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The murder of the Routier children, and the subsequent criminal trial of their mother Darlie Router, dominated headlines and news channels for months in 1996 and beyond.

Damon, 5, and Devon, 6, were stabbed to death in their parents' large Texas home. Twenty-six years later, the home is now for sale. The Zillow listing mentions nothing of what happened there:

Beautiful home on north east corner lot with high vaulted ceilings and lots of natural light. This two-story home has formal living and dining areas at the entrance perfect for entertaining. Open concept living, breakfast and kitchen areas. All bedrooms are upstairs as well as a large bonus room that can be used as a game room. The primary suite features a fireplace and a balcony. Large lot with lots of parking in the back. This is a must-see!

However, the seller is not required to disclose the deaths prior to the sell of the home, as dictated by Texas law.

A pretty, young blonde woman murdering two of her three children would have been sensational enough to stay in headlines for weeks. But the Routier case is more complex than just that.

Many people believe that Darlie is innocent and the victim of juror bias, particularly because of "The Silly String" video. The video was edited by the prosecution to make it appear that Darlie didn't mourn her children, instead having a "party" at their grave. Subsequent documentaries and news reports have shown or explained that prior to the "party" at the grave, Darlie mourned her children as any mother would.

Darlie herself was injured. Some argue they were self-inflicted, some argue they could not have been. There was evidence of a break-in, but Darlie's testimony contradicted evidence at the scene. Honestly, I believe there's compelling evidence for both Darlie's innocence and guilt and I'm really unsure if she killed her children or not.

If you're as macabre as me, you can compare scene photos (gruesome, NSFW) with the Zillow listing photos to see what all has been remodeled. The kitchen strikes me as eerily similar. There's new surfaces, but I think the bones of the island and cabinets are the same.

The large home is probably a bargain at $410,000, and was originally sold after the murders in 1997. Presumably, the current owners have lived there for 25 years fairly peaceably. They've likely gotten a few "murder tourists" on the lawn, though. It's a beautiful home, but remember the living room in which you'd sit is the same one where two little boys bled to death. The kitchen will always be where Darlie washed her hands:

What, will these hands ne’er be clean?–No more o’ that, my lord, no more o’ that: you mar all with this starting. Here’s the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, oh, oh! Wash your hands, put on your nightgown; look not so pale.


Sold This Year: Infamous Darlie Routier Murder House in Rowlett, Texas

Gallery Credit: Renee Raven

Only 6 Women Are On Death Row In Texas. Here's A Look At Their Crimes.

**This story has been updated to reflect the current status of Melissa Lucio, who is scheduled to be executed on April 27th, 2022.**

**UPDATE 4/25/22: An appeals court has delayed the Texas execution of Melissa Lucio so a lower court can review her case.



Texas has the most active death chamber nationwide.

Currently, four inmates are scheduled for execution in 2022, including Melissa Lucio. She is the only woman on the current schedule.

The six women on death row in Gatesville, Texas have been incarcerated for an average of almost two decades. Continue scrolling to see their stories.

Gallery Credit: Tamme Taylor

Texas Crime Statistics By City

Check to see how crime compares in your city versus elsewhere.

Gallery Credit: Toni Gee, Townsquare Media

 

 

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