Reasonable Doubt: Texas
Was Darlie Routier wrongfully convicted?
Narrator: Good evening and welcome back to Friday Night Crimes. This week, we’re looking into an infamous case that has always fascinated me.
The story of Darlie Routier has been debated over and over again by criminal justice professionals and amateur sleuths alike. Did Darlie murder her sons because of her family’s financial difficulties, or did someone really break into their home that night?
Let’s get into it.
The Timeline: 1996-Present
In the middle of the night, Darlie Lynn Routier was sleeping on the couch in her family’s home in Rowlett, Texas. Two of her three sons, six-year-old Devon and five-year-old Damon, were also asleep on the floor nearby. Seven-month-old Drake was upstairs with Darlie’s husband and the boys’ father, Darin. Both Darin and baby Drake survived.
Chronological Events of the Case:
June 6, 1996: At 2:31 AM, Darlie called the police because an intruder had broken into the house and stabbed her two children, and assaulted her when she attempted to fight him off. Police arrived within three minutes of the call. Darlie was unsure if the alleged intruder was still in the house or if he had escaped.
