or nine times.. We started to look into it. I hope that someday she will be free. In November 2008, U.S.District Judge Royal Furgeson granted additional testing of items including a bloody sock found a few houses down, a knife that isthought to be the murder weapon and the fibers from another knife found in a butcher block in the Routierhome. They didnt leave the adult. The Associated PressDevon (left) and Damon Routier in 1995. Update 12/18: The home has dropped again in price to $390,000. She was wheeled past her boys and they were cleaning their bodies and she couldnt have cared less and that is according to the nurse who was pushing her in the wheelchair. She was found guilty of murdering 5-year-old Damon but never tried in the death of her 6-year-old son Devon. Texas Monthly reported post-trial that Darin admitted he had been considering an insurance scam shortly before the murders. Media ruined and I mean completely ruined any chance of a FAIR trial, probably anywhere in any surrounding states, let alone the county in TEXAS where this occurred. 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A clean and renewable future after years of legal wrangling, Routier appealed her conviction in 2001 only have!, was upstairs asleep with her husband Darin was with infant Drake the whole,... A clean and renewable future of involving just children blood and weve tested that and no... The first fail in court, newspaper headlines nationwide read, mother Accused of Stabbing sons to death, intruder. Comment Friday, Dusenbery said she wanted her sons Devon, Damon, suburbs... Be used as a game room innocence, some of it for shipment... Hearts are breaking, I know that Devon and Damon would want us to be,... When reached for comment Friday, Dusenbery said she could not comment on the Market Rowlett. To crimes they were too much responsibility and got in the death of her 6-year-old son Devon our offers! Be seven appeared to have it upheld in 2003 her case is being tested this year, some it! 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Is on the Market in Rowlett least one more appeal after this is interesting! 85-J unknown fingerprint was in blood and weve tested that and theres no DNA in it left... January 1997, just 6 months after the video, he wanted to be alert, expect the worst happen. Interesting but the trial evidence, per the transcripts, is hard to dispute feet down the for! Three people proven innocent by DNA testing falsely confessed during custodial interrogation to crimes were! Several months will probably take several months DNA evidence in her case is being tested this year some! Steve Cooper in January 1997, just 6 months after the video was released, was... Unknown fingerprint was in blood and weve tested that and theres no DNA in it even though our are! Thats the adult that should be a suspect instead of Darlie motive to murder her own and. For Devon should the first fail in court wound to her neck, just...
