Dateline Purgatory
Kathy Cruz
A book-length account for readers who want more detail.
1996 · Rowlett, Texas
Devon & Damon Routier
The story behind Dateline Purgatory
Six-year-old Devon and five-year-old Damon Routier were stabbed to death in their Texas home in 1996. Their injured mother, Darlie, said an intruder had attacked them. Prosecutors rejected that account, and she was convicted of Damon’s murder. Disputes over the physical evidence and interpretation of her behavior sustained public debate about the case.
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The Story
When1996
WhereRowlett, Texas
In this collection39 resources
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The Last Defense — U.S. viewing availability
JustWatch · U.S. viewing guide
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INFAMOUS: Darlie Routier Part 2
Crime Junkie
An audio option for exploring this case while listening.
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Blogs & Essays
Read our articles here and explore outside perspectives, credited to their writers and publications. See this case in the Journal →
From the journal
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Blogs & essays
2 itemsAbout these sources
Outside essays and reading guides reflect their authors’ perspectives. Compare claims with reported and primary sources.
True Crime Stories · Blog / essay
Darlie Routier
An outside blog or essay discussing Devon & Damon Routier. Read the author’s analysis alongside the dated reporting and court sources in this case guide. Some publishers require a subscription.
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Texas True Crime Blog · Blog / essay
Darlie Routier — Texas True Crime Blog
An outside blog or essay discussing Devon & Damon Routier. Read the author’s analysis alongside the dated reporting and court sources in this case guide. Some publishers require a subscription.
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Books
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Books
1 itemsKathy Cruz
Dateline Purgatory
An investigative book challenging aspects of Darlie Routier’s prosecution. Read as the author’s analysis, alongside court records and other reporting.
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Movies & TV
Movies
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TV & documentaries
4 itemsAbout these sources
Episodes, documentaries and title listings. Season and episode numbers follow the linked catalog and can differ by service. Air dates are separate from crime dates. Playback availability varies by service and region.
JustWatch · U.S. viewing guide
The Last Defense — U.S. viewing availability
Nonfiction screen coverage of this case. The linked page identifies the program or episode; playback, subscriptions, and regional availability vary.
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IMDb · TV episode
On Death Row — Portrait: Darlie Routier (2013)
IMDb episode reference connected to the Devon & Damon Routier case. Listed release: 2013. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate.
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IMDb · TV episode
48 Hours — Murder They Wrote: Precious Angels (2001)
IMDb episode reference connected to the Devon & Damon Routier case. Listed release: 2001. Cast, credits, and title information; viewing availability is separate.
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Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.
CBS / 48 Hours · archival episode
Precious Angels — 48 Hours rewind
Revisits the 2002 investigation. Playback availability may vary.
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Title search; Amazon availability is not confirmed. Check the edition, format, and viewing region.
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Audiobooks
An audiobook edition has not been confirmed for this case yet. You can check the audiobook catalog or explore the case’s podcasts.
Check Audio Formats For This Book
These books are in this case’s collection. An audiobook version has not been verified for the listings below.
Dateline Purgatory
Search Audiobook Editions · paid linkKathy Cruz
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Fiction Work
Fiction Work
Browse all →Scripted stories and fictional inspirations. Scenes, characters, and dialogue can differ from the record.
No verified fictional adaptation or inspiration has been identified in this collection. Nonfiction coverage is listed in the other media sections.
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Podcasts
Podcasts
14 itemsAbout these sources
Audio episodes and oral histories. Personal recollections are attributed perspectives; some services require sign-in.
Crime Junkie
INFAMOUS: Darlie Routier Part 2
Podcast coverage of the Devon & Damon Routier case. Released September 16, 2019. About 41 minutes.
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Crime Junkie
INFAMOUS: Darlie Routier Part 1
Podcast coverage of the Devon & Damon Routier case. Released September 9, 2019. About 33 minutes.
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True Crime Garage
Darlie Routier /// Part 1 /// 489
Podcast coverage of the Devon & Damon Routier case. Released May 25, 2021. About 77 minutes.
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Southern Fried True Crime
139: Darlie Routier Part 1
Podcast coverage of the Devon & Damon Routier case. Released January 18, 2022. About 57 minutes.
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Criminal Confessions
Darlie Routier: Mother, Murderer, or Victim?
Podcast coverage of the Devon & Damon Routier case. Released August 10, 2026. About 52 minutes.
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I Could Murder A Podcast
Death Row’s Most Debated: The Case of Darlie Routier
Podcast coverage of the Devon & Damon Routier case. Released September 11, 2023. About 93 minutes.
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Show 8 more podcasts
True Crime Garage
Darlie Routier /// Part 2 /// 490
Podcast coverage of the Devon & Damon Routier case. Released May 26, 2021. About 73 minutes.
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Southern Fried True Crime
140: Darlie Routier Part 2
Podcast coverage of the Devon & Damon Routier case. Released January 24, 2022. About 65 minutes.
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Crime Weekly
S3 Ep304: The Murders of Devon and Damon: The Case Against Their Mother, Darlie Routier (Part 1)
Podcast coverage of the Devon & Damon Routier case. Released May 23, 2025. About 99 minutes.
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Murder With My Husband
233. The Infamous Case of Darlie Routier
Podcast coverage of the Devon & Damon Routier case. Released September 9, 2024. About 57 minutes.
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Crime Weekly
S3 Ep309: Darlie Routier: The Bloodstained Timeline of a Mother’s Story (Part 3)
Podcast coverage of the Devon & Damon Routier case. Released June 6, 2025. About 122 minutes.
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Women and Crime
Reconsidered: Darlie Routier
Podcast coverage of the Devon & Damon Routier case. Released April 25, 2025. About 51 minutes.
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RedHanded
Episode 72 - Darlie Routier: Beyond Reasonable Doubt?
Podcast coverage of the Devon & Damon Routier case. Released November 29, 2018. About 68 minutes.
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Crime Weekly
S3 Ep307: Blood, Cries, and Broken Glass: The Case Against Darlie Routier (Part 2)
Podcast coverage of the Devon & Damon Routier case. Released May 30, 2025. About 91 minutes.
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Social Media
BRING YOUR PERSPECTIVE
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News & Reading
More Reading & Audio
4 sourcesExplore book records, previews, library audiobooks and selected documents. Access labels distinguish free material from library loans and paid subscriptions.
Library of Congress · Free Article
Courtroom drawings of State of Texas v. Darlie Lynn Routier trial
Publicly accessible source material and historical context related to this story.
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Open Library · Catalog / Availability
Precious angels by Barbara Davis
Bibliographic record for related reading. Check the edition page for previews, lending and other access options; full text has not been confirmed.
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Google Books · Catalog / Availability
Flesh and Blood
Related book record. Google may offer selected pages or another edition; full-book access is not confirmed.
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Everand · Subscription Access
Dateline Purgatory — Audiobook
Kathy Cruz. Related reading for Devon & Damon Routier. Check the current subscription terms and available sample; trial offers are not permanent free access. The author’s interpretation should be read alongside the case’s official records; it is not a court finding.
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Reading Access Notes
Search reviewed 2026-09-16. Sources searched: Google Books, Internet Archive, Open Library, Library of Congress, Smithsonian Magazine, The Atavist Magazine, Google Books (case/title search), Scribd, Everand, OverDrive and hoopla (combined title search). Search indexing is incomplete; this is not an exhaustive list of the web. Access can change by edition, country and library membership. Library loans may require sign-in or a wait. Everand titles may need a paid subscription; a trial is not permanent free access. Scribd documents are third-party uploads, with uploader details noted where checked. We link to source pages and write our own descriptions rather than reproducing copyrighted books.
A separate Texas Monthly search was blocked by the publisher’s automated-access rules and could not be verified.
News & reporting
No reviewed items have been added to this section yet.
Newspaper clippings
2 itemsFeatured newspaper clipping
Read our original summary below. The archive link opens the newspaper’s own clipping viewer.
The Kerrville Daily Times · 1997-02-16 · Page 1
Defense attorney reflects on the Routier trial
Richard Mosty describes the trial’s effects and the continuing television interest.
Opening section of a continued interview after the 1997 sentence.
Newspaper ReportingAccess Varies · Check Source
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Read the original at Newspapers.com. Access and subscription requirements are set by the archive.
Open full clipping at Newspapers.comMore from the newspaper archive
Continue with these dated reports on Newspapers.com.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram · 2001-06-03 · Page 34
A retrospective revisits the Routier prosecution
A continued feature reviews the investigation and interviews the prosecutor.
Statements about motives are attributed opinions within historical coverage.
Read this article on Newspapers.comKeep following the newspaper trail.
Search original reporting, follow the trial, and compare how newspapers covered the case over time.
Explore more on Newspapers.comNewspapers.com controls access to its archive. A subscription may be required; existing subscribers can sign in.
Internet Archive
3 itemsAbout these sources
Library records and preserved media. A catalog listing does not guarantee full reading or playback.
Internet Archive · TV News Archive
20/20 : KGO : May 10, 2019 9:00pm-11:00pm PDT
The archive indexes this broadcast under Darlie Routier. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.
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Internet Archive · TV News Archive
Forensic Files : CNNW : January 4, 2015 12:30am-1:01am PST
The archive indexes this broadcast under Darlie Routier. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.
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Internet Archive · TV News Archive
Death Row Stories : CNNW : July 12, 2015 10:00pm-11:01pm PDT
The archive indexes this broadcast under Darlie Routier. It may contain several stories; use any available captions or previews to locate the relevant segment. Full playback may be restricted.
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Court & Files
Court records & documents
2 itemsAbout these sources
Documents are labeled by type and scope. Allegations in filings are not findings of guilt. This collection is not the complete case file.
Court opinionArchive copy
Routier v. State — direct appeal
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals reviewed Darlie Routier’s capital-murder conviction for Damon Routier’s death. The opinion discusses evidence from the attack on both boys.
- Court / agency
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
- Document date
- May 21, 2003
- Case / citation
- 72795
- Hosted by
- Justia
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Court opinionArchive copy
Routier v. State — DNA-testing appeal
A later Texas court opinion addressing Routier’s request for postconviction DNA testing. This is a testing ruling, not a new trial verdict.
- Court / agency
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
- Document date
- June 18, 2008
- Case / citation
- AP-75,617
- Hosted by
- Justia
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Positive Outcome
Positive Outcome
0 itemsAbout these sources
Documented laws, advocacy and reforms. Listing a change does not claim it is effective or universally supported.
No case-specific reform has been verified for this collection yet.
Social Media
11 itemsAbout these sources
Case-specific posts, videos and communities. Community opinions are separate from verified reporting. Platforms may require sign-in.
Southern Fried True Crime
Episode 139: Darlie Routier Part 1
Video from Southern Fried True Crime covering the Devon & Damon Routier case. Length: 52:26.
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Murder With My Husband
The Infamous Case of Darlie Routier
Video from Murder With My Husband covering the Devon & Damon Routier case. Length: 55:01.
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ABC News
Darlie Routier: The story of a woman convicted of murder after two sons' killing [NIGHTLINE]
Video from ABC News covering the Devon & Damon Routier case. Length: 9:05.
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Crime Weekly
Darlie Routier: The Verdict Is In (Part 5)
Video from Crime Weekly covering the Devon & Damon Routier case. Length: 1:56:35.
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Crime Weekly
Darlie Routier: Our Interview With Her Sister, Danelle (Part 6)
Interview or news segment from Crime Weekly covering the Devon & Damon Routier case. Length: 2:29:58.
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Emma Kenny
GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY - Darlie Routier
Video from Emma Kenny covering the Devon & Damon Routier case. Length: 1:26:59.
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Show 5 more social media
Crime Weekly
Darlie Routier: The Lies That Led to a Capital Murder Charge (Part 4)
Video from Crime Weekly covering the Devon & Damon Routier case. Length: 1:40:38.
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True Crime Garage TV
Darlie Routier /// Part 1 /// 489
Video from True Crime Garage TV covering the Devon & Damon Routier case. Length: 1:19:55.
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Dr. Todd Grande
Darlie Routier Case | Mental Health & Personality | Guilty or Innocent?
Video from Dr. Todd Grande covering the Devon & Damon Routier case. Length: 25:12.
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ABC News
Last Defense - Darlie Routier | 20/20 | Part 4
Video from ABC News covering the Devon & Damon Routier case. Length: 9:19.
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Reddit · r/TrueCrimeDiscussion
Discussion: Darlie Routier Forensic Files episode
Public community discussion connected to Devon & Damon Routier. Posts and comments are reader perspectives, not independently verified reporting.
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