Sunday, December 30, 2007

Darlie Routier, You're So Vain

I feel compelled to write about this girl. I don't know why other than the whole ordeal has bothered me since I first heard about it back in June of 1996. I'm sure you know who I'm talking about. She is the person who was convicted of brutally stabbing to death her two young sons in Rowlett, Texas.

First of all, let me start this off by saying what you may already know - that I'm a certified shorthand reporter, although a non-practicing one since before the birth of our daughter in 2005, but I have still kept my license up. I started practicing court reporting in January of 1994.

I can't remember the year this happened, but I went to a Tarrant County Court Reporters Association meeting where Sandra Halsey, the court reporter for the entire Darlie Routier trial gave a presentation. She brought in blown-up, poster-sized pictures which had been marked as evidence in the trial. For some reason, the only picture that really stands out in my mind is the picture of the alleged murder weapon - the knife.

I remember this court reporter, who later lost her license because of all the errors she made in the transcript and was actually jailed for a while because she didn't have the transcript ready in time, I remember her talking about how the Leeza Gibbons show had contacted her and wanted her to be on the Leeza show. I remember Ms. Halsey saying that Darlie Routier was definitely guilty. It wasn't until later on that I realized during the time this court reporter was out giving presentations about the Darlie Routier murder trial, she had not finished the transcript. Darlie Routier received the death penalty. When someone receives the death penalty in Texas, and maybe, in fact, anywhere, the court reporter knows that they'll have to produce the transcript of the trial. Why was this lady out giving speeches when she should have been working on the transcript?

Fast forward a few months or a year or something like that. I'm at another court reporter seminar, this time in Dallas or Richardson or somewhere. Doug Mulder, Darlie's criminal attorney is now giving a speech or talking about the Routier trial. I can't remember what all he talked about. In fact, I don't remember him talking about the Routier case that much. I know he was kind of bragging about all the individuals he had "gotten off" in other criminal cases.

Near the end of the seminar, I grew enough juevos to raise my hand and ask him a question. The question was this: What percentage of people that you've represented and "gotten off" have gone on to re-offend? In a typical lawyer-like fashion, he skirted the issue and talked in circles for a while and never actually answered the question.

I just watched a show on the Biography channel the other day. I had seen it before, but watched it again anyway. The show was called Notorious and the subject for this show was Darlie Routier. They showed brief interviews with Mr. Mulder. And during one of those interviews, Mr. Mulder said something that really stuck out in my mind. He said he didn't think the video of Darlie Routier shooting Silly String and chewing gum and singing Happy Birthday over her sons' grave would have any affect on the jurors. Can I just say, What the hell were you thinking, Mulder?

Fast forward another year or a few months or something. I'm at another court reporters seminar in Fort Worth. This time the presenter or speech-giver or whatever you want to call it was Darlie Routier's appeal attorney Stephen Cooper. His main focus was all the errors in the original trial transcript - 33,000 errors to be exact. We're not talking about all little, tiny, minor errors. We're talking about where a yes should have been a no. I remember one of the questions was: Was the door to the garage locked? The trial transcript answer said, Yes. In actuality the person had said, No. That's a pretty big mistake, especially when someone's life is on the line.

I also remember Mr. Cooper saying that the prosecution contended that Darlie didn't have any defensive wounds, i.e., bruises, et cetera. At least one of the jurors in the case does not remember seeing any pictures when Darlie was in the hospital immediately after the attack that showed any type of bruising. Look at this:


I must say, I didn't hear all the evidence everyone had to present, but in actuality, I don't think the 12 jurors who gave Darlie the death penalty heard or saw all the evidence there was to be seen. I think the police, the detectives, the crime scene guys all went into the Routier house with the idea that this crime was committed by an intruder, someone who did not live inside the home. But I believe that they quickly changed their thinking and started trying to make a case against Darlie. Why? I don't know. One of the articles I read on the web was entitled, Guilty By Default, and for some reason or another I tend to agree with that.

Darlie Routier is very vain. She's got fake boobs, fake hair and no telling what else is fake on her. Does the fact that she's vain mean she loves her sons any less than a non-vain person? Does the fact that she's vain mean she's a murderer? I don't think so. I think if anyone deserves another trial, it's Darlie.



******UPDATE*****
Please read the comment section.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

Awwwhaaa I was afraid I was going to have to leave an ugly comment about this artical that was well written... I totally agree with you. I have followed this case from the beginning and I always had an open mind. I really thought in the beginning that Darlie did do this. Wether she did or didn't do it isn't for me to decide but I have to agree she really deserves a new trial. This was the most botched case I have ever seen in my life. Thank you for a great "snippet"! It was great!

Half-Redneck said...

Thanks for the comment. I agree with you as well. I was 100% convinced Darlie was guilty when I first heard about this case. Now, I'm not so sure.

Anonymous said...

I have been corresponding with Darlie for about 2 years now and I must say she is a really nice person and deserve a new trial. She has let her hair grow out (it is a very preety color of brown and is very petite.
When I heard first of her case I to thought she did it but the evidence doesn't point that way. There is an unidentified pubic hair that the state won't retest (maybe they are afraid of the answer), all the bruising and cuts who could really inflict that kind of damage to themselves. There was also an unidentified male standing outside the house that night while emergency people were going in and out but no one bothered to get his name. Then there was what they thought was gardening tools stuck in a yard down the street they they didn't bother to gather but when then did they found that it was a knife but DNA was to degraded. This girtl not only needs but DESERVES a new trial

Anonymous said...

She probably got the bruises from her son trying to save his own life! And so I believe that a man was standing outside while police were going in and out could possibly be the murderer? Read the book 'Precious Angels' and then tell me you still think she is innocent. Someone stabbed those boys to kill, but she only got superficial wounds. She 'slept' through this? I am sure she is REAL nice, she's a con artist. Don't believe her.

Anonymous said...

How can you think that she's not guilty? It's so obvious she is. She deserves what she's getting and more for doing that to her children. I don't know how she could sleep at night without regret with the haunting faces of her kids, with the memories of what she did. I dissagree strongly and i think you are confused and believing what she wants you to believe, she's just full of it and hopefully she get's what's coming for her.

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure why everyone comments with a hidden idenity. But I will say it loud and clear. Rowlett has been very very suspicious on this case. I think Darlie deserves to get the DNA Testing.. and to have this case analyzed alot closer. I've never ever trusted the Rowlett police department. They seemed to have something to hide. And now with the previous Dallas County District Attorney office being under scrutiny because of the HIGHEST rate of convictions being turned over by DNA testing...it wouldn't surprise me if there is a surprise ending for the ANTI-Darlie crowd.

I hope she gets a new trial after this DNA testing.

Half-Redneck said...

Can I just say that I don't agree or disagree that she's guilty. I do think she should get a new trial. That is all.

Anonymous said...

"precious angles" doesn't mean anything other than the fact of what the auther wants you to believe and what would cause the book to sell. that's all books really do is to sell... . even with that said if you caught the 48 hours invesgation last night, barbra davis author of precious angles isn't too sure her self now, that she really commented the acts.. and come on!!! you think a 5 year old boy can give you that hard of a stuggle to where she has brusies from her fore wrist all the way back her her air pit.. hahahah no way and both arms.... in my theory, the killer so.. after going for the boys being so easily and just stabbing them then turned his attention to her, and with her putting up a fight.. im picturing him wrapping his arms around her, and shes got her out arms trying to push his arms away from her throat causing all the brusiing on her out arms.... and with the left hand of the killer trying to move her arms away cause her out hands to bruise also closer to the pinky/ two outter, outside of the hands.... she deserves a new trial... the media has gotton too involved to where they want readers to believe what they believe.. and thats just life..

TCADP said...

I have never understood why if the criminal justice system is so certain of itself it denies or works to prevent DNA testing. Clarity only adds to the discussion. OUR prosecutors and law enforcement must realize that they must fight for truth and justice not convictions. We also must address misconduct on the part of our criminal justice system (prosecutors, attorneys, judges, law enforcemnt, etc) if we ever want to prevent these abuses.

http://www.tcadp.org

Half-Redneck said...

I recently found out some new information (new to me) about this case. I heard that the murder weapon was washed off at the crime scene before the police arrived.

Just goes to show you that you must hear all evidence and see all the evidence that is available to you.

I still think she should get a new trial.

Anonymous said...

You can lie to some of the people some of the time and can lie to all of the people all of the time, but, you can't fool God!

Half-Redneck said...

Amen to that, Anonymous!

Anonymous said...

TO the person that read Precious Angels. Go to the Authors site and read her statement on how she regrets writing the book and apologizes to the Routier family. The Routier family ask Barabra Davis to leave her book out so that if dalie would be granted a new trial this would help.

I have been researching this case and I am 31 and had to do a paper. I have been in contact with Darlie's mother and her youngest son Drake through Myspace.

If you have pocket change, buy or read the transcrpits or be educated enough to make remarks when you nor I know it all.

God Bless Darlie

Unknown said...

Darlie is innocent. She has been awarded all her evidence to be DNA tested. The Federal Judge stated in his motion it was counterintuitive and conveluted case he had ever read.
I know she is innocent and some facts are:
blood sock found 75 yards down alley with no blood of Darlie's or trail outside the home; why would she run this down the alley and of course she had no time to do it.

Two bloody fingerprints that are do not match Routier, family members, friends, police, paramedics and finally do not match boys.....but we had to exhume them to prove that since state says they "forgot" to take their fingerprints.

First crimescene expert on the scene was let go when he state "the Rowlett Police contaiminated the entire crime scene", so instead they used Cron to say what they wanted him to say.

Darlie's throat with cut within 2mm of her jugular vein and her wound was cut in downward angle from right to left. She is right handed.

The knife they said she used to cut the screen was a serrated 15 inch long bread knife with round tip.......no way anyone is that stupid.

The jail psychiatris knew Darlie was innocent as she treated thousands of patients at jail. She testified for Darlie.

State hide any experts that ruled in favor for Darlie in their testimoney and did not put them in the courtroom.

90% of blood at crime scene was Darlies'. She said in the original 911 tape as she walked in front of a mirror "oh my God they cut my throat". that section of 911 call was never played in courtroom except at Bond hearing.

Darlie had brusing up into her breast bone, nurses saw this but never testified to it. Her arm wound was clear to the bone. She was stabbed on right arm and she is right handed.

I could go on for hours. The truth will come out through the testing and then how dumb and ignorant are these people who know nothing abt case or Darlie are going to feel for running their mouths. Or maybe not; they probably like hearing themselves.

Anonymous said...

Darlie does not conform to society's idea of a 'classy' individual and for that she was prejudiced against. She deserves a retrial, a proper one with a half decent lawyer.

Anonymous said...

Her story stinks to high heaven!! And I hope she sits there and is haunted about for the rest of her life!! How dumb is she to say her lil boy was talking to her like an angel while some guy was straddled ovr her ...umm duh darlie remember u said your lil boy was hurt already soooo how is this possible she's dumb and full of nonesense!! And kno her story sucks just like her !!! Rot in hell !! Darlie!

M.Valluvan said...

Your article shows you are ignorant of the crime scene evidence. The evidences are too strong against Darlie. She is a cold blooded murderer and deserves to be executed.

Half-Redneck said...

To M. Valluvan, please read the comments section. Shelley's Snippets = Half-Redneck - you'll notice my opinion has changed over the course of 4 years.

Anonymous said...

Darlie said her son Damon woke her up by saying, "mommy". If you read his autopsy report, BOTH of his lungs were pierced by the knife. He would have been struggling for breath and gurgling. Also, for everything that was knocked over in her forgotten struggle, how did she end up on the couch again? Was the absent killer kind enough to place her back on the couch and wipe her memory? Hmmm, sounds a little soap opera/science fiction. The truth does not change and her story has changed multiple times. The amount of blood at the scene would have trailed out with an intruder. If there was a struggle, there would be something left behind (e.g. skin under her nails). I didn't believe her then and I don't believe her now. I feel sorry for her mother as I think denial has allowed her to keep pushing this case. Darlie just doesn't have the backbone to say she did it. At least Andrea Yates did that.

Anonymous said...

What some people don't realize in this case is that there is in this Country of Ours a law called conpiracy against Rights. U.S. Title 18 part 1 chapter 13 241. And if it's true about what they say, a Grand Jury can Indict a Ham sandwich then the way I see it is there is plenty ham to go around. I do not think that the Legal Authorities in this case would do all that well in front of a FEDERAL GRAND JURY.Perhaps the Texas Legal Authorities should consider this when they prosecute these case's in the first place just to achieve a conviction.Becuase that is the Law Of the Land. The States Sovereign Emmunity only Applies to the States and it's laws but not Federal Law. Harper vs The Virginia Dept of Taxation. And that to is a Federal Case Law.

Anonymous said...

OMG tho, her boobs are really so big!!!

Anonymous said...

ya whether theyre fake or not I'd still love to see what they look like! Luv big boobs!

honesty said...

The web site Darlie Kee created to support darlie is full of half truths and blatant lies,and yet she discredits every professional involved in this case.If she is to be believed,police, detectives, paramedics,nurses,doctors, blood experts, crime scene experts,the DA,fingerprint experts,and more, all got together and decided to lie under oath in court to send an innocent woman to death row.She never mentions the evidence presented against Darlie. She never mentions Darlie failed a 6hr polygragh.She never mentions Darlie was caught out in her lies at trial. The video she talks and talks about that shows a truly grieving Darlie,has never been seen. Why is that? I suspect Darlie is loving the attention in that one as much as she is in the s/s video.Doug Moulder chose not to show it in court.That speaks volumes. Read the trial transcripts. Darlie is right where she belongs. Darlie kee is the one that tells lies.

Slickchick said...

what is all this talk about her boobs? Are they really that big? What footage is out there that shows this?

Anonymous said...

I'm so torn. I'm usually good at this. I need to hear her speak. Where can I get a transcript?

Anonymous said...

She's got nice boobs, they're massive...

Anonymous said...

To dpskee: I have read the transcripts throughly and that is what convinced me that she's guilty!
How do you explain the screen fibers on the knife supposedly after it was used to stab the children and her?
How do explain broken glass from the window on top of the blood stains with little to no blood on it if the glass was broken first?
How do you explain her chasing the supposed intruder out into the garage across the broken glass on the floor with not one single cut on her feet?
As for the bruises on her arms that no one saw when she was admitted to the hospital and she "magically" has before she's dicharged? Easy, it's called slamming your arms down on the bedrails. I work in a hospital and patients do it all the time, especially the ones that are handcuffed to their beds. Makes for a good alibi for "defensive wounds"doesn't it? And finally the bloody sock? She had plenty of time to run it down there before she came back in the house and started screaming to wake her husband. And, what intruder fleeing the scene would take the time to lock the gate back after such a crime? Read the evidence!!!

Anonymous said...

Darlie, Casey Anthony, and Jodi Arias, all in a class of their own. Rutheless murdering killers that sleep well the very night they killed. It's sickning, as are these people that think they're all innocent just because they seem nice, or they're pretty.

Unknown said...

Gee, Darlee's mother wouldn't be biased at all would she.... her statements after the fact are not even consistent with the 911 call. A 6' 200 lb man crawls through that perfectly V shaped cut in the screen. No fibers or distortion of the cut. Ridiculous. She is guilty, guilty, guilty.

Unknown said...

Doug Mulder, at the time, was considered the best of the best. He convicted an innocent Randall Dale Adams as a prosecutor... that wasnt the problem. The problem was her guilt and vanity.

Anonymous said...

Good lord this woman is guilty as sin, I cannot believe all of these dimwits out there that think she is anything other than the callous, shallow, self-centered, materialistic, egomaniacal, monstrous, devious, deceitful, sociopathic, ridiculously pathetic piece of crap that she is. Not to mention the fact that she is also obviously not very intelligent at all, to put it mildly. She sickens me. Just thinking about the type of person I believe she is and about the things she has done for the reasons she has done them makes me so disgusted and angry that I find myself wishing I could be the person that will one day have the privilege of administering her lethal injection for her. God I would love that. And I am the most non-violent person imaginable; I detest violence in all of its pathetic forms, and in general I would never wish to do harm to any person, innocent or guilty of crimes. But this waste of space gets me worked up. She is pathetic. She deserves no consideration, no further legal wranglings, no more wasted tax dollars, no more TV interviews where she can get herself all dolled up to tell made up stories about her "dreams" of her own son that she murdered in cold blood coming back from beyond the grave just to give her reassurance that he loves her and that he isn't holding her accountable for what she did (which is essentially what she is claiming has happened), she deserves not one minute or one second further of attention from anyone at all, period. She deserves to be thoroughly ostracized and ignored by everyone and anyone that comes into contact with her for the rest of her hopefully short and most definitely pathetic life. And to the state of Texas I say this: let's get this thing over and done with people- put her on that table, strap her worthless dumb a** down nice and tight, shove that syringe into her arm veins and pump her full with a nice heaping helping of the death that she has coming to her which I might add will nevertheless be so much more humane, considerate and downright gentle than what she dished out to her own flesh and blood children that even her death sentence makes me sick to my stomach. She doesn't even deserve to be treated so well! She deserves to be filleted up and butchered alive with a rough, barely sharpened kitchen knife in such a way that the process of her death goes on and on for a couple of hours at the very least, and she deserves to be pumped full of steroids and amphetamine during it all so that she cannot just pass out and so that she is forced to experience every single last bit of all of that pain and suffering for as long as it is physically possible to withstand before finally whimpering out and heading off to where she is inevitably going to end up- HELL.