The couple divorced in 1980 over. "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. And as she drove down the road, a man stepped out from the brush, the side of the road, and she stopped the car. "You cant replace children, but you can replace the effect they give you. May 12, 2010 — -- Late one May night in 1983, Diane Downs sped into an emergency room dropoff in Springfield, Ore., with a horrifying story to tell. All the kids were asleep as it was past 9 o'clock pm and her children were fairly young. Here's what we know. COVID-19 Stimulus Check: Did the HEROES Act Pass. She said she had not seen a male stranger that night. She described him as a "bushy haired stranger". 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 it grew dark and upon their return home she decided to -- to do some sightseeing. And, Cheryl Lynn, had reportedly told a neighbor of her grandparents that she was afraid of her mother. Critics said she deliberately became pregnant in order to garner sympathy from the jury. Copyright 2023 Distractify. "There were a number of things which didn't make sense, even that first night," Welch said. Downs' launched a violent attack on three of her children, Danny, Cheryl Lynn, and Christie Anne in 1983. Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. What did she look like? [13], Prosecutors argued that Downs shot her children to be free of them, so that she could continue her affair with Knickerbocker, as she claimed that he let it be known that he did not want children in his life. One died; two survived but had serious injuries. The Queen has almost never put a foot wrong as she marks 70th year on the throne. Danny, a computer whiz, is still partially paralyzed from the bullet in his back, but he is living a happy and normal life. After being recaptured, she was transferred to a more secure facility. 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. pic.twitter.com/HWkkwT86pF. "I got pregnant because I miss Christie and I miss Danny and I miss Cheryl so much," she said. She provides an update on Christie and Danny today, writing on her website: Adopted by Lane County Prosecutor Fred Hugi and his wife, Joanne, in 1984, Christie and Dannywho somehow survived their gunshot woundshave no contact with Diane. In 1984, Diane Downs was convicted of shooting her three children, 3-year-old Danny, 7-year-old Cheryl, and 8-year-old Christie. Diane Downs Today: Where Is the Convicted Child Killer Now? She didn't know when to keep her mouth shut.. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Danielle Peterson/Statesman Journal via AP, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Her mother was on trial for shooting her siblings, and some believed that Diane Downs got pregnant to gain sympathy. As for Danny, he has kept his life private. At around 10 p.m. that May night, police said Diane Downs pulled over to the side of a country road near Springfield and shot her three small children multiple times at close range. 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. But suspicions of Downs herself quickly began to surface. Late one May night in 1983, Diane Downs sped into an emergency room dropoff in Springfield, Ore., with a horrifying story to tell. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Wilhite said he and the hospital staff who worked on the Downs kids on that horrific May night were not surprised by the outcome of the case. She said she had not seen a male stranger that night. Ten days after her sentencing, Downs gave birth to a daughter named Amy Elizabeth. 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. But suspicions of Downs herself quickly began to surface. After Babcock found out about her notorious mother, she decided to make contact. Her 7-year old daughter Cheryl died, but her 3-year old son Danny and her 8-year old daughter Christie survived. On a fateful night in May 1983, she rushed to the emergency ward of a hospital . Did I make a mistake? In another one of her strange media appearances Downs spoke about the pregnancy. Christie, now in her mid-40s, still lives in Oregon, in Springfield, and has a big, loving family. Prior to being sentenced, Downs gave birth to a girl she named Amy Elizabeth. Cheryl Lynn followed in 1976, with Stephen Daniel being born in 1979. On May 19, 1983, Elizabeth Diane Downs and her three small children were shot on a country road near Springfield, Oregon. My parents wanted us to prosper, to learn and to grow, she told ABC. When Wilhite went to go update Downs on her daughters condition, he said he was surprised by her reaction. The first letter I wrote Diane, I must have written 100 times, she says. Following the crimes, she made claims to police that a man had attempted to carjack her and had shot the children. ET. [28], In her first application for parole in 2008, Downs reaffirmed her innocence. She knew that, if she got pregnant, that people would look at her and say, How could a woman who loves children this much and got pregnant have killed her children? Becky Babcock was born while Diane was incarcerated. In the frantic scene, hospital employees quickly determined that Cheryl was already dead and that Christie and Danny were clinging to life. [24] While in prison, she earned an associate degree in General Studies. Diane considered the kids to be a burden or a hindrance to Nick's arrival, Welch said. District Attorney Fred Hugi asked Christie if she remembered who shot her. Her first three children with her husband Steve are Stephen "Danny" Daniel (born 1979), Cheryl Lynn (born 1976), and Christie Ann (born 1974). [24] In 2010, she was relocated to the Valley State Prison for Women in Chowchilla, California,[23] but was transferred out when the facility was converted to an all-male institution in 2013.[25]. And I said to her, We don't know that. 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. "Her initial statement was that she had taken the kids out to a friend's house," said Welch. She briefly escaped in 1987, but was quickly recaptured. What did she do?. Her adoptive parents called her Rebecca Becky Babcock. "Wouldn't I have made sure they were dead and then cried crocodile tears? If youre here because youre curious to know where the surviving children are now, youve come to the right place. Her blood pressure was non-existent or very low. Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. On July 11, 1987, she escaped from her cell by scaling an eighteen-foot razor wire fence. She went to the University of Oregon and now lives with her husband and children in the town. I mean, she is so close to death, its unbelievable.. Rebecca wrote to Downs in her younger years, and has stated that she regrets the contact, regarding her mother as a monster.[20] [21]. I had a great family, a great life. Christie and Danny were adopted by Lane County Prosecutor Fred Hugi and his wife, Joanne, in 1984. Her pupils were dilated. Diane Downs remains in prison in California. 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. Missing baby is feared dead as police arrest aristocrat Constance Marten and boyfriend on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter: 200 officers search allotments and compost bins near where . I've never been so hyped in my life.. 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. 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. California Department of Corrections Despite her difficult start, Becky was adopted and says she had a good childhood. Becky is the fourth and youngest child of Diane who is currently serving a life sentence for shooting three of . 1983: Diane Downs Attempts to Murder Her Three Children. Why is she wounded in the arm? Babcocks exclusive interview airs on 20/20 on Friday, March 22 (9:00 11:00 p.m. Downs was sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years for killing her 7-year-old daughter and wounding her two other children on a rural road outside Springfield, Ore., on May 19, 1983. Her Facebook photos showcase a loving family living a normal life. Thirty-five years ago, Diane Downs, now 64, was convicted of shooting her three children Danny, Cheryl, and Christie in Springfield, Oregon. Investigators later discovered that she had bought the handgun in Arizona. 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. Downs was initially incarcerated at the Oregon Women's Correctional Center in Salem. But as . Author Ann Rule wrote the book Small Sacrifices (1987), which detailed Downs' life and murder trial. Prosecutors think that Diane had sparked up a relationship with a married man who didnt want kids and that this became the motive for murder. Cheryl died; the other two children survived, but they suffered terrible wounds according to Glamour, the bullets paralyzed Danny and gave Christie a stroke. "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. She was denied parole in 2008 and again in 2010. Diane Downs also gave birth to a fourth child with yet another man; she became pregnant with that daughter, now known as Becky Babcock during the investigation. The Daughter of Diane Downs. Under Oregon law at the time, as a dangerous offender, Downs would have been eligible for a parole hearing every two years until she is released or dies in prison. 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. she said in an interview. Jaeger says Downs told her she had picked someone on her postal route to seduce prior to her arrest. 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 white She was not breathing. The tragedy that hit the Downs' kids changed their whole life. He then opened the driver's side door and shot all 3 of her children. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. Wilhite said he was immediately directed to start working to save Christie while another surgeon took Danny. She loves us. Danny and Christie survived the attack while middle child, Cheryl, died from her injuries at the time. She graduated from the University of Oregon. The girl was later renamed Becky Babcock. She, too, is now a mother. Offers may be subject to change without notice. In 1983, Diane Downs' three children were brought to an Oregon hospital with gunshot wounds. Christie became the star witness in the case, bravely testifying against her monster mom. Despite being convicted, Downs has always maintained her innocence. She had been shot in the left forearm, though her wound was not life-threatening. Boris Johnson is stuck in a chaotic spiral of scandal, walkouts, and leaving dos so where does he go from here? After Downs trial, Christie and Danny were adopted by Hugi and his wife. The baby was taken by the state and delivered to adoptive parents. They have grown up in a very happy home with the Hugis.. Danny was the product of an affair. She will be eligible for parole in 2020 and continues to proclaim her innocence. 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.". I mean, she is so close to death, it's unbelievable.. READ MORE: abcn.ws/2W9dzyC In 1983, Diane Downs. [3] Much of the case against her rested on the testimony of her surviving daughter, Christie, who, once she recovered her ability to speak, described how her mother shot all three children while parked at the side of the road, and then shot herself in the arm. Fearing there could be a gun-wielding killer on the loose, police released information to the public to be on the lookout. As for Danny, he has kept his life private. At least, that's the story Diane Downs told police. It was mainly about my biological mom. Downs was found guilty in June, and sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. It was exciting. I mean, she is so close to death, its unbelievable. Dianes emotionless, cold demeanor about the children convinced people immediately that she was the shooter. She's the biggest threat to him, not three sleeping children.". Her three children -- 8-year-old Christie, 7-year-old Cheryl and 3 . One died; two survived but had serious injuries. He worked quickly and eventually was able to revive Christie. And his response was, 'I want your car.' During the time they were together, Diane gave birth to three children, Stephen "Danny" Daniel (born 1979), Cheryl Lynn (born 1976), and Christie Ann (born 1974). The woman who was on trial for shooting her own children was pregnant again -- and it was no accident. They have grown up in a very happy home with the Hugis., Both individuals chose to live a life away from the spotlight- they didnt want prying eyes to remind them of the horrors of their past and to haunt them more than it already did. In a two-hour 20/20 documentary, Babcock opens up about learning the truth regarding her infamous mom. Diane Downs is an American murder convict who has been serving a life sentence since 1984. [2] Despite her parents' disapproval of their relationship, Downs continued the relationship. Within two weeks police had tracked her down to the home of another inmate's husband just blocks from the prison. She found out who her biological mother was when she was 11 years old, ABC reported. Her blood pressure was non-existent or very low. See you at 9pm for our encore presentation of #MyMomsSins #ABC2020! He and his wife, Joanne, adopted them in 1986. Downs had also been shot, in the left forearm, though her wound was not life threatening. Christie became the star witness in the case, bravely testifying against her monster mom. Diane Downs children: Where are Christie and Stephen now? I wanted to relate to her not as a mother, because I had a mother just as somebody who felt the pain and the emptiness that I felt in that time., She wrote back super quickly, Babcock says. For ten days, Downs managed to evade law enforcementdespite a fourteen-state manhuntbefore she was recaptured. He responded to McKenzie-Willamette Hospital and immediately interviewed Downs, a postal worker. [2], On November 13, 1973, Diane married Steve Downs after running away from home. She took a detour off of Marcola Road onto Old Mohawk Road to do some sightseeing., By this time it was dark, and the kids were sleeping. 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. Doug Welch remembers getting the call for what would turn out to be his first homicide investigation. In 1994, after serving ten years, Downs was transferred to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Diane Downs always wanted to be a mom, she told Inside Edition in its first-ever episode in 1989. "She talked all the time. Police arrested Downs Feb. 28, 1984, nine months after the shootings. On Facebook, Becky wrote that she works at Pain management and went to Redmond High School. But there were a number of things which didn't make any sense., Why would a mother sightsee when it's dark out? What happened to Diane Downs' children? On a May night in 1983, the young, divorced letter carrier drove up to the emergency room of a Springfield, Oregon, hospital. She named the fourth baby Amy Elizabeth before the state handed her over to her adoptive parents. 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. Elizabeth Diane Downs, the convicted childkiller who escaped July 11, 1987 from the women's prison in Salem, Ore., is escorted out of state police headquarters in Salem following her capture July 21, 1987. On May 19, 1983, Diane Downs drove herself and her three children to an emergency room in Springfield, Oregon, saying she had been shot by a "bushy-haired ma. the incident happened on a dark road that led to Diane being accused of murder and attempted murder. And-- so with that, then we were free to treat her as need be. Critics said she deliberately became pregnant in order to garner sympathy from the jury. Downs then said she pretended to throw her car keys in a bush and the man went to go look for them. DIANE Downs is serving a life sentence for horrific crimes she committed against her own children. Late one May night in 1983, Diane Downs sped into an emergency room dropoff in Springfield, Ore., with a horrifying story to tell. That girl was later renamed Rebecca "Becky" Babcock.[6]. District Attorney Fred Hugi asked Christie if she remembered who shot her. Her pupils were dilated. Wilhite said he then found a judge who issued an order making him and another doctor Christies guardians. 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. 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. 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 had also been shot, in the left forearm, though her wound was not life threatening. Her first three children with her husband Steve are Stephen "Danny" Daniel (born 1979), Cheryl Lynn (born 1976), and Christie Ann (born 1974). Fairly young him as a `` bushy haired stranger '' she escaped her... Children convinced people immediately that she works at Pain management and went to go update Downs on her route... 1987, she escaped from her cell by scaling an eighteen-foot razor wire fence ( )! 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Of their relationship, Downs claimed a bushy-haired stranger had shot the children..! So Where does he go from here her grandparents that she had a great life prison, she so.

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