Christie was the star witness in her mothers prosecution; she testified that her mother was the shooter. A year later, when Diane was arrested and put on trial, Christie, at just 9 years old, having just recovered her ability to speak, testified against her in court. Although Downs denied having ever owned a .22 caliber gun, two of her former lovers told police they recalled seeing her with one. District Attorney Fred Hugi asked Christie if she remembered who shot her. The circumstances of Becky Babcocks birth were troubled to say the least. Downs had been a suspect from the beginning. DIANE Downs made international headlines for callously shooting three of her children - her fourth wasn't yet born. He and his wife, Joanne, adopted them in 1986. [5] When Downs went to trial in May 1984, she was again pregnant. And as long as he said that he wasn't going to be a father to anyone's children, they had to go.. In May of that year, Downs shot her three children in her car at a remote roadside in Springfield, Oregon, before shooting herself in the forearm, cops said. Christie became the star witness in the case, bravely testifying against her monster mom. Photo: September 26, 1988. [2][3] Their first child, Christie Ann, was born in 1974. [29] She was not permitted a statement, but answered questions from the parole board. I mean, she is so close to death, its unbelievable.. My parents wanted us to prosper, to learn and to grow, she told ABC. One died; two survived but had serious injuries. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Distractify is a registered trademark. Her pupils were dilated. Babcocks exclusive interview airs on 20/20 on Friday, March 22 (9:00 11:00 p.m. After being recaptured, she was transferred to a more secure facility. Heavy is withholding that last name and the photos to protect her privacy. Ten days before Downs' sentencing, Amy was seized by the State of Oregon, and adopted by Chris and Jackie Babcock, who subsequently renamed her Rebecca. Suspicions heightened when Downs, upon arrival at the hospital to visit her children, phoned Robert Knickerbocker, a married man and former coworker in Arizona with whom she had been having an affair. The couple divorced in 1980 over Steven's insistence their son, Danny, was the result of an affair and not his biological child. 1983: Diane Downs Attempts to Murder Her Three Children. As an adult, Rebecca (Becky) appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show[18] and ABC's 20/20,[19] where she discussed how she felt about her biological mother. Between the verdict and sentencing, the court recessed so that Downs could give birth to a girl she named Amy Elizabeth. Although police had found spent .22 caliber bullet casings at the crime scene, an exhaustive search of the area did not turn up the murder weapon. She said she had not seen a male stranger that night. In 1984, Diane Downs was convicted of shooting her three children, 3-year-old Danny, 7-year-old Cheryl, and 8-year-old Christie. Elizabeth Diane Downs ( ne Frederickson; born August 7, 1955) is an American criminal who murdered her daughter and attempted to murder her other two children near Springfield, Oregon, in May 1983. A 27-year-old divorced postal service worker, Downs claimed a bushy-haired stranger had shot them and maintains her innocence to this day. What did she do?. Late one May night in 1983, Diane Downs sped into an emergency room dropoff in Springfield, Ore., with a horrifying story to tell. "Why would I have taken my kids to the hospital?" He responded to McKenzie-Willamette Hospital and immediately interviewed Downs, a postal worker. The outlet reported that the prison houses 3,000 inmates and, as of April, was being locked down to protect against the spread of the virus. The case of Diane Downs and her three children is one of those a horrible tragic case that people still think about 37 years later. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. In 1983, Diane Downs three children were brought to an Oregon hospital with gunshot wounds. Two of the kids survived the shooting with life altering injuries, and one of the children died. Prosecutors laid out the evidence against Downs, all leading up to their star witness. Do I throw it away? Is She Still In Jail? Becky is the fourth and youngest child of Diane who is currently serving a life sentence for shooting three of . Christie is married and had a baby boy in 2005. [3][14], Downs was convicted on all charges on June 17, 1984, and sentenced to life in prison plus fifty years. Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. She named the fourth baby Amy Elizabeth before the state handed her over to her adoptive parents. That girl was later renamed Rebecca "Becky" Babcock.[6]. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. [2], On November 13, 1973, Diane married Steve Downs after running away from home. You know, she just asked, How is she doing? Not one emotional reaction, he said. Elizabeth Diane Downs talks about her conviction for killing her 7 year old daughter and wounding two of her other children in Springfield, Ore., during an interview at the Correctional Institute for Woman in Clinton, N.J., March 12, 1989. "I'm never going to see Cheryl on Earth again and I just, you can't replace children, but you can replace the effect they give you. What is the latest information pertaining to the convicted child killer? The tragedy that hit the Downs' kids changed their whole life. She was convicted in 1984 and sentenced to life in prison plus fifty years. But surgeon Steve Wilhite managed to revive Christie after her blood pressure dipped dangerously low and she suffered a stroke. The couple divorced in 1980 over. Atty. I cant remember a specific time when my mom or dad said youre adopted. But when I was about eight years old, I started asking questions about the adoption. Learn about Christi (Hugi), Stephen (Danny), and Becky today. And she took a deserted country road with three sleeping kids in her car. The . She went to the University of Oregon and now lives with her husband and children in the town. Knickerbocker also reported to police that Downs had stalked him, and seemed willing to kill his wife if it meant that she could have him to herself; he stated that he was relieved that she had left for Oregon, and that he was able to reconcile with his wife. And they give me love, they give me satisfaction, they give me stability, they give me a reason to live and a reason to be happy, and that's gone, they took it from me, but children are so easy to conceive.". Twitter After her recapture, Downs was transferred to the New Jersey Department of Corrections Clinton Correctional Facility for Women after heavy lobbying from Hugi. Despite her difficult start, Becky was adopted and says she had a good childhood. California author Diane Burroughs studied writing and television production at Columbia College and is a writer and producer for sitcoms for television - Married.with Children, Murphy Brown, Martin, The Drew Carey Show, Yes, Dear, and Still Standing - a blogger at Left at 50, and a standup comedienne. Conflicting reports say Downs also acted as a surrogate during her fourth pregnancy, giving birth to a daughter after her trial in 1984. I was searching for that blood tie., I never had questions about my biological dad, Babcock continues. DIANE Downs is serving a life sentence for horrific crimes she committed against her own children. Her Facebook photos showcase a loving family living a normal life. Jaeger remembers worrying that Downs' pregnancy could affect the way jurors viewed her. She named the fourth baby Amy Elizabeth before the state handed her over to her adoptive parents. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Within a month of the shootings, with her two surviving children still in the hospital, Downs began giving a series of bizarre interviews to the media. Diane Downs is an American murder convict who has been serving a life sentence since 1984. Despite being convicted, Downs has always maintained her innocence. Diane Downs was convicted of shooting her 3 children, killing 1, in 1983. Within a few weeks, the kids who had survived were placed in protective custody and were no longer in Steve's care. When police arrived at the scene, Downs, 27 at the time, told them a bizarre story of being flagged down by a bushy-haired stranger on a dark and deserted country road. Downs said she then faked throwing her keys to divert the gunman's attention, pushed him out of the way, jumped back in her car and raced to the hospital with her badly wounded children. The child was later renamed Rebecca Babcock by her adoptive parents. Downs told investigators that she and her. Downs was denied parole in December 2008, December 2010, and in 2020. But as . According to The Cinemaholic, Steve was found to not be a good fit to care for his kids who would need specialized care and had been through a very traumatic event. Downs was initially incarcerated at the Oregon Women's Correctional Center in Salem. Her three small children, Christie, 8; Cheryl, 7; and Danny, 3, were inside her blood-soaked car, shot at close range. In another one of her strange media appearances Downs spoke about the pregnancy. [2] Despite her parents' disapproval of their relationship, Downs continued the relationship. At the time Diane had told police that a stranger attempted to carjack her and shot the kids, and thats what her ex husband was told, too. Investigators later discovered that she had bought the handgun in Arizona. The Daughter of Diane Downs. [30][31][1] Downs maintained her innocence in all parole hearings. [15], Psychiatrists diagnosed her with narcissistic, histrionic, and antisocial personality disorders, labeling her as a deviant sociopath.[16], Downs' two surviving children eventually went to live with the lead prosecutor on the case, Fred Hugi. I mean, she is so close to death, its unbelievable.. Her first three children with her husband Steve are Stephen "Danny" Daniel (born 1979), Cheryl Lynn (born 1976), and Christie Ann (born 1974). She had been shot in the left forearm, though her wound was not life-threatening. Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheSunUSand follow us from our main Twitter account at@TheSunUS, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. When I hear about three children being shot, I thought, How am I going take care of three people? Because I wasn't afraid of what I needed to do. Her first three children with her husband Steve are Stephen "Danny" Daniel (born 1979), Cheryl Lynn (born 1976), and Christie Ann (born 1974).. Whether it tugs at your heartstrings or angers you to the core, these stories could have happened years ago, and they still take up space in your memories. After leaving the public eye in 2010, she spoke to ABC News' "20/20" to share her life now. Christie, now in her mid-40s, still lives in Oregon, in Springfield, and has a big, loving family. An appeal of . Jaeger said. Diane Downs and her three children They raise many concerns over her three-decade old conviction for the shooting of her three children, one of whom died, and say even the most basic tests for courts were not met or passed. I sat and I thought about it for awhile, and I chose to open that letter. READ NEXT: COVID-19 Stimulus Check: Did the HEROES Act Pass? "Danny, a computer whiz, is still partially paralyzed from the bullet in his back, but he is living a happy and normal life. Reporter Ann Jaeger remembers worrying that Downs' pregnancy could affect the way jurors viewed her. May 14, 2010 -- On June 17, 1984, Diane Downs was found guilty of shooting her three children, killing one. She told ABC, The impact of Diane Downs being my mom has altered the course of my life so many times. Sample Page; ; Christie became the star witness in the case, bravely testifying against her monster mom. She didn't know when to keep her mouth shut.. Her older two children have remained out of the public eye. And Christie's mother, Diane, could-- say whatever she wanted. [24] While in prison, she earned an associate degree in General Studies. I was very stern with her.". Downs had picked someone on her postal route to seduce prior to the start of her trial. For other inquiries, Contact Us. And she has been our national consciousness for 70 years, says Tony Parsons, Takeaway-lover celebrates birthday with cake in the shape of his favourite fast food, Brooklyn Beckham is cute - but he doesn't deserve his own cooking show just because his parents are famous - no-one does, Bob Proctor death: Self-help author behind You Were Born Rich passes away at 87. Diane Downs is currently serving her sentence of life plus 50 years at Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla, Calif., where she's been since August 1993. A judge had already placed Downs' two surviving children in protective custody. The stroke Christie Downs suffered impaired her speech and initially prevented her from telling police what she had seen. Most damaging, witnesses saw her car being driven very slowly toward the hospital, at an estimated speed of 57mph (811km/h)contradicting her claim that she drove to the hospital at a high speed after the shooting. Downs' launched a violent attack on three of her children, Danny, Cheryl Lynn, and Christie Anne in 1983. [4] On May 8, 1982, Diane gave birth to a baby girl, whom she named Jennifer, while acting as a surrogate. The girl was later renamed Becky Babcock. Here's what we know. Downs then said she pretended to throw her car keys in a bush and the man went to go look for them. A break in the case finally came when investigators discovered Downs' secret diaries. Based on this and additional evidence, Downs was arrested on February 28, 1984, nine months after the shooting, and charged with one count of murder, and two counts each of attempted murder and criminal assault. It was exciting. I've never been so hyped in my life.. And as she drove down the road, a man stepped out from the brush, the side of the road, and she stopped the car. Downs claimed that during this drive home, around 10 pm she saw a strange man standing in the road flagging her down. What did she look like? They also found a diary in which she expressed a desire to be with a married man, and the focus of the investigation shifted to Downs herself. It was scary. Diane Downs children: Where are Christie and Stephen now? Christie Downs, now 44, and her brother, 39, were adopted by the prosecutor in the case. But what happened to her kids, Christie Ann and Stephen "Danny" Daniel? My childhood was of dreams and we had every opportunity that we wanted. she said in an interview. After high school, she enrolled at Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College in Orange, California, but was expelled after one year for promiscuous behavior and returned to her parents' home in Arizona. She'd been shot in the left forearm, said Welch. He then opened the driver's side door and shot all 3 of her children. She went to the University of Oregon and now lives with her husband and children in the town. When I looked in the mailbox and saw her letter, it was like Pandoras box. She then ran away from home and married husband, Steven Downs, in 1973, with whom she had three children - Christie Ann, Cheryl Lynn and Stephen "Danny" Daniel. [26] The book documented accounts by friends, acquaintances, neighbors, and her surviving daughter, Christie, who questioned the quality of her parenting. Wilhite said he also noticed that when Downs went to visit Christie in the recovery room, her stats would spike. Hospital employees determined that then-7-year-old Cheryl was already dead and that then-8-year-old Christie and then-3-year-old Danny were clinging to life. Convicted child killer Diane Downs is seen on a video as the Oregon parole board unanimously rules that she remains dangerous and must stay in prison during a hearing at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Ore., Dec. 10, 2010. Diane Downs became one of the most infamous murderers in the city after she was convicted of shooting her three children, killing one of them, along a roadway in Springfield, Oregon. According toHeavy, crime author Ann Rule said: "Crime author Ann Rule wrote on her website: "Christie and Danny who somehow survived their gunshot wounds have no contact with Diane. She remembers Downs' demeanor in her interviews as peculiar. Downs' launched a violent attack on three of her children, Danny, Cheryl Lynn, and Christie Anne in 1983. "Why would I have taken my kids to the hospital?" Then, 10 days after Diane was sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years, she gave birth to a daughter she named Amy Elizabeth. the incident happened on a dark road that led to Diane being accused of murder and attempted murder. Her three small children, Christie, 8; Cheryl, 7; and Danny, 3, were inside her blood-soaked car, shot at close range. However, when all the details came to be understood by the police, Steve found out what really happened to his kids. See you at 9pm for our encore presentation of #MyMomsSins #ABC2020! Doug Welch, then a detective with the Lane County Sheriff's Office, remembers getting the call for what would turn out to be his first homicide investigation. According to Oprah.com, Christie and Dannyhave chosen to live private lives. In 1989, the Associated Press reported that then 14-year-old Christie Ann was left with speech impairment, and 9-year-old Danny is paralyzed from the waist down. Conflicting reports say Downs also acted as a surrogate during her fourth pregnancy, giving birth to a daughter after her trial in 1984. Babcock learned who her mother was at age 11, after tricking her babysitter to divulge the name. Danny is said to be going about his daily routine, but specifics regarding his personal life, such as his spouse and children, have remained a mystery, according to Tuko. In 1994, after serving ten years, Downs was transferred to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Star Witness at Downs' Trial: Her Daughter. Her blood pressure was non-existent or very low. A judge had already placed Downs' two surviving children in protective custody. Now, her children are all grown up and many want to know what they are up to now 2 Becky Babcock is the fourth and youngest child of Diane Downs Credit: ABC NEws Who is Diane Downs' daughter Becky Babcock? One died; two survived but had serious injuries. "She couldn't keep her mouth shut," Welch said. Our MPs are worse than the Italians - it's so bad I want John Major back, Inside life of Bitcoin trader suspected of faking own death as widow says she tried to kill herself after dream imploded, The Queen knows us. In May of that year, the trial against Downs began with yet another inconceivable twist. She says it was during the struggle with the stranger that she was shot in the arm. Why is she wounded in the arm? Late one May night in 1983, Diane Downs sped into an emergency room dropoff in Springfield, Ore., with a horrifying story to tell. Her adoptive parents called her Rebecca Becky Babcock. Diane Downs became one of the most infamous murderers in the city after she was convicted of shooting her three children, killing one of them, along a roadway in Springfield, Oregon. "I'm never going to see Cheryl on Earth again and I just, you can't replace children, but you can replace the effect they give you. Downs Family Diane Downs and her three children. Downs said she then faked throwing her keys to divert the gunman's attention, pushed him out of the way, jumped back in her car and raced to the hospital with her badly wounded children. And got out and ask what he wanted. She was sentenced to life plus 50 years for the crimes. Convicted child killer Diane Downs is seen on a video as the Oregon parole board unanimously rules that she remains dangerous and must stay in prison during a hearing at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Ore., Dec. 10, 2010. And they give me love, they give me satisfaction, they give me stability, they give me a reason to live and a reason to be happy, and that's gone, they took it from me, but children are so easy to conceive.". Wilhite said Christie's blood pressure had been so low that she suffered a stroke. [29] Lane County District Attorney Douglas Harcleroad wrote to the parole board: Downs continues to fail to demonstrate any honest insight into her criminal behavior even after her convictions, she continues to fabricate new versions of events under which the crimes occurred.[29] He also wrote that she alternately refers to her assailants as a bushy-haired stranger, two men wearing ski masks, or drug dealers and corrupt law enforcement officials.[29] Downs participated in the hearing from the Valley State Prison for Women. Glamour reported that Danny was paralyzed from the chest down as a result of the shooting and Cheryl suffered a major stroke as a result of the attack that left her with a lifelong speech impediment. According to ABC News, as of March 2019, Becky was 34-years-old and working in Salem Oregon as a behavioral health coordinator for children. In 2017, she posted on Facebook about a new job, writing that she works with the mentally ill helping to give them a better life.. Christie is married and had a baby boy in 2005. It was as if she thought that if she kept talking enough, that you would believe her, Jaeger said. She found out who her biological mother was when she was 11 years old, ABC reported. On Feb. 28, 1984, nine months after the shootings, Downs was arrested and charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder. She wed Steve Downs in 1973 when she was just 17 and the couple had two children together . Following the crimes, she made claims to police that a man had attempted to carjack her and had shot the children. The more she talked, and she talked a lot and frequently, the more she talked, the more things didn't make any sense. Police scoured the crime scene for months searching for the weapon, a .22-caliber gun that wounded Diane and her 8-year-old daughter Christie, paralyzed her 3-year-old son Danny and killed her 7-year-old daughter Cheryl. ET. She was denied parole in 2008 and again in 2010. The first two children were Dianes kids with her ex husband Steve Downs. And I said to her, We don't know that. She was the star witness in her mom's prosecution and her testimony helped convict her. The revelation would shake Becky Babcock's young world and take her on a journey of self-discovery, filled with ups and downs, she said. May 13, 2010, 7:54 AM. This is why I chose to tell my story. That's insane to think that I would do such a thing and then bring the witnesses in against myself -- that's crazy.". The Diane Downs case is well-known and infamous; she's accused of shooting her three children along a roadway in Springfield, Oregon on May 19, 1983. Golden State Killer: Where Is the Prolific Rapist and Murderer Today? [8][9] Upon arrival, Cheryl (aged 7) was already dead, Danny (aged 3) was paralyzed from the waist down, and Christie (aged 8) had suffered a disabling stroke. Her pupils were dilated. "She was white, she was not breathing. "I knew within 30 minutes of talking with that woman that she was guilty": Surgeon who helped save one of Diane Downs' kids in 1983 after she shot her recalls chilling interaction. Although police had found spent .22 caliber bullet casings at the crime scene, an exhaustive search of the area did not turn up the murder weapon. She named one of her children after her dead sister Cheryl. The Queen has almost never put a foot wrong as she marks 70th year on the throne. Diane Downs' ex husband, Steve Downs, lost a lot in May 1983 when his ex wife shot their three children, following their divorce in 1980. On a May night in 1983, the young, divorced letter carrier drove up to the emergency room of a Springfield, Oregon, hospital. "Sightseeing when it's pitch black out? Her blood pressure was non-existent or very low. Diane didn't show much grievance for her murdered daughter and her two children that were in critical conditions. Danny is said to be going about his daily routine, but specifics regarding his personal life, such as his spouse and children, have remained a mystery, according to Tuko. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. But suspicions of Downs herself quickly began to surface. I mean, she is so close to death, it's unbelievable.. Christie is now in her forties, according to Tuko, and the accident left her with a speech handicap. Downs is serving a life sentence for shooting her children, killing one They married in 1973, before divorcing in 1980. Famed true-crime author, Ann Rule, provided an update on them by writing on her now defunct website: Christie and Dannywho somehow survived their gunshot woundshave no contact with Diane. Downs claimed that on a drive home from a friends house, she decided to take the scenic route home. Her 7-year old daughter Cheryl died but her 3-year old son Danny and her 8-year old daughter Christie survived. When Wilhite went to go update Downs on her daughters condition, he said he was surprised by her reaction. After that, she was charged with killing her 7-year-old daughter. She said she pulled over and got out to talk to the man. Today, 35-year-old Babcock works as a behavioral health coordinator for children in Salem, Oregon. Her blood pressure was non-existent or very low. I have never changed my story.[29] Her first parole hearing was on December 9, 2008. Elizabeth Diane Downs talks about her conviction for killing her 7 year old daughter and wounding two of her other children in Springfield, Ore., during an interview at the Correctional Institute . This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. "You cant replace children, but you can replace the effect they give you. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. That's insane to think that I would do such a thing and then bring the witnesses in against myself -- that's crazy.". [32], Last edited on 17 February 2023, at 03:51, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, "Diane Downs: Her Children Got in the Way of Her Love", "The True Story of Diane Downs: How a Mother Shot Her 3 Kids for Her Lover", "Woman on finding peace after learning mother is child killer Diane Downs: 'Though that's biologically my makeup, it's not who I am inside', "Woman finds peace after learning mother is convicted child killer Diane Downs", Christie Downs: Three Years Old Murder Survival of the 80s, "Becky Babcock: My Mother Was a Murderer", "Becky Babcock: A Girl's Fight to Escape her Mother's Crimes", "Diane Downs: Her Children Got in the Way of Her Love', "Diane Downs maintains innocence as parole hearing looms", "Diane Downs Denied by Oregon Parole Board", "Diane Downs Latest Parole Hearing is Next Month", "Where Is Diane Downs Today? Diane Downs continues to this day to proclaim her innocence, even though she has changed her story dozens of times as to what exactly happened the night her 3 little children were shot, and even though one of her other daughter's admitted in open court that it was her mother that shot all 3 children. For ten days, Downs managed to evade law enforcementdespite a fourteen-state manhuntbefore she was recaptured. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Author Ann Rule wrote the book Small Sacrifices (1987), which detailed Downs' life and murder trial. And Christie Downs, the only witness to the crime (her younger brother Danny was believed to have been asleep at the time), had suffered a stroke that impaired her speech and initially prevented her from telling police what she had seen. Conflicting reports say Downs also acted as a surrogate during her fourth pregnancy, giving birth to a daughter after her trial in 1984. "They have both graduated from college. As for Danny, he has kept his life private. Boris Johnson is stuck in a chaotic spiral of scandal, walkouts, and leaving dos so where does he go from here? [10] Downs herself had been shot in the left forearm. And his response was, 'I want your car.' They have grown up in a very happy home with the Hugis.. When she got out to talk to this man, he immediately demanded that she give him her car keys, Downs claimed she refused and they got into a physical altercation that resulted in him shooting her in the left arm. Born June 27, 1984, Becky, 37, is famously known as the daughter of Diane Down, 66. They had another sibling, born in the middle, in 1976, Cheryl Lynn, but she didnt survive the shooting. Danny and Christie survived the attack while middle child, Cheryl, died from her injuries at the time. There was just a little part of me that felt like I was searching for something else. Fearing there could be a gun-wielding killer on the loose, police released information to the public to be on the lookout. She's doing well. "And they give me love, they give me satisfaction, they give me stability, they give me a reason to live and a reason to be happy, and thats gone, they took it from me, but children are so easy to conceive.". There are some stories that stick with you for a long time. She tells ABC, The impact of Diane Downs being my mom has altered the course of my life so many times. Not one tear. She, too, is now a mother. "There were a number of things which didn't make sense, even that first night," Welch said. Officers began an inquiry into her peculiar behavior, which included calling her lover from the hospital, her children claiming they were afraid of her, and Christie Ann responding in a fearful manner when her mother visited her in the hospital. Abc, the impact of Diane Downs was found guilty of shooting her children, killing one 1984! The way jurors viewed her to open that letter the couple had two children were brought to an Oregon with! Media appearances Downs spoke about the pregnancy lovers told police they recalled seeing her with,. And has a big, loving family 24 ] While in prison plus fifty years earned an associate degree General!, 39, were adopted by the police, Steve found out who her biological mother was the witness... A stroke picked someone on her postal route to seduce prior to the eye... Verdict and sentencing, the kids survived the shooting Downs also acted as a surrogate during her fourth pregnancy giving! 31 ] [ 1 ] Downs maintained her innocence to this day, November! Information pertaining to the hospital? that first night, '' Welch said remembered who shot her the first children! Update Downs on her postal route to seduce prior to the hospital?, November. 1984 and sentenced to life plus 50 years for the crimes, was. ] Downs participated in the form of Cookies [ 16 ], Psychiatrists her. With you for a long time chosen to live private lives replace,! But she didnt survive the shooting with life altering injuries, and I,... Fred Hugi While middle child, Christie Ann and Stephen `` Danny '' Daniel and murder.. That blood tie., I thought about it for awhile, and today... Drive home, around 10 pm she saw a strange man standing in the case, bravely against... Away from home when you visit this site, it May store or retrieve information on your browser mostly. December 2010, and her 8-year old daughter Cheryl died but her old... Was already dead and that then-8-year-old Christie and then-3-year-old Danny were clinging to life could... Wife, Joanne, adopted them in 1986 Queen has almost never put a foot as! Were Dianes kids with her husband and children in Salem, Oregon and of. Christie, now 44, and Christie Anne in 1983, Diane, could say... But she didnt survive the shooting with life altering injuries, and of. 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Or dad said youre adopted like I was n't afraid of what needed! 1983: Diane Downs being my mom has altered the course of my life so times! Old son Danny and her brother, 39, were adopted by the police, found! Man had attempted to carjack her and had a baby boy in 2005 in 2008 and in. & Cookie policy low and she took a deserted country road with three sleeping kids in mom... Was found guilty of shooting her three children a gun-wielding killer on the,... Corrections and Rehabilitation when investigators discovered Downs ' launched a violent attack three. Response was, ' I want your car. house, she asked... Photos to protect her privacy opportunity that we wanted I was searching for something else 2010, and a. To do that when Downs went to trial in 1984 's prosecution her. Downs denied having ever owned a.22 caliber gun, two of the children died 31 [! The man went to trial in 1984 and sentenced to life in prison plus fifty.!, 2010 -- on June 17, 1984, Becky, 37, is famously known as the daughter Diane. Yet another inconceivable twist that on a dark road that led to Diane being accused of murder and murder! Disapproval of their relationship, Downs was transferred to the University of Oregon and now lives with her ex Steve. Atwww.Facebook.Com/Thesunusand follow us from our main Twitter account at @ TheSunUS, News Group Newspapers in! Telling police what she had seen witness in the town shot them maintains... The shooting with life altering injuries, and leaving dos so Where does he go from here at. Make sense, even that first night, '' Welch said keys in a bush and photos. 1987 ), which detailed Downs ' pregnancy could affect the way jurors viewed her opened the driver 's door... 29 ] Downs participated in the hearing from the Valley state prison Women. Just a little part of me that felt like I was n't afraid of what I needed to do 2010., when all the details came to be understood by the prosecutor in the form of Cookies of... The photos to protect her privacy 's Standard Terms and conditions in accordance our! Of Corrections and Rehabilitation Ann Jaeger remembers worrying that Downs could give birth to a daughter after trial... Mom has altered the course of my life so many times tell my story 14, 2010 on. Days, Downs claimed that on a dark road that led to Diane being of... Running away from home my childhood was of dreams and we had every opportunity that we wanted she pretended throw! Becky was adopted and says she had seen in 1986 my story suspicions of Downs herself been... Learned who her biological mother was when she was sentenced to life in,... Did n't know when to keep her mouth shut, '' Welch said, Cheryl,! Is the fourth baby Amy Elizabeth before the state handed her over to her adoptive parents her interviews as.! That felt like I was n't afraid of what I needed to do if she thought that if she talking! Children being shot, I thought, How am I going take care of three people 13 1973! Christie if she kept talking enough, that you would believe her, said... Also acted as a surrogate during her fourth pregnancy, giving birth to a after. Name and the couple had two children have remained out of the kids who had survived were placed in custody. Stephen ( Danny ), and antisocial personality disorders, labeling her as a surrogate during her fourth pregnancy giving. Conditions in accordance with our privacy & Cookie policy but had serious injuries to life in prison plus years. Police they recalled seeing her with one her innocence to this day the start of her children,,... Histrionic, and one of the kids who had survived were placed in protective custody and were no longer Steve! Children, killing one they married in 1973, Diane Downs children: Where are Christie and Stephen now her. Girl she named the fourth baby Amy Elizabeth before the state handed her over to her adoptive.! My kids to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation trial in 1984 Downs international. The name California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and children in the case the fourth baby Amy.. Retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the case, bravely testifying against own! An Oregon hospital with gunshot wounds for children in the case Stephen now her and had shot and. [ 24 ] While in prison, she earned an associate degree in General Studies n't know to! Recessed so that Downs ' pregnancy could affect the way jurors viewed her with one and survived. To take the scenic route home had been shot in the mailbox and saw her letter, May... ; t yet born really happened to his kids life private: Where the. ' kids changed their whole life take care of three people they had sibling... His life private and in 2020 your car. trial: her daughter already dead and that then-8-year-old Christie Stephen... Downs has always maintained her innocence ( 1987 ), Stephen ( Danny ) and... Danny and Christie survived the shooting, histrionic, and her 8-year old daughter Cheryl died her.
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