Downs said: "I got pregnant because I miss Christie and I miss Danny and I miss Cheryl so much. Her mother was on trial for shooting her siblings, and some believed that Diane Downs got pregnant to gain sympathy. By the time she arrived at the hospital, Cheryl, seven, was already dead and the other two children had suffered devastating injuries. [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. The baby was taken by the state and delivered to adoptive parents. Stephen Downs (known as Danny), 3, Cheryl, 7, and Christie, 8, were shot in the May 19, 1983 attack. A 27-year-old divorced postal service worker, Downs claimed a bushy-haired stranger had shot them and maintains her innocence to this day. Wilhite said he then found a judge who issued an order making him and another doctor Christies guardians. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. The Queen has almost never put a foot wrong as she marks 70th year on the throne. "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. 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 Christie knew that.. She shot her three children but claimed that she was carjacked and that her children were shot by a stranger. Fearing there could be a gun-wielding killer on the loose, police released information to the public to be on the lookout. "Her initial statement was that she had taken the kids out to a friend's house," said Welch. "They have both graduated from college. Wilhite said Christie's blood pressure had been so low that she suffered a stroke. There are some stories that stick with you for a long time. For ten days, Downs managed to evade law enforcementdespite a fourteen-state manhuntbefore she was recaptured. 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. [2] Despite her parents' disapproval of their relationship, Downs continued the relationship. 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. Downs, herself, started feeling sick and was told by a supervisor to rest after seemingly showcasing symptoms at work, where she refurbishes bicycles for underprivileged children. An appeal of . She, too, is now a mother. She had been shot in the left forearm, though her wound was not life-threatening. She loves us. "She was white, she was not breathing. Via an email sent through her brother, James Frederickson, Downs told OregonLive, Every time the World News shows the big red circles on the national map, I look at Oregon because thats where Christie and Daniel are Compared to other States, it appears Oregons red circle is smaller than most places. But as . Atty. I've never been so hyped in my life.. Copyright 2023 Distractify. From Arizona to Oregon, the family had moved just shortly before the incident for Dianes job in the U.S. postal service. [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? Critics said she deliberately became pregnant in order to garner sympathy from the jury. Her first three children with her husband Steve are Stephen "Danny" Daniel (born 1979), Cheryl Lynn (born 1976), and Christie Ann (born 1974).. 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. [29], Downs had parole hearings in 2010 and 2020, which were both denied. It was suspected I hit over 100 miles an hour coming down the freeway, he said. She replied, 'You've got to be kidding,' at which time he pushed her aside and reached in and shot the sleeping kids.". In court, according to Glamour, prosecutors argued that Downs motive to get rid of her children stemmed from the fact that her boyfriend at the time did not want kids. "There were a number of things which didn't make sense, even that first night," Welch said. Look at her," Jaeger said. Downs Family Diane Downs and her three children. Stephen danny downs was the son of Diane Downs is a murderer who was convicted in the United States and is currently serving a life term for the crime she committed in 1984. Downs claimed that during this drive home, around 10 pm she saw a strange man standing in the road flagging her down. "You cant replace children, but you can replace the effect they give you. [27] A made-for-TV movie, also titled Small Sacrifices, starred Farrah Fawcett as Downs, and was aired on ABC in 1989. After Babcock found out about her notorious mother, she decided to make contact. She says things to me like, Boy, this has really spoiled my vacation, and she also says, That really ruined my new car. It's not even known if he still resides in Arizona, where he used to live with Diane and their three kids. When Wilhite went to go update Downs on her daughters condition, he said he was surprised by her reaction. Here's what we know. 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. They have both graduated from college. There's very few cases quite like this one, he said. I mean, she is so close to death, it's unbelievable.. In a statement to Heavy, Terry Thornton, Deputy Press Secretary of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, stated, Elizabeth Diane Downs, 64, is currently housed at Central California Womens Facility. Christie was the star witness in her mothers prosecution; she testified that her mother was the shooter. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. And why are the kids fatally or near-fatally wounded, and she, being right-handed, is shot in the left arm? 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 . In a two-hour 20/20 documentary, Babcock opens up about learning the truth regarding her infamous mom. 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. Now Dianes youngest child is speaking out 36 years later. Powered by. "I got pregnant because I miss Christie and I miss Danny and I miss Cheryl so much," she said. "Danny, a computer whiz, is still partially paralyzed from the bullet in his back, but he is living a happy and normal life. According to Glamour, the motive given for why Diane shot her kids was thought to be because the married man she was seeing at the time did not want any children. In the frantic scene, hospital employees quickly determined that Cheryl was already dead and that Christie and Danny were clinging to life. ET on ABC. I showered, slept for 4 hours, woke up and drank water, then went back to sleep for 16 more hours, she wrote. That's insane to think that I would do such a thing and then bring the witnesses in against myself -- that's crazy.". Danny was the product of an affair. And got out and ask what he wanted. 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. A 27-year-old divorced postal service worker, Downs claimed a bushy-haired stranger had shot them and maintains her innocence to this day. She was later adopted by another family. Downs claimed that on a drive home from a friends house, she decided to take the scenic route home. Diane considered the kids to be a burden or a hindrance to Nick's arrival, Welch said. Danny, a computer whiz, is still partially paralyzed from the bullet in his back, but he is living a happy and normal life. Downs had picked someone on her postal route to seduce prior to the start of her trial. Diane Downs always wanted to be a mom, she told Inside Edition in its first-ever episode in 1989. Now, as Diane Downs comes up for parole next year, her daughter speaks out. 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. She said she had not seen a male stranger that night. It was exciting. According to witnesses, she then drove at a pace of between 5-7 mph to the local hospital, where she then claimed to hospital staff she had been car-jacked by a stranger who shot herself and her children. It was mainly about my biological mom. Photo: September 26, 1988. I knew my entire life that I was adopted, Babcock tells the show in an exclusive clip obtained by PEOPLE. [22] She received an additional five-year sentence for the escape. I have used the term verbal vomit when talking' about Diane because she talked a lot. Learn about Christi (Hugi), Stephen (Danny), and Becky today. The couple divorced in 1980 over. Growing up, Diane followed those values, however, after the age of 14, she became more rebellious and eventually dropped "Elizabeth" from her name and went by Diane. In another one of her strange media appearances Downs spoke about the pregnancy. They have grown up in a very happy home with the Hugis.. DIANE Downs is serving a life sentence for horrific crimes she committed against her own children. A surgeon told ABC News of treating Christie: When I looked at Christie I thought she was dead, he said. As for Danny, he has kept his life private. 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. Det. Her three small children, Christie, 8; Cheryl, 7; and Danny, 3, were inside her blood-soaked car, shot at close range. She said she had not seen a male stranger that night. She will be eligible for parole in 2020 and continues to proclaim her innocence. The outlet also reported Downs as saying that prisoners at the facility started suffering from COVID-19 symptoms in February. Baby was taken by the State and delivered to adoptive parents Christie and I Cheryl... 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