Murder at the Lace-Arlington's Elite Nightclub

Texas Wine and True Crime

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Behind the glamorous façade of Arlington's elite Lace Nightclub lurked a tragedy waiting to unfold. What began as a routine morning for three employees in December 1989 transformed into a nightmare when a man with a gun forced his way inside, leaving devastation in his wake.
Jennifer Burns, a 24-year-old accountant, arrived with her roommate and colleague Sally Fogle for their morning shift at the upscale establishment. When day manager Clay Griffin joined them shortly after, none suspected they were walking into a deadly trap. After stealing over $11,000 from the safe, the perpetrator forced all three to lie face-down and methodically shot each one. Jennifer would not survive her injuries.
The investigation revealed a shocking suspect – David Lee Herman, a former Lace manager with no criminal record who had reinvented himself as a stockbroker. Described by former colleagues as "the best manager we ever had," Herman's transformation from model citizen to cold-blooded killer stunned everyone who knew him. What drove a seemingly normal man to such a brutal act? During questioning, Herman admitted the crime gave him a sense of power he had never experienced before.
This compelling case study in criminal psychology illuminates how someone can maintain a perfectly normal exterior while harboring deadly capabilities. It's a sobering reminder that sometimes those who appear most ordinary can commit the most extraordinary acts of violence when driven by unfulfilled desires for power, status, and control.
Herman was executed in 1997 after a failed suicide attempt the day before his scheduled execution, bringing a final chapter to a case that continues to haunt Arlington's history. We explore the full timeline, the investigation breakthroughs, and the disturbing psychological aspects that make this case so unforgettable.
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Chapters

1. Murder at the Lace-Arlington's Elite Nightclub (00:00:00)

2. Texas Wine and True Crime Introduction (00:00:19)

3. Robert Clay Vineyards and Dinner Pairing (00:01:01)

4. The Lace Nightclub Case Begins (00:03:36)

5. The Robbery and Execution (00:08:37)

6. Introduction to David Lee Herman (00:19:41)

7. The Investigation and Capture (00:29:10)

8. Trial, Conviction and Execution (00:38:02)

9. Episode Conclusion (00:41:22)