Planned?

[HeartofTexas]

DeanDaniel, do I think Darin was a part of it? Well, not in the murders, no. But I do think he was quite capable of participating in a cover-up and is probably lying through his teeth to this day.

Goody, you've written some incredible posts. Your knowledge is vast! I loved this line... "Maybe she thought great tragedy would be a vehicle to fame and fortune." It certainly looked like she was auditioning for something on the silly string footage. She saw cameras rolling and apparently every last bit of her brains went right out the back door.

I also think Darlie's depression played a big part in what happened that night. But, as Goody said, there were many things that happened together that probably brought about the events of that night.

Sorry, I didn't know how to get rid of the blue type after I used Goody's quote.

 

[deanws]

WOW Goody. Great post and definately some things to think about.

 

[deanws]

Heart, if he knows then he is as big of a creep as she is for not telling. IMO

 

[Goody]

DeanDaniel, do I think Darin was a part of it? Well, not in the murders, no. But I do think he was quite capable of participating in a cover-up and is probably lying through his teeth to this day.

Goody, you've written some incredible posts. Your knowledge is vast! I loved this line... "Maybe she thought great tragedy would be a vehicle to fame and fortune." It certainly looked like she was auditioning for something on the silly string footage. She saw cameras rolling and apparently every last bit of her brains went right out the back door.

I also think Darlie's depression played a big part in what happened that night. But, as Goody said, there were many things that happened together that probably brought about the events of that night.

Sorry, I didn't know how to get rid of the blue type after I used Goody's quote.

When you are in the reply mode, the color button is across the top. It is the big A. Click on that and make your selection. You can highlight some of the text if you only want to change part of it to a different color. Hope that helps.

Thank you for your compliments, but I should tell you that there are others with an even greater knowledge of this case than ol' Goody. I am still drawn to it because of the mystery left unsolved. I want to know the detail around the crime, what triggered her, if Darin was involved, and if so, how, etc. I am anxious to see what happens on her federal appeals.

 

[Goody]

WOW Goody. Great post and definately some things to think about.

Well, if you make any break thrus, please share it because we are still trying to sort it all out.

 

[deanws]

Goody..why is he covering for her?

 

[Dani_T]

If he went back to look at the screen as he says he did, what does that tell you? It tells me he was suspicious of her at that point already or that he wanted to see something else. Or that he wanted to make himself appear not guilty.

Hmmm- see I think it could very well just have been a man whose world was collapsing and he just can't believe it. I think it would be a natural reaction to want to see how the hell this happened.

That's, as Mary said, IF he did it. I think I remember reading that he went through the white carpeted dining room (?) and there wasn't a speck of blood transfer from his feet on the carpet which made me doubtful- not to mention as Mary said the officer at the door.

Most importantly he talks about these children's brutal deaths, often smiling and without any semblance of negative emotion. It is like he is describing what the Empire State Building looks like on a sunny spring day.

He does? Where?

 

[HeartofTexas]

Goody, thanks so much for the tip on how to change the colors. I looked at the "A", but didn't think it was what I needed. So much for thinking!

I was drawn to the Darlie case for a long time after it happened and used to have a lot of knowledge about it, although certainly not in the category of many of you who have studied the various transcripts and kept up with the appeals, etc. I live just a few miles from where it happened and also worked at one time for the man who was the Judge in this case during the trial, so all of that worked together to make this case very interesting to me. Unfortunately, over the years, I've forgotten so many of the details... but I've never waivered on thinking she did it. I also think she would love to scream at the top of her lungs the ways that Darin probably helped her cover up the crimes but she can't, because the very act of implicating Darin would implicate her even more, so I assume she will go to her grave with her big mouth shut. I think of Darlie as someone who is an empty soul, with no depth. All she cared about were what money could buy, having a good time and trying to impress others. Eventually, even that wasn't enough to fill up her emptiness and then the depression started. When money problems took over, I think it was a short road to that fateful night.

 

[beesy]

]She's not that dumb either. She is just self involved. So is he. Imo, of course. I think she had a lot to gain with the deaths. Look at it this way, you have a young mother who is not very energetic struggling with two very active little boys and one baby. Darlie liked quiet things, pretty things. She liked to put things somewhere and find them in the same spot when she came back. Babies and small animals are easy to control, 5 and 6 year old boys are not. Seems like the most strenuous thing they did was take the family to the amusement park and the zoo.
She could put the baby down for a nap and not be bothered for awhile,and even then all she had to do was change and feed him and her personal time was not that invaded. He plays quietly while she does her own thing. With Damon and Devon, it was a whole different ball game. They were always wanting something, always needing something, always getting into something, always breaking something, always messing something up....(at least my boys were) For a very materialistic person, that can be a major interruption and inconvenience. I am sure she thought how much easier life would be if they only had one child, maybe she even thought they would raise the next one differently so she would have more control over him.

I have been trying to say that for weeks. You just nailed it. I was having trouble getting my thoughts on paper. Thanks!

And this happened at a time when Texas murders were often depicted in the movie of the week. I saw one article about how Texas was a hotbed for Hollywood true crime. It was no secret that Darlie had aspirations to become a star. They even had their own karoke machine so Darlie could sing to the family. Maybe she thought great tragedy would be a vehicle to fame and fortune. Or maybe all of these thoughts were tumbling around together with her focus landing on one or the other at different times.

I totally agree. The Dallas area especially was getting alot of Lifetime movies. There was an ax murder in Plano a few years before the Routier boys were killed. It made a great book and movie, filled with affairs and so-called normal people reaching a breaking point. Darlie got what she wanted! She'll go down in history.

Then you have her general health which was questionable to say the least. She had been taking the notorious Phenfen for longer than recommended. She only had about 20 pounds to lose so she shouldn't have been taking it at all. It was interferring with her sleep, which is why the baby was waking her when he rolled over in his crib. I imagine she liked sleeping downstairs because she could count on Darin getting up with the baby if Darin was the one sleeping in the room with him.(Anybody else know that trick? heheheeh)
So now you have a grumpy Darlie on a hot night on edge from the pressures of not having enough money to pay for all the things she had coming up (not to mention the family bills) on strong diet pills that had been aggravating her sleep for the last few months (she'd been taking them since March), trapped in the house all day without the ability to go for a drive to let off some steam, and two little boys that had driven her bonkers all day with their antics....when they emptied the hot tub that really ticked her off.....and Darin not doing much about any of it. There was plenty of reason for Darlie to plan it in the preceding weeks and there was plenty of reason for her to just fly off the handle and lash out at the boys, probably Devon. She has always said he was a Daddy's boy, that Damon tended to stay close to Mommie. I think that was true and I think their wounds reflect it. I also think that Devon was the most active little boy, that Damon was much quieter and easier to be around.

I think she had more issues with Devon too. Funny she was convicted with killing Damon. Irony

 

[Goody]

Goody..why is he covering for her?

Right off the top of my head, maybe he is hoping to profit off of it somehow. At least that is where his head seemed to be at in the days following the murders. According to what I've read, he hired an agent to shop his story rights only two days after Darlie's arrest and sold them later to CWB, who ended up living in his parents' home. (Wonder if they are any royalty or reversion clauses in that deal?) Two days is barely enough time to even make the decision let alone find an agent to make a deal with. Makes me think this may have been in the works before her arrest, and maybe that is why they were kicking up their heels in the front yard as they took the toys off the dying wreaths left there by wellwishers.

He had Darlie's face and the boys tattooed on his arm and sported it proudly in front of the court house during the trial, mugging for the camera if you ask me. Both families were doing things to create a circus like atmosphere, wearing Free Darlie tshirts, singing gospel songs, holding prayer circles, cursing those we tried to speak out against her. The only thing missing was the popcorn stand and the organ grinder with the monkey.

Then there are the graphic photos the family has put up on their web site. I can understand putting up most of them, but photos of the boys' wounds just are not necessary unless they are hoping to shock people, keep their interest alive for some possible future gain. Some might say that is Darlie's release, and they no doubt want that, but I don't think they need those photos online to accomplish that (if it could be accomplished.) So I think there are some hidden dollar signs dancing around most of the players in this case on the defense side.

Darin also seems to be very afraid of being sent to prison in Darlie's place, and that is reflected in some of the things he has said and done since her arrest. It seems to me that if his loyalty was based on unconditional love that he might be willing to take her place just to spare her life, but he has made it quite clear that he has no intention of doing that. So he has some other reason for not standing up for his boys and denouncing her for killing them. Could be he thinks what he did that night would net him a prison term if the truth were known,

And let's not forget what questions he failed on the polygraph tests 5 times!! They were all about what he knew about the murders. If you believe those tests had any credibility, you'd have to believe that he knows who killed his children.

And, no, I am not buying that he hired someone to break into the house. That was just a last ditch effort to come up with something, anything, to take the heat off of Darlie. Darin can't even name names. Why? Because he didn't hire anyone. The only claim they have so far is that he asked his stepfather-in-law if he knew anyone who would do it. Maybe he was thinking about it, but he never got around to doing it. If he had, he would have spilled his guts from day one to spare his wife the scrutiny. Besides who would lie about something like that in the face of your two small children being slaughtered like that all over your lilly white carpet in your new subdivision, middle-class home?

Bottom line, if Darin had something to fear from Darlie, he had reason to lie for her.

 

[Goody]

[/b][/color]

Hmmm- see I think it could very well just have been a man whose world was collapsing and he just can't believe it. I think it would be a natural reaction to want to see how the hell this happened.

That's, as Mary said, IF he did it. I think I remember reading that he went through the white carpeted dining room (?) and there wasn't a speck of blood transfer from his feet on the carpet which made me doubtful- not to mention as Mary said the officer at the door.

Actually, I tend to agree with you guys on this one. You almost have to accept his word for it or believe it was just another lie, and there is enough contradicting evidence to weigh against on this.

He does? Where?[/color][/b]

Watch him on Leeza and the other talk shows. Sometimes he appears serious, but esp on the Leeza Show he talks about it as if he is not related to the victims. He can go over and up and down the evidence without a tremble or a stutter. The more comfortable he gets, the less he tries to project what he thinks people want to see. He just reacts. I don't see a man who is troubled by the loss of his kids. I see a man caught up in trying to free his wife,and he is not even that involved in that, other than going on TV and talking about it. He sure isn't out there looking for the one-armed man.

 

[Goody]

Goody, thanks so much for the tip on how to change the colors. I looked at the "A", but didn't think it was what I needed. So much for thinking!

I was drawn to the Darlie case for a long time after it happened and used to have a lot of knowledge about it, although certainly not in the category of many of you who have studied the various transcripts and kept up with the appeals, etc. I live just a few miles from where it happened and also worked at one time for the man who was the Judge in this case during the trial, so all of that worked together to make this case very interesting to me. Unfortunately, over the years, I've forgotten so many of the details... but I've never waivered on thinking she did it. I also think she would love to scream at the top of her lungs the ways that Darin probably helped her cover up the crimes but she can't, because the very act of implicating Darin would implicate her even more, so I assume she will go to her grave with her big mouth shut. I think of Darlie as someone who is an empty soul, with no depth. All she cared about were what money could buy, having a good time and trying to impress others. Eventually, even that wasn't enough to fill up her emptiness and then the depression started. When money problems took over, I think it was a short road to that fateful night.

Wow. That would be the judge who retired, right? Sorry, but I have forgotten his name. Is it true he put off his retirement to try this case and that he made the calls himself to find an open court room which is how it ended up in Kerrville? Don Davis wrote that they only had the courtroom for one month. Did the judge push for the trial to end in that time period? Is that why both sides seemed to put limits on who they called and what evidence they presented?

 

[Goody]

I totally agree. The Dallas area especially was getting alot of Lifetime movies. There was an ax murder in Plano a few years before the Routier boys were killed. It made a great book and movie, filled with affairs and so-called normal people reaching a breaking point. Darlie got what she wanted! She'll go down in history.

The murder you are talking about actually occurred in the Rowlett area, in a little town nearby. I think it is closer to Rowlett than Plano. The woman's name was Montgomery.

I think she had more issues with Devon too. Funny she was convicted with killing Damon. Irony

I know. I have always wondered if she was convicted for the wrong murder. Wouldn't that be something? If she flew off the handle and killed Devon, then whatever happened between her and Darin happened, and then he killed Damon but she went down for it. Imagine the inner turmoil she'd have over that one.

 

[HeartofTexas]

I think Candace Montgomery actually lived closer to McKinney, Texas, which is north of Plano. It was a small town near McKinney, but I can't remember the name. She was another piece of work... years later, she could NOT understand why the people in Texas hadn't forgiven her for that crime. Ha! And wasn't there something about "shut up, shut up" being what supposedly triggered her rage? Also, I believe Doug Mulder was the attorney who got her off on that crime. Last I heard, she lived in the Atlanta area. Another little tidbit... one of my close friends worked (at the time of the murder) with the husband who was having the affair with Candace. He was this quiet guy who nobody would ever have suspected of having an affair!

I didn't work for the Judge (Mark Tolle) at the time of the trial but had worked for him on and off in the years prior, so wasn't privy to all of the little in's and out's of the trial. I did talk to him after the trial was over, though. And yes, he retired following the trial. He is one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet.

 

[HeartofTexas]

I may be wrong on Doug Mulder defending Candy Montgomery because all I can find is some attorney named Don Crowder (who committed suicide in the late 90's) defending her. I guess my memory is not what it used to be! Aaacccckkkk! I could have sworn Mulder represented her. My apologies. The small town could have been either Wylie, Texas or Lucas, Texas, as I've found both in my searches. Both are pretty much between Plano and McKinney, Texas, although Wylie may be a little bit to the west.

 

[Juliana]

I think Candace Montgomery actually lived closer to McKinney, Texas, which is north of Plano. It was a small town near McKinney, but I can't remember the name. She was another piece of work... years later, she could NOT understand why the people in Texas hadn't forgiven her for that crime. Ha! And wasn't there something about "shut up, shut up" being what supposedly triggered her rage? Also, I believe Doug Mulder was the attorney who got her off on that crime. Last I heard, she lived in the Atlanta area. Another little tidbit... one of my close friends worked (at the time of the murder) with the husband who was having the affair with Candace. He was this quiet guy who nobody would ever have suspected of having an affair!

I didn't work for the Judge (Mark Tolle) at the time of the trial but had worked for him on and off in the years prior, so wasn't privy to all of the little in's and out's of the trial. I did talk to him after the trial was over, though. And yes, he retired following the trial. He is one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet.

I think the town is Allan. It's not important, but it's one of those little things that keeps you up at night - "what is the name of that town?"

 

[HeartofTexas]

Mulder didn't represent Montgomery... he represented another famous Texas case... Rev. Walker Railey. Texas has so many sordid crimes that I guess it's hard to keep up with them!

Juliana, thanks for the tip on Allen. If it's not Allen, then it's Wylie I think.

 

[Mary456]

Mulder didn't represent Montgomery... he represented another famous Texas case... Rev. Walker Railey. Texas has so many sordid crimes that I guess it's hard to keep up with them!

Juliana, thanks for the tip on Allen. If it's not Allen, then it's Wylie I think.

Just pulled out my old copy of "Evidence of Love" and it happened in Wylie

 

[beesy]

I think Candace Montgomery actually lived closer to McKinney, Texas, which is north of Plano. It was a small town near McKinney, but I can't remember the name. She was another piece of work... years later, she could NOT understand why the people in Texas hadn't forgiven her for that crime. Ha!

Jeez, people, my point was there was all kinds of good fodder for Lifetime movies in the Dallas area. And Plano is mentioned in the book. I know Candy did not live in the same little town as Betty Gore. Great name, eh? And their church was in another little town. The murder actually took place in Wylie. If I wasn't so lazy, I'd hunt for the book and find out which towns. I really didn't think it freaking mattered girls! They are all near Dallas right? Have ya'll seen the movie? It's actually pretty good. The murder itself is really well-done. Brian Dennehy played her attorney and her real-life attorney thought he was better looking than Dennehy. LOL

And wasn't there something about "shut up, shut up" being what supposedly triggered her rage? Also, I believe Doug Mulder was the attorney who got her off on that crime. Last I heard, she lived in the Atlanta area. Another little tidbit... one of my close friends worked (at the time of the murder) with the husband who was having the affair with Candace. He was this quiet guy who nobody would ever have suspected of having an affair!

What happened was this: Candy and dang what's his name, were not even together anymore. The Gore's daughter was spending the night at Candy's house so Candy had to drive to Wylie to pick up the girl's bathing suit. The women were just chatting, then suddenly Betty said "are you and **** having an affair"? Candy said "did **** tell you?" Betty went and got an ax! Even with that in her hand, they both just tried to blow it off, talking about the bathing suit, etc. Then Candy put her hand on Betty's shoulder and said "I'm sorry". For some reason, that wasn't the right thing to say! Betty said "shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" which is really creepy to think about. Then swung the ax. So Betty attacked Candy first. Candy kept saying "I don't want him", which they say probably really pissed Betty off, like "what? you're giving my husband back cause you're finished with him?" Candy was trying to leave, the blood evidence proved this, until Betty whacked her on the head. Candy didn't know how injured she was, not very, and freaked out. Candy went further than self-defense though. She hacked the hell out of Betty. Then took a shower with her clothes on and went back to the Bible School at their church! I believe her version because the evidence backs it up, plus she admits to losing it and trying to cover it up. I'm thinking hubby's name is Allen, but since somebody mentioned Allen, maybe that's why I've got it in my head.

 

[HeartofTexas]

You're not making things up... his name is Allen Gore. And boy did Candy go into overkill... put the axe in Betty's body 41 times. And thanks for refreshing my memory... it wasn't "shut up", it was "shhhhhhhh". But Candy was a pretty odd duck, IMO. I remember so distinctly an article in a magazine where she was truly appalled that anyone still held the crime against her because she was found "innocent". Well, true, she was... but IMO it's okay for me to think she overdid it "a bit" by hitting Betty 41 times with an axe. In my eyes, she was not totally innocent, whether the jury found her so or not. And no, I've never seen the movie on this but I did read a book on it ("Evidence of Love"?).