The Complex Life of Dorothy Marie Robards

Early Life and Family Background

Dorothy Marie Robards, from Fort Worth, Texas, had a rough childhood with parental separation and confusing family ties. Despite these obstacles, she was smart and talented throughout her youth.

Detail	Description
Birth	July 10, 1976, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Parents	Steven Robards and Beth Lohmer, high school sweethearts who married in 1974.
Early Challenges	Parents separated in 1980; mother remarried Frank Burroughs in 1981.
Upbringing	Raised in Granbury, Texas, with a close relationship to her mother and visits to her father.
Talents	Learned cursive by first grade, played the clarinet, took art and dance lessons.
School Life	Described as good-natured and popular, resembling the “girl next door.”

The Crime and Its Aftermath

In 1993, Marie Robards poisoned her father, Steven Robards, and was arrested after confessing to a friend. Her prosecution brought public attention to the rarity of such a crime.

Detail	Description
Crime	Poisoned her father with barium acetate in February 1993.
Investigation	Confessed to a friend; forensic tests confirmed the poison’s presence.
Trial	Convicted in 1995; sentenced to 27 years in prison for murder.
Media Attention	The trial was widely covered due to the unusual nature of patricide by a female teenager.

Career and Educational Aspirations

Marie Robards was ambitious in her job and schooling before her incarceration, despite her legal issues. Her dreams were halted, but she wanted a bright future.

Detail	Description
Early Work	Briefly worked as a waitress and appeared in a commercial.
Education	Enrolled as a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin in 1994.
Post-Arrest Ambitions	Expressed a desire to obtain a college degree while in prison.

Net Worth and Financial Details

The life insurance payout after her father’s death dominates Marie Robards’ money. Due to her post-release privacy, her net worth is unknown.

Detail	Description
Insurance Payout	Received over $60,000 from her father’s life insurance policy.
Legal Defense	Funds were used to cover legal expenses during her trial.
Current Financial Status	No public information available; likely maintains privacy post-release.

Family Members and Their Roles

Each member of Marie Robards’ family contributed to the story of her life and crime.

Family Member	Relationship	Details
Steven Robards	Father	Former Navy serviceman, died at 38, poisoned by Marie. Struggled with depression.
Beth Lohmer Burroughs	Mother	Separated from Steven in 1980, remarried Frank Burroughs. Close to Marie.
Frank Burroughs	Stepfather	Former Navy petty officer, later police officer. Strained relationship with Marie.
Jim Robards	Grandfather (paternal)	Advocated for probation during trial, close to Marie.
Stacey High	Best Friend	Reported Marie’s confession to police.

Life After Prison and Current Status

Marie Robards, who used a new identity after her 2003 prison release, has shunned the public eye. Her current activities are kept private to protect her privacy.

Detail	Description
Release	Released on parole in 2003 after serving part of her sentence.
Current Status	Believed to live under a new identity to avoid scrutiny, possibly married.
Privacy	Minimal public information available about her life post-release.

Broader Impact and Media Coverage

The media has extensively covered Dorothy Marie Robards’ case because to its dramatic nature and cultural interest. Productions and literature have drawn from her story.

Detail	Description
Forensic Files	Featured in Season 6, Episode 5 titled “Death Play.”
Deadly Women	Covered in Season 6, Episode 2 titled “Parents Peril.”
Redrum	Portrayed in Season 2, Episode 17.
Cultural Impact	Inspired Megan Abbott’s novel “Give Me Your Hand.”