Darlie Routier's two strongest supporters want to prove her innocence. So what's the problem?

Two Men on a Mission: Routier/Pardo

TWO MEN ON A MISSION

By Anne Good

Introduction

Amid the rumors, allegations, and whispers that surround all
sensational murder cases, Darin Routier is attempting to go on with his life. Routier, husband of Darlie Routier, the twenty-nine year old housewife on Death Row in Texas for the 1996 stabbing of her two young children, is steadfast in his love and support for his wife. He is also a central figure in a new theory designed to promote Darlie's innocence. A small faction of the "Free Darlie" camp has broken away from the sole concept that she is innocent and has moved into the realm of actually solving the case, complete with a new suspect.
That suspect is Darin Routier, the man who has spent the last three
years fighting for his wife's freedom.

The leader of the renegade movement is none other than Brian Pardo, the millionaire philanthropist who became involved in Darlie's case last
year after an ill-fated attempt to assist David Wayne Spence in his quest for exoneration. Spence was executed despite Pardo's help and money. Mr. Pardo then turned his attention to Darlie Routier at her family's request. He has publicly stated he is convinced Darlie is innocent and has graciously opened his checkbook in an effort to convince others. He has also promised to pay for a high-profile attorney, if a new trial is granted. The man who must have appeared to be a knight in shining armor to Darlie and her supporters is now viewed by many as a knight whose only purpose is to divide and conquer. He has divided the camp with his belief that Darin Routier was involved in the murder that left two of his children dead and his wife with multiple stab wounds. His goal is to conquer the odds stacked against him by an out-of-control judicial system and free Darlie Routier.

Mr. Pardo is a man on a mission.

Pardo's theory appears to have some substance at first glance. While
claims that Darin Routier was severely in debt, behind on his mortgage, and trapped in a rocky marriage does cast a shadow of suspicion, it is Routier's failed polygraph that gives Pardo's theory weight and media attention. Mr. Pardo also uses differing sworn statements given to the police by Darlie and Darin to bolster his perspective. Darlie said that Darin came down the stairs wearing underwear and no glasses. Darin stated that he was wearing his glasses and jeans. With the understanding that erroneous convictions and accusations are usually fraught with superficial facts that fall apart under the scrutiny of context and depth, I decided to explore this theory beyond the first layer.

Darin Speaks

With squeals of laughter in the background, Darin Routier attempts to
devote his full attention to our telephone conversation. It is a daunting task with three-year-old Drake vacillating between wanting his father's full attention and playfully running about the house with boundless energy. Still, Darin manages to thoughtfully address each question with candor and respect for the interview process, a quality he shares with his wife. Point by point, we explored Pardo's theory. Point by point, he provided clarity and context.

"You know, Anne, people are going to say whatever they want to say. I can't fight that. I don't even want to try. In this case, the best way to
fight is not to fight," explains Darin. "They can claim that Darlie and I were in debt but there are just no facts to support that because it isn't true. Yeah, we were stretched a little, but it wasn't out of control. Every business owner knows that some weeks are leaner than others. At the time of the murders business was actually picking up. The claim that we were behind in our mortgage is an out and out lie. June is the only month that was not paid and that is because my children were murdered and my wife almost murdered just days before the house payment was due. How many people would be thinking about their mortgage at a time like that?

"The so-called vacation loan was turned down because I did not want to put up any collateral. Dana, Darlie's sister, wanted to buy a new truck and she was only sixteen years old. I was not going to put up any of my assets in this situation. And it was the loan officer who told me to apply for the money as an unsecured vacation loan. She knew all about the truck and that was her advice. When I found out it had to be secured, I just wasn't willing to do it. Believe me, if I wanted a loan, I could have gotten one.

"Look, our financial records were enormous. The prosecution went over every detail with a fine-toothed comb. There was a solid record of financial consistency with our business. Even Greg Davis (the lead prosecutor in the Darlie Routier trial) saw that. I don't know why others keep bringing this up as though it were fact. It makes no sense to me."

"As for the claim Darlie and I were having marital problems…that is
just pure bull. Why would both of us deny that if it was true? What could we possibly be protecting? Do you really think she would deny it? She is sitting on death row…DEATH ROW! Does anyone really think she is willing to be there for me? Come on! That is just crazy. Imagine where she is at and what she is going through. No one would do that to protect the person that just murdered his or her children. Think about it. Sure, we had arguments just like every other married couple. But, unlike a lot of married couples, we always made up."

When the subject of the failed polygraph arises, Darin firmly states,
"That test, that was a joke. I was interrogated for over 90 minutes before taking the test and the examiner made his position quite clear. I mean this guy actually said things to me like, 'Why didn't you just divorce her instead of trying to kill her?' And once he started the test, his attitude didn't change any. It was a grueling experience. I did it to help Darlie, even though I was advised not to. I didn't have anything to hide so I didn't see any harm in taking it. Now I sure do."

"As for Pardo's so-called 'scientific evidence' -- that is all rubbish. Do
you know what this consists of? It is a handwriting analysis, a voice
analysis and a polygraph test! Is that scientific evidence? Hell, it's
not even recognized by the courts and we all know they are very liberal in this case as to what is deemed evidence. If people want to call that evidence, again, there is nothing I can do to stop them. Just keep this in mind when you hear there is actual 'evidence' to connect me to this crime. Next, people will be claiming information from the Psychic Hotline is 'scientific evidence.'

"The bottom line is: the reason I have not been indicted is there is no
evidence. Greg Davis has had all this information for over a year. I
haven't heard a word from him. Everybody knows that if there were any way to indict me, it would be before a Grand Jury right now. I guess Dionne Warwick isn't available as a witness."

"We don't have to solve this crime for Darlie to come home. While we
want closure on the deaths of our boys, we realize that statistically it is
not likely. Too much time has passed and too much energy was wasted focusing on Darlie while the real murderer walked away from it. It's hard. I can honestly tell you, after you lose a child a part of you dies. Things don't matter to me the way they did before this happened. The only thing that matters is getting Darlie home with Drake and me. I will never stop fighting until that happens. You can count on that. The prosecution thinks I will just go away after a while but that will never happen. I made a lifelong commitment to Darlie and I intend to keep it."

"Darlie is my partner, my best friend and my soul-mate. I am a part of
her and she is a part of me. Being on death row does not change that. In some odd way, it has made our love even stronger and more pure. Everytime someone says something negative about Darlie, I feel like they are saying something negative about me."

These are powerful and convincing words spoken by a man whose sincerity is palpable. I was struck by the ease with which he spoke. A very unassuming man, Darin seems to have much in common with his wife. The gray area, where Darlie ends and Darin begins, is surprisingly apparent. This young couple seems to possess the strength of character and dignity that surfaces only when extreme adversity is combined with the truth. They appear to have lost everything but, as Darin quietly states, "We have all the wonderful memories of our family and that is what keeps us going. In spite of what anyone says, Darlie and I have the things that will last for eternity." Our phone call concluded when Drake could no longer be ignored.

As a devoted husband and father, Darin Routier is definitely a man on a mission.

Everybody is a Suspect

With Pardo's theory attracting some media attention, I was interested
in what Darlie's attorney, Stephen Cooper, thought. Cooper, a court appointed appellate attorney who has become one of Darlie's greatest champions, knows more about this case than anyone, including Brian Pardo. By all accounts, he lives and breathes this case and his insights are profoundly significant. With access to all the evidence and Darlie Routier as his client, he has no motive to protect Darin or minimize the facts. Ultimately, it is the truth, and only the truth that will set his client free.

Cooper explains, "Anne, in my mind EVERBODY is a suspect except Darlie. But unlike others, I am constrained by the facts and the facts simply do not support Darin Routier's involvement in this crime. As far as I can tell, there is no basis for believing any of the theories concerning Darin's involvement. They certainly were not in financial trouble. We have done a thorough review of all the financial statements. I have no reason to believe the marriage was failing and as for the polygraph, frankly, I don't know that Darin really failed it. Numerous requests made by the media for independent review of the test data have been ignored. The refusal to produce the data is
troublesome. Why not let the actual test be examined by independent
polygraph experts? To publicly reveal the results and refuse to reveal the data is...well…it is just not evidence of any kind in any courtroom in this country."

Indeed, a refusal to reveal the test data in conjunction with a rush to
reveal the negative result to the media makes Pardo's motivation open
to criticism and highly questionable to many of Darlie's supporters. Even the media have questioned the Pardo investigation. One source, who asks to remain anonymous, says, "Things in this investigation just don't add up. My instincts tell me it is not what it appears to be."

What does Darlie have to say? In a recent phone conversation she called the theory "ridiculous." She went on to explain, "I have known this man since we were teenagers. I know everything about him and he could not have had anything more to do with the murder of Devon and Damon than I did. He just doesn't have it in him. And I was there. He loved our boys with all his heart. I can assure you, I would not be sitting in here defending him if I thought for a second he had anything to do with this." With an ironic twist, she adds, "Anne, I don't have that in me."

If the Glove Doesn't fit…

A common sense approach dictates that if there were ANY reason to
connect Darin Routier to this heinous crime, lead prosecutor Greg Davis would have a had a Grand Jury convened last year when the evidence was first presented to him. Mr. Davis has already established his thirst for Routier blood. Mr. Pardo's theory should easily hold up under this DA's minimal standard of scrutiny. However, it seems to produce more questions than it answers. For example:

1. Why does the clothing Darin was wearing or not wearing when he ran down the stairs matter? When someone's child has just been savagely murdered it seems reasonable that those present would have slightly differing accounts. Perhaps Darin simply assumed he was wearing his jeans and his glasses. The relevance or importance of this slight discrepancy remains a mystery.

2. Who are the sources "close to the Routiers" who say Darlie and Darin were having marital difficulties? Everyone I have talked with says just the opposite.

3. Why "spin" the family finances? Darlie took care of all the money.

4. The Routiers were always a little behind with the IRS. This is not
uncommon with privately held companies. Why is this an issue? Moreover, why is this "evidence?"

5. The Routier's were not behind in their mortgage. June was the only
month not paid. Again, this seems reasonable considering the children were murdered shortly before the payment was due. Why the spin?

6. Why not reveal the polygraph test data? Why the 90-minute
interrogation before the test? Experts tell me this is highly unusual. If the goal is to help Darlie, why were the results revealed when polygraph tests are unreliable? The media frenzy did nothing to assist Darlie. It only made them both appear guilty in true tabloid fashion.

7. Where is the evidence that would cause Mr. Pardo to make the
statement, "I believe Darin was involved"? That is a bold statement to make with nothing to back it up but conjecture, theory, and unreliable testing procedures. If there is actual evidence, why isn't the DA's office convening a Grand Jury? To name a suspect without hard evidence is strangely similar to the arrest and conviction of Darlie based on pure character assassination and hyperbole.

Most people cannot afford to write the check for Darlie's appeal,
however, they can support her by refusing to buy into a theory that contains not a single piece of hard evidence or convincing circumstantial evidence. While Brian Pardo's money, along with the controversy surrounding his occupation (he buys insurance policies from the terminally ill at a reduced rate), assures him the media coverage to express his theory; all the money in the world will not make it true.

With tens of thousands of dollars already spent, Mr. Pardo's results
are a disappointment. His approach is astonishingly similar to the tactics employed by the state to indict and convict Ms. Routier. Most Darlie supporters would accept any suspect that was the result of a thorough parallel investigation. Even the Boulder Police, with its incredibly botched Ramsey investigation, explored suspect possibilities outside of John and Patsy. Parallel investigations are now standard procedure when a child is murdered. Oddly enough, it has never taken place in the Routier case. No one outside the immediate family has ever been investigated. Surely a crime of this magnitude, with a young woman's life hanging in the balance, deserves "standard procedure," at the very least.

Darin Routier's actions reflect a man with a strong sense of loyalty,
commitment, and love for his wife and his children. Darlie was
convicted with a can of "silly string." Can we accept a similar theory based on whether or not Darin was wearing underwear or jeans? Can we accept the so-called results of a highly questionable testing procedure without any support data?

Underwear and silly string! We must all decide if a person's life or
reputation should hinge on either of these things. As Dante said, "The
hottest place in hell is reserved for those who, when faced with a
moral dilemma, choose to remain neutral." There is no sitting on the fence here, folks!

Darin Routier and Brian Pardo are two men on a mission, each traveling a similar but distinctly different path. Both seek freedom for Darlie Routier. One seeks justice based on the truth. The other seeks exoneration for Darlie, no matter what the cost. You decide who is who -- unless, of course, you enjoy the heat.

© Justice Denied