Steven Losch: Lawyer devoted career
to death-penalty cases
05/05/2003
By TIARA M. ELLIS / The Dallas Morning News
A Longview lawyer who was best known for his work
in the defense of Darlie Routier during her second appeal
process died Saturday morning.
Steven Losch, a former New Yorker, devoted his one-man
practice to defending death-penalty cases. He was found
unconscious in his Longview home by his wife, Kaye,
on Thursday.
Mr. Losch, 54, died after being taken off life support,
said his stepdaughter Jenni Knutson.
Mr. Losch had struggled through two cervical spine
surgeries over the last year and had continuing medical
problems as a result, family and friends said.
Ms. Routier was convicted and sentenced to death in
1997 for killing her 5-year-old son, Damon Routier.
She also was accused of killing her 6-year-old son,
Devon. She insists that an intruder fatally stabbed
her the boys and then stabbed her in her Rowlett home.
The case is being appealed.
J. Stephen Cooper, a friend and co-counsel on the Routier
case, said that in the past couple of weeks, Mr. Losch
"sounded horrible. Still upbeat, but you could
tell he was in a lot of pain."
It was that strength and his belief in God that made
him such a good lawyer, Ms. Knutson said.
"He's a very, very intelligent man, and lots of
people came to him for help over the years," she
said, adding that he also believed in passing on his
knowledge to young lawyers. Several college professors
would send students to work with him on cases, Ms. Knutson
said.
Mr. Cooper said Mr. Losch's beliefs made him good at
his work.
"He was a real strong personality and firm in
his convictions, a brilliant lawyer who fought hard
for his clients," he said.
In addition to his wife and stepdaughter, Mr. Losch
is survived by his mother, Florence Losch, of Kansas
City, Mo.; two siblings; and two other stepchildren,
Jeffrey Wright and Jodi Robinson. Funeral services are
scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday at Rader Funeral Home in
Longview.
Staff writers Holly Becka and Rae DeShong contributed
to this report.
E-mail tellis@dallasnews.com
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