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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. Both boys were pronounced dead on the way to the hospital. However, Darlie survived the attack but suffered a severe cut across her throat that missed her carotid artery by just 2 millimetres.
Darlie’s husband, Darin Routier, was sleeping upstairs with 7-month old Drake.
Police discovered that a window screen had been cut in the garage, a possible entry point for the intruder. They also found a large, bloody kitchen knife on the counter top, the possible murder weapon. This is the same knife Darlie told 9-1-1 that she already picked up when chasing the man out of her house.
Police also found a bread knife in knife block in the kitchen. When tested, forensics discovered fiber glass rods with a rubbery compound on the knife’s blade. The same compound and materials you’d find on a window screen.
Two unknown fingerprints were found in the house. One on the windowsill in the garage and a bloody fingerprint was found on the coffee table. The fingerprints didn’t match Darlie or anyone in the Routier family.
The only piece of evidence that was found outside of the Routier house was a bloody sock about 75 yards away from the house. It was like a large men’s athletic sock. And when the sock was tested, it came back positive for both Damon and Devon’s blood.
One week after being released from the hospital, Darlie was captured on police surveillance having a graveside birthday party for Devon, who would have turned 7-years old. This video became known as the “silly-string video.”
Darlie Routier was arrested 4 days after the silly-string video. She was charged with murdering her sons, Devon and Damon. Her trial began in January 1997, just 6 months after the murders.
Darlie’s defense was an intruder broke into the house, through a window in the garage and attacked her and the boys. Her defense team, including attorney, Douglas Mulder, argued that the bloody sock found down the street from the Routier house containing DNA proves that Darlie couldn’t have committed the murders. They also pointed out Darlie’s injuries as being inconsistent with self-inflicted wounds.
However, the prosecution said Darlie made the whole story up. The state argued that Darlie killed her sons for the money. They continued to go back to the “silly-string video” and made the claim that this is not how a grieving mother is supposed to act. They also pointed to the 9-1-1 call Darlie made to police and admitting to touching the murder weapon.
Darlie took the stand in her own defense and made a terrible witness. The jury thought she was defensive and argumentative.
While the jury deliberated, they asked to watch the “silly-string” video 7 times. Proving just how damning that video was for Darlie’s defense.
The jury found Darlie guilty of capital murder and was sentenced to death on February 4, 1997. She’s been on death row in Texas for over 23 years.
Right now, Darlie continues to appeal her conviction. She’s been granted 3 court orders for additional DNA testing to be done on her case to prove her innocence.
*Check back for updates on Darlie’s appeal and additional DNA testing results.
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