The Darlie Routier Story: A Crime That Shocked Texas
On June 6, 1996, the suburban Texas town of Rowlett was rocked by a horrifying crime. Darlie Routier, a 26-year-old mother, was found with bruises and cuts, claiming that an intruder had broken into her home and stabbed her two sons, Devon and Damon, as well as herself. The case quickly became a media sensation, with many twists and turns that continue to spark debate and controversy.
Darlie Routier was sleeping in the downstairs family room with her two children, Damon (age 5) and Devon (age 6), while her husband, Darin, slept upstairs with their youngest son, Drake. Darlie and her two children were brutally attacked, resulting in the children's deaths and Darlie's severe injuries.
Darlie later told police she awoke to find an intruder in her home, who fled through the garage. Police discovered a cut window screen, suggesting an entryway for the attacker. However, inconsistencies in Darlie's story soon began to emerge.
The investigation was fraught with challenges and controversies. The murder weapon was found to be a knife from Routier's kitchen, raising suspicion. Forensic analysis of blood spatters and the pattern of blood drops seemed inconsistent with Darlie's version of events.
Furthermore, evidence of fiberglass rods on a bread knife in the kitchen matched the fiberglass rods of the cut window screen, leading investigators to believe that the attacker had been inside the house the whole time.
Darlie Routier was arrested on June 18, 1996, and charged with premeditated murder. During the trial, the prosecution relied heavily on a video showing Routier laughing and spraying silly string around her sons' graves, portraying her as a shallow and materialistic woman.
The defense countered that Darlie had no motive to murder her children and that the wound on her neck was not consistent with a self-inflicted injury. They also argued that the silly string video had been edited to make her appear heartless.
Ultimately, Darlie Routier was found guilty of the first-degree murder of Damon on February 4, 1997, and sent to death row. She appealed her conviction in 2001, only to have it upheld in 2003. Her attorneys have since asked for DNA testing, though that has yet to be done.
The Darlie Routier case continues to be a subject of fascination and debate. Some believe that she is innocent and cite the lack of DNA evidence and other inconsistencies in the case. Others point to the evidence against her and believe that she is guilty.
Darlie Routier maintains her innocence and is currently awaiting execution at the Mountain View Unit prison in Gatesville, Texas.
