The book had details of Downs' life and murder trial based on accounts by her friends, acquaintances, neighbors, and daughter Christie who had identified her as the shooter. One was "Animal" and with 3 kids bleeding in backseat. Doesn't Recall Speaking With Mayor. Diane Downs is an American murder convict who has been serving a life sentence since 1984. Psychiatric tests revealed that Downs was narcissistic and histrionic and had antisocial personality disorders. In Diane's words, "after a while you get tired of doing everything for your kids." Soon they turned their sights onto Rachel's 26-year-old autistic brother Shaun, killing him as well. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. But in 1984, her second daughter Christie was brought to the court as a witness and she identified Downs as the person who had shot at them. Young Indian Cop Collapses, Dies Suddenly While Exercising at Gym; Heart Attack Caused by Covid-19 Vaccine? There were bloodstains inside her car, but the driver's seat looked clean. ), Downs was eventually found at the home of her cellmates husband, Wayne Seifer. (British Columbia) - On May 19, 1983, Elizabeth Diane Downs and her three small children were shot on a country road near Springfield, Oregon. or redistributed. like an idol to him. There was just a little part of me that felt like I was searching for something else. and set her free from prison. With the right planning and dedication, anyone can have a successful garden this summer. Their second child, Cheryl Lynn, was born in 1976. send you a check for Downs was convicted of shooting her three children: Danny, Cheryl, and Christie in Springfield, Oregon 37 years ago. Well Jim, that got me to thinking. Diane Downs, the woman who had shot her three children, killing one is trending as she has opened up about her life in jail during the coronavirus pandemic. Downs, born Elizabeth Diane Frederickson, was a 27-year-old divorced postal worker when she pulled up outside a hospital in Oregon in May 1983. In the recorded confession, Diane is sitting with her arms crossed, wearing a floral shirt. The day Diane walks free from He wanted to teach her a lesson and make her suffer, Fredrickson said, according to OregonLive. An often cited lack of visual remorse was a big part of what led to her conviction. HOME New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. To tell the truth, I don't even want to know. Find out on tonights episode of ABC News 20/20 airing tonight on ABC at 9pm ET/PT>, Diane Downs: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. No, I don't. Babcock was born while Diane was incarcerated. ANTIMONY AND BARIUM had said, but I began to wonder what I meant when I told you I don't hate you. shooting. She was sentenced to life imprisonment and an additional 50 years. Susan Smith drowned her two young sons by strapping them into their carseats and rolling the car down a boat launch into a lake. Go make your confession meant. Not evidence, not scientific proof. friends besides Clayton and Fran, who talked to me in 1993. Do I think you are an animal? Let me clarify that statement. Shes never confessed (that I know of) and NEVER shed a single tear or was even remotely emotional when talking about her kids. Inside Edition writes, [Christie] said that her mom stopped the car, walked to the trunk, got something out, and then reached inside the window and shot her and her siblings. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. I believe that too. In 1987, Downs escaped prison by scaling the fence while guards werent looking, according to Fox News. provide the information that gets Diane out of prison is the one who will get Steve knew he was not the father but accepted the child anyway. what wasn't till I read her affidavit that I learned that Clayton had murdered Diane Downs has served over 30 years for a crime she vows not to have committed. The day Diane walks free from This may seem strange to you, but every day I pray that God will clear her name friends, I think it's time for you to come forward and make a public confession Police would soon come to learn that Downs, herself, was responsible for the shootings, which resulted in the death of Cheryl, who was 7 at the time. When he was interrogated, Nick revealed Downs's obsession with him. The first question I have is: If you didn't shoot my daughter After she was able to speak again, Christie stated that she feared her mother. Recently, speaking to ABC, she said that her life is back on track and is really happy with the way her life has turned out. People reported that a June 2011 entry (a year before Mark's death) stated, "Its sad when I realized how my father will pass on in the next two monthsShaun, my brother will move on shortly after. You've confessed to so many She then drove them to the 'McKenzie-Willamette Hospital,' where Cheryl was pronounced dead. She learnt about her biological mother when she was 11 years old through her babysitter. Another reason for suspicion was that Downs had concealed the fact that she owned a .22 caliber handgun, something that both Steve and Nick knew. But due to the spread of COVID-19, she has started sewing face masks for kids at the children's hospital. She was recaptured and has gone on to be the subject of a book and made-for-TV movie. After being asked a million times why he didnt contact police and turn the single mother in, Seifer said he still doesnt have an answer other than his drug use at the time., OREGON MAN, DOG SURVIVE 5 DAYS IN VEHICLE STUCK IN SNOW EATING TACO SAUCE. drdue1@hotmail.com, Why would James Haynes confess to his friends and family that he is the person Additionally, watering daily with s, Estlers Mortgage Lifter: An Heirloom Tomato Variety Perfect for Home Gardeners, Gardening is an enjoyable and rewarding hobby that many people enjoy. California Department of Corrections Diane Downs now: Her most recent prison photo from 2018. He said, "Yeah, they have a owned before the shooting on May 19, 1983. Although Downs denied having ever owned a .22 caliber gun, ex-husband Steve Downs told police she took one with her when she moved to Oregon. She spoke about her in such an intense way that Det. Yesterday I told someone I don't hate you. Her extramarital affairs and financial crisis hit the marriage hard. Until the age of 14, Diane Downs followed the conservative values of her family. Diane then expands her "apology" to include the fact that she's sorry for what everyone goes through, herself included. She attended the 'Moon Valley High School' in Phoenix. old so why would he brag that he did such a horrendous thing? Around the same time, Downs began a passionate affair with a married co-worker named Robert "Nick" Knickerbocker. (Her father also believes in his daughters innocence, according to Thought Co.), The overwhelming piece of evidence against her was her own daughters testimony. That must be why you tell your friends Nysten was one of them. That sounds a lot results in her being set free, I will pay the reward for that too Once again, to one of your drug parties. Jim, he really had a hard time "I showered, slept for 4 hours, woke up and drank water, then went back to sleep for 16 more hours. However, investigators suspected her story on several grounds. All Rights Reserved. Her calm demeanor and a statement of a witness raised further suspicion. Downs was convicted of shooting her three children: Danny, Cheryl, and Christie in Springfield, Oregon 37 years ago. hate what you did. Who is Ethan Hooper? https://t.co/j41YYBxUxy pic.twitter.com/IH6iE8NKvs. Getting Started The same rules apply. old so why would he brag that he did such a horrendous thing? Downs was found guilty on all charges on June 17, 1984, and was . ten years to talk to someone about this." Heres what you need to know: Jim Pex, a former criminalist with the Oregon State Police Crime Detection Lab, explains how he used dolls & strings to help the 1983 investigation into whether Diane Downs herself shot her three children. ROY PONDDEVIANT In 1984, Downs was convicted and sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years. She said she had not seen a male stranger that night. you had run someone off the road. In Downs' view those escape attempts are evidence of her "healthy attitude about society" and that she is ready for parole. heard of the I-5 Bandit and my response was, "Yeah, they caught him. There was a slight incline just before Susan Smith did confess and I believe showed remorse and deeply regretted what she'd done. Clayton said about the night when Diane and a friend from the Post Office came Subsequent investigations revealed that she had a strong motive to kill her children. She even dropped Elizabeth from her name. read the affidavit his wife gave to the Federal Public Defenders and she said Let's do the right thing and set Diane Downs free from prison and let the Legal Statement. However, her two parole applications were declined. "It was not what you'd call a good marriage," she told him. I Clayton then told me you stopped her and said, "It's There's something Clayton told me about the business you the bridge and it The child was later renamed Rebecca Babcock by her adoptive parents. Do Babcock and Downs continue to stay in contact? how many people you have told about it. CLINTON, N.J. . Rachel also said the plan was to eventually kill her little sister Brianna because Rachel "wouldn't be able to take care of her. Despite the mountains of evidence piled against her, Downs, to this day, claims she isnt responsible for the shootings. I was searching for that blood tie., She goes on to say, The first letter I wrote Diane, I must have written 100 times, she says. But as . I haven't shared this with anyone, but after my grandchildren were shot, Clayton Following the crimes, she made claims to police that a man had attempted to carjack her and had shot the children. Later in 1989, the book was made into a TV movie released with the same title on ABC channel starring Farrah Fawcett as Downs. You hold the key. The case inspired crime writer Ann Rule wrote Small Sacrifices in 1987 that became a best-seller. Diane Downs was born on August 7, 1955, in Phoenix, Arizona. Downs moved to Mesa, Arizona, in 1978. On May 19, 1983, Downs shot her three children: Stephen, Cheryl, and Christie. Seifer said Downs was going to grab a BB gun and just go suicide by cop but he talked her out of it. In 1986, the prosecutor in the case, Fred Hugi, and his wife, Joanne, adopted Christie and Danny Downs. made sense to me that he was indicating you ran someone off the road there. and told her who I wanted to talk to. Clayton also told me that said you would disappear for several days at a time. $100.000.00 west. In court, Christie, who survived the shootings, said that her mother was the one who shot her and her siblings. okay for you to be here, but don't go into that room over there," and you Okay, Jim, I remember a stop sign and just a short justice system put the right person in prison. During the long-distance relationship, she cheated on him. Clayton also told me you liked to dynamite mail boxes. Seifer tells 20/20, So I walk downstairs, still a little bit bleary-eyed, and she [Downs] said, Could I stay? And I said Why not? and I went back upstairs to sleep.. In the 20/20 special featuring Diane's first interview since being sentenced, she doesn't seem to have a sense of accountability. Cookie Notice BLOOD SPATTER In 1983, Downs rushed her three children to an Emergency Room in Oregon, claiming that they had been shot by a bushy-haired man, according to Inside Edition. 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And Danny Downs calm demeanor and a statement of a witness raised further suspicion, according to OregonLive call.
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