Rowlett sits on Lake Ray Hubbard, boasts nearly $1.5 billion in development, and is home to the Rowlett Wet Zone family water park. It’s also an underutilized, underrated area for housing. This 6,882-square-foot, one-story home at 3013 Sandra Lane has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and plenty of updates.
And for those who have a true crime fetish, well, you’re in luck.
A Resident’s Infamous Past
Rowlett is home to “American Idol” finalist Jason Castro, a few offensive linemen with less-than-recognizable names, and convicted murderer Darlie Routier. In fact, the Eagle Drive home where Routier’s children were stabbed to death is just about a mile from Sandra Lane.
It’s a fascinating case for many reasons. Few women are sentenced to death by lethal injection. Few women literally dance on their child’s grave and have a Silly String birthday party – on his grave – days after his death.
Oh, that woman.
Darlie Routier has maintained her innocence throughout the legal proceedings since the crime in 1996. Routier herself almost died in the attack; her throat was slashed.
She was never charged with the murder of her 6-year-old son, only that of her 5-year-old. A third child, and Darlie’s husband Darin, slept through the attack. So yeah, there are some troubling facts surrounding the case and no shortage of people who believe in Darlie’s innocence. But back to those of us who can’t look away from a car crash.
Regardless of Darlie Routier’s guilt or innocence, the house was the scene of a crime – and when watching the recent 20/20 special on the subject, one can’t help but notice the pretty home at 5801 Eagle Drive, now valued at $273,000. It’s not for sale, and last changed hands in 2006. Nosy busybodies will want to drive by and take a gander at the spot where a bloody sock was found down the street after the Routier murders. New DNA tests on that sock were ordered just last year.
Welcome To The Neighborhood
So, what’s this story about, anyway?
Well, it’s really about the nice price of a nice home on Sandra Lane.
At $199,900, it barely makes the Weekend One Hundred, but let’s face it. It’s hard to find anything other than a townhome that sells for that price.
This home provides its owners plenty of space for a small family. It features a new roof, new windows, new flooring, a new custom kitchen, new appliances, and updated bathrooms.
Garland ISD ranks high on txschools.gov, and private schools such as Wylie Preparatory Academy also are nearby. For a starter home in the ‘burbs, you won’t find a better price.
And you won’t likely catch any sightings of the Routier family near their former home. As of 2015, Darin Routier was living in Lubbock with the couple’s surviving son, Drake, who would now be in his early 20s. Darlie remains on Death Row at a women’s prison in Gatesville.
Realtor Lucia Bowen of Fathom Realty is listing 3013 Sandra Lane, Rowlett, for $199,900.
