Barbara Davis' Offical Statement
Concerning Precious Angels
 My
name is Barbara Davis. I have visited Darlie Routier's website
from time to time and am amazed she is still getting so much
attention. I worked for over a decade for criminal defense
attorneys and then I spent the next decade working in the
Tarrant County District Attorney's Office. First as a felony
secretary for the prosecutors of Criminal District Court No.
3, then as a Victim's Advocate for 8 years. A newly elected
felony judge asked me to go to work as his court coordinator
which I did and stayed with him until my first book "Stalked"
was written. I am also the author of "Precious Angels"
a very damaging account of Darlie's trial in Kerrville, Texas.
I attended the trial every day for almost five weeks. I know
the evidence that was presented in court like the back of
my hand as well as every witness and their sworn testimony.
It all proved to be devastating for Darlie. Everyone knows
that justice was accomplished in that Kerrville courtroom
over two years ago.
So why in the world won't you people just
drop this thing??? And, Christopher Brown, where do you get
off trying to convince the public that there's trouble right
here in River City??? Well, I can tell you why. YOU PEOPLE
won't drop this thing because you know that Darlie Routier
happens to be completely innocent of the crime she was placed
on death row for. And Christopher Brown gets off trying to
convince the public that there are terrible troubles surrounding
this case, because there are!
During the trial I amassed over 40 steno
pads filled with trial testimony and notes. After I reduced
the evidence and trial testimony gathered to writing and sent
"Precious Angels" to my publisher, I did what I
always do when I finish a book, I went on as usual with my
life. But my life decided not to go on as usual with me. My
world wrapped securely in my beliefs of justice and fairness
was shaken to the very core one day shortly after my book
was released. Christopher Brown, author of "Media Tried,
Justice Denied" called and asked me if I would keep an
open mind and let him show me the true facts gathered by him
in Darlie's case. I can honestly tell you that I was more
than annoyed with him. After all, he hadn't sat in court day
after day, week after week, but I sure had. And who did he
think he was dragging this thing on while trying to convince
me of something I already knew everything about. I told him
he was wasting his time because there was no way I'd ever...I
repeat, EVER, believe that Darlie was innocent. He assured
me he could afford the time and we met. As I examined piece
after piece of evidence I found myself convinced beyond any
doubt that Darlie Routier was not the one who murdered her
children and inflicted her own wounds on June 6, 1996. I found
the State's case against her to be immersed in cover-ups,
lies, false representations and evidence that was tampered
with, tainted and even created to suit particular purposes.The
police and prosecutorial tactics and the work they produced
is questionable at best and criminal at worst. I cried. I
trembled. I became sick at my stomach to the point that when
I got home I threw up.
"Media Tried, Justice Denied" is
more than a disturbing book. It is dark and positively catastrophic
for those responsible for Darlie's arrest, indictment, trial,
conviction and incarceration. As a person raised to respect
law enforcement, the judicial system and the district attorney's
office, I was overwhelmed with the knowledge that a system
I cherish, trust and have worked in and been a part of could
go so very wrong. It plucked Darlie from her family, husband,
only surviving child and friends and threw her into a deep,
dark pit because her two little boys were slaughtered at her
feet and she had the misfortune to survive and not be able
to explain to the authorities how it happened.
My heart physically ached and still does
for the inconceivable miscarriage of justice done to Darlie,
Darin, their families and Devon and Damon. Although Darlie
did not murder her babies I can assure you she is caged inside
a tiny cell waiting to be put to death for it, nevertheless.
Can you imagine how she feels and how she has felt every day
of her life since her arrest almost 3 years ago? I can't.
I just absolutely cannot! Anyone who knows me knows I tirelessly
champion victim's rights not death row inmate's rights. But
this time, for the very first time, I'm championing both because
Darlie Routier encompasses both. She is a death row inmate
and she is also the innocent victim here.
Good and bad police officers, investigators,
prosecutors and judges intermingled with each other throughout
the history of this tragic story. It appears that the bad
element proved to be stronger and eventually dominated the
course of events. I don't know if the good element knew what
was happening or if they were too scared to speak out. But
the one thing everyone must remember is that all evil needs
in order to prevail is for good people simply to do nothing.
If this verdict stands and Darlie dies, we will all have to
answer to God for it.
What's my motive here? Well, I can think
of plenty of motivation to keep my mouth shut and hope and
pray this nightmare will just quietly go away. Or, I could
try to convince the media that Darlie's supporters,her family
and Christopher Brown are all just zealots. This has been
an extremely difficult personal and professional path for
me to take but it was the only one I could take. Am I worried?
You better believe I'm concerned about potential repercussions...harm
to the career I love, criticism and character assassinations
that will be hurled in my direction by those still wanting
Darlie to be guilty. Daily I deal with feelings of shame,
remorse and guilt regarding my part in all this for being
too trusting; for not holding the police and District Attorney
to the highest standard of accountability; for being so judgmental
and so quick to believe gossip about a young woman I didn't
really know.
The only motive I have to put myself through
this misery by speaking out is a simple one...if you know
the truth you have to tell it and do whatever you can to right
the wrong done. In the end it really doesn't matter who may
get in trouble or hurt because of the truth coming out. You
see, in the scheme of things they can't matter...I can't matter.
What does matter is every single second of every single minute
of every single hour of every single day of every single week
of every single month of every single year that we allow an
innocent woman to languish on death row waiting to be led
away and murdered.
I've visited with Darlie in jail for many
hours since I learned the truth. I was amazed to find that
after all that's been done to hurt Darlie and her family;
after all I've personally done, this loving person (who has
been called every vile name and treated like the scum of the
earth, and I did it, too) not only forgave me for everything
when I asked for her forgiveness, she told me she had forgiven
me before I asked. If that doesn't break your heart, then
nothing ever will.
On a personal note I would like to say that
despite negative comments throughout the world about Texas,
I love this state and the wonderful people who live here.
As a Texan I will proudly welcome Darlie home when she is
set free. I have to believe she will be.
Now is the time for us to rise up and exert
so much relentless and tremendous pressure on officials that
they will have no other choice but to set Darlie Routier free.
I'll probably never get this out of my system but I was WRONG!
WRONG! WRONG! There are a lot of good, decent people who were
in that boat with me and many still are. I know if you will
open your minds and hearts and reexamine what really went
on in Rowlett and Kerrville, Texas, you will want to join
me in standing up for Darlie, now, as fervently as you and
I once stood up against her. Please unite with me in the battle
to put an end once and for all to this horrifying ordeal.
After all, "justice" means protecting the innocent
as much as punishing the guilty. God be with you.
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Barbara Davis Bio
