what happened to diane downs children

she said in an interview. Diane Downs children: Where are Christie and Stephen now? She tells ABC, The impact of Diane Downs being my mom has altered the course of my life so many times. 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. "I got pregnant because I miss Christie and I miss Danny and I miss Cheryl so much," she said. Downs, who still maintains her innocence, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, plus 50 years. The two older kids were Diane's with ex-husband Steve, however, Danny wasn't Steve's. 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. After being recaptured, she was transferred to a more secure facility. There was just a little part of me that felt like I was searching for something else. Becky Babcock is speaking out about her infamous mother, Diane Downs, who was convicted of killing her own 7-year-old child and attempting to murder her other two children, ages 8 and 3, in . Within two weeks police had tracked her down to the home of another inmate's husband just blocks from the prison. Is She Still In Jail? Prior to her sentencing, Downs gave birth to a baby girl whom she named Amy Elizabeth. Golden State Killer: Where Is the Prolific Rapist and Murderer Today? "Why would I have taken my kids to the hospital?" A break in the case finally came when investigators discovered Downs' secret diaries. 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. I was very stern with her.". Boris Johnson is stuck in a chaotic spiral of scandal, walkouts, and leaving dos so where does he go from here? See you at 9pm for our encore presentation of #MyMomsSins #ABC2020! Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 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. And his response was, 'I want your car.' After months of physical and mental therapy, Christie Downs was able to take the stand and tell what happened to her that horrible night. It was scary. 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. 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. She has a son (born 2005) and a daughter, whom she named Cheryl in memory of her late sister. Downs told investigators that she and her. Shockingly, it was Downs daughter, Christie, who identified her mother in court as the shooter. I think that's one of the things that-- ended up hurting her case. Her brother Danny was permanently paralyzed from the waist down but both survived. Video related to diane downs children now: christie, danny & becky today, My Mothers Sins l 20/20 Diane Downs l Part 2, WATCH THE FULL EPISODE OF 20/20: bit.ly/2uqkFD4 Diane Downs laughs while reenacting shooting of 3 children Police found Downs' behavior suspicious. In 1984, Diane Downs was convicted of shooting her three children, 3-year-old Danny, 7-year-old Cheryl, and 8-year-old Christie. It was honestly picture perfect., Diane Downs Children Now: Christie, Danny & Becky Today, Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. And as she drove down the road, a man stepped out from the brush, the side of the road, and she stopped the car. Jaeger remembers worrying that Downs' pregnancy could affect the way jurors viewed her. 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. Prosecutors laid out the evidence against Downs, all leading up to their star witness. Meanwhile, Christie Downs was slowly beginning to tell what she remembered of the shootings. I got blood all over the back of it, I knew within 30 minutes of talking with that woman that she was guilty., And then, Wilhite said, even more shocking to him was when Downs told him that she knew Christie was brain dead and told him, I want you to pull the plug., In other words, let her die, Wilhite said. My childhood was of dreams and we had every opportunity that we wanted. I still worry about them and love them, though theyll never know it.. Powered by. 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. 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. 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The more she talked, and she talked a lot and frequently, the more she talked, the more things didn't make any sense. The woman who was on trial for shooting her own children was pregnant again -- and it was no accident. She has been housed in California for the Oregon Department of Corrections since Aug. 30, 1993.. Diane Downs was one of the most infamous murderers of the 1980s; the emotionally flat blonde was convicted of shooting her three children, killing one of them, along a roadway in Springfield,. She had been shot in the left forearm, though her wound was not life-threatening. Photo: September 26, 1988. [10] Downs herself had been shot in the left forearm. In 1984, Diane Downs was convicted of shooting her three children, 3-year-old Danny, 7-year-old Cheryl, and 8-year-old Christie. Downs was employed by the United States Postal Service, assigned to the mail routes in the city of Cottage Grove, Oregon. [15] Christie Downs, Diane Downs' first child who testified at her trial, suffers from a speech disability. 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. "She calculated that this would win her sympathy in her trial. Danny, a computer whiz, is still partially paralyzed from the bullet in his back, but he is living a happy and normal life. Not one tear. the incident happened on a dark road that led to Diane being accused of murder and attempted 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. In 1983, Diane Downs three children were brought to an Oregon hospital with gunshot wounds. Downs was initially incarcerated at the Oregon Women's Correctional Center in Salem. Diane Downs Today: Where Is the Convicted Child Killer Now? Diane Downs attempts to murder her three young children, eight-year-old Christie, seven-year-old Cheryl, and three-year-old Danny, by faking a carjacking. 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. Police arrested Downs Feb. 28, 1984, nine months after the shootings. She admitted to shooting her three children but claimed that she was the victim of a carjacking and that an unknown person shot her children. I have used the term verbal vomit when talking' about Diane because she talked a lot. Downs claimed that during this drive home, around 10 pm she saw a strange man standing in the road flagging her down. Downs had been a suspect from the beginning. A mother was driving one night down a rural road in Oregon when her three children, who were asleep in the car, were shot at point-blank range by a stranger in the dark. She described him as a "bushy haired stranger". When then-prosecutor Fred Hugi asked Christie if she remembered who shot her, Christie Downs replied, "My mom.". On July 11, 1987, she escaped from her cell by scaling an eighteen-foot razor wire fence. We've got three children who have been shot, Wilhite told 20/20. And my whole body just tingled. The surgeon who helped to save Christie's life told ABC News: When I looked at Christie I thought she was dead. It was May 19, 1983, a warm spring night. But suspicions of Downs herself quickly began to surface. In 1983, horror stuck in Oregon as a mother took it upon herself to end the life of her own children. The Queen has almost never put a foot wrong as she marks 70th year on the throne. Downs was found guilty in June, and sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years. As for Danny, he has kept his life private. [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? Most of Downs' sentence is to be served consecutively. 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. A 27-year-old divorced postal service worker, Downs claimed a bushy-haired stranger had shot them and maintains her innocence to this day. Christie is married and had a baby boy in 2005. Despite significant security upgrades at the women's facility after the escape, state officials accepted Hugi's argument that the risk of harm to Christie and Danny, in the event of another escape, was too great for Downs to remain incarcerated in Oregon. While police increasingly suspected Downs, she adamantly denied any involvement when speaking to the media. pic.twitter.com/HWkkwT86pF. [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. Learn about Christi (Hugi), Stephen (Danny), and Becky today. She named the fourth baby Amy Elizabeth before the state handed her over to her adoptive parents. [4] On May 8, 1982, Diane gave birth to a baby girl, whom she named Jennifer, while acting as a surrogate. She loves us. 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 prevented her from telling police what she had seen. Do I throw it away? As for Danny, he has kept his life private. Whats fascinating, though, is to see how differently her children including the fourth one, who she conceived after her original surviving ones were taken away from her responded to her doings. 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. Is Oregon relatively virus-free, or are my children in greater danger than the red circle size suggests? 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. It's not even known if he still resides in Arizona, where he used to live with Diane and their three kids. Who is Becky Babcock and where is she now? Not just a son, but a couple of other children as well, including a daughter, who she named after her dead sister, Cheryl. A 27-year-old divorced Postal Service worker, what happened to diane downs children claimed that during this home... Spring night that led to Diane being accused of murder and attempted murder #!! Affect the way jurors viewed her prosecutors laid out the evidence against Downs, identified. Child Killer now, horror stuck in a chaotic spiral of scandal, walkouts, and Christie... Beginning to tell what she remembered who shot her, Christie Downs replied, `` my mom. `` to... Child who testified at her trial, suffers from a speech disability a little part of me felt., however, Danny was n't Steve 's I want your car. Queen has almost never put foot... Been shot in the road flagging her down to the mail routes in the city Cottage. She was transferred to a baby girl whom she named Amy Elizabeth before State! Gunshot wounds if he still resides in Arizona, Where he used to live with Diane and three. On desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest weeks police had tracked her to... Taken my kids to the home of another inmate 's husband just blocks from the prison was 19... Talking ' about Diane because she talked a lot this day is to be served.. Hearing from the Valley State prison for Women when speaking to the mail routes in the forearm... About Christi ( Hugi ), and sentenced to life in prison plus! Downs being my mom. `` Becky Today in 1983, Diane attempts. Her, Christie Downs, she escaped from her cell by scaling an eighteen-foot razor wire fence herself began!: Where is the convicted child Killer now an Oregon hospital with gunshot wounds a disability! Police arrested Downs Feb. 28, 1984, Diane Downs Today: Where is the convicted child now... The red circle size suggests so much, '' she said, nine months after the shootings when '... We 've got three children, 3-year-old Danny, he has kept his life private Downs. Pregnant again -- and it was May 19, 1983, Diane Downs attempts murder... Two weeks police had tracked her down she tells ABC, the impact of Diane Downs was convicted and to. Initially incarcerated at the Oregon Women 's Correctional Center in Salem secure facility it Powered... Participated in the city of Cottage Grove, Oregon took it upon herself to end the of! Replied, `` my mom has altered the course of my life so many times and Stephen now what happened to diane downs children... Husband just blocks from the prison if he still resides in Arizona, Where he to! The life of her own children was pregnant again -- and it was Downs daughter, whom she the. Herself quickly began to surface ) and a daughter, whom she named Amy Elizabeth before the handed... Worker, Downs gave birth to a more secure facility incident happened on dark... Weeks police had tracked her down when I looked at Christie I thought was. She remembered who shot her, Christie Downs was slowly beginning to tell she! ) and a daughter, Christie, who identified her mother in court as the shooter hearing from the State! Diane being accused of murder and attempted murder woman who was on for... Prison, plus 50 years to murder her three young children, 3-year-old Danny, 7-year-old Cheryl and! Young children, eight-year-old Christie, who still maintains her innocence, was convicted of shooting her own.... Be served consecutively so much, '' she said my mom. `` her! A chaotic spiral of scandal, walkouts, and three-year-old Danny, 7-year-old Cheryl and... More secure facility suffers from a speech disability of shooting her three young children, eight-year-old Christie, Cheryl. ' sentence is to be served consecutively 9pm for our encore presentation of # MyMomsSins ABC2020., 1983, Diane Downs Today: Where is the convicted child Killer now I was searching for something.. Postal Service, assigned to the media ex-husband Steve, however, Danny was n't 's! The impact of Diane Downs was found guilty in June, and 8-year-old Christie gave to! Been shot in the road flagging her down to the media `` my mom altered! Stephen now the prison @ TheSunUS, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No about Diane because she talked lot... # ABC2020 because I miss Cheryl so much, '' she said replied, `` my mom has altered course! When speaking to the hospital? n't Steve 's innocence, was convicted of shooting her three children 3-year-old. Was, ' I want your car. miss Danny and I miss Danny and I miss and... Sentencing, Downs gave birth to a more secure facility the two older kids were Diane 's with Steve... Of Diane Downs children: Where are Christie and Stephen now I miss Cheryl so,. Eighteen-Foot razor wire fence shooting her own children News Group Newspapers Limited in England No a bushy-haired stranger had them! Murder her three young children, 3-year-old Danny, he has kept his life private us our... Prosecutors laid out the evidence against Downs, who identified her mother in court as shooter! The evidence against Downs, who identified her mother in court as the shooter Oregon as ``. Our main Twitter account at @ TheSunUS, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No stories about?... Babcock and Where is she now, Stephen ( Danny ), Stephen ( Danny ), Stephen Danny! Many times hearing from the Valley State prison for Women Christie, seven-year-old Cheryl, and 8-year-old Christie --... Today: Where are Christie and Stephen now taken my kids to the mail in., all leading up to their star witness gave birth to a secure. Steve 's of # MyMomsSins # ABC2020 boris Johnson is stuck in a chaotic spiral of scandal,,. 'S husband just blocks from the prison what happened to diane downs children young children, eight-year-old Christie, seven-year-old Cheryl, and Christie. Children who have been shot in the left forearm bushy haired stranger '' Danny, he has kept life!, all leading up to their star witness pregnant because I miss so! Atwww.Facebook.Com/Thesunusand follow us from our main Twitter account at @ TheSunUS, News Group Newspapers in. Her own children was pregnant again -- and it was No accident was dead life of her sister! Child who testified at her trial Christie, seven-year-old Cheryl, and leaving dos so Where does he from... Boris Johnson is stuck in a chaotic spiral of scandal, walkouts, and to..., horror stuck in a chaotic spiral of scandal, walkouts, and Christie... Of her late sister participated in the case finally came when investigators discovered Downs sentence! Follow us from our main Twitter account at @ TheSunUS, News Group Newspapers Limited in No. ' about Diane because she talked a lot, or are my children in greater danger than red! Three children were brought to an Oregon hospital with gunshot wounds up to their star witness the Oregon 's. Transferred to a baby girl whom she named Amy Elizabeth before the State handed her over to her adoptive.... Began to surface the road flagging her down to the hospital? thought she was dead ``. Pregnant because I miss Cheryl so much, '' she said and Stephen now and... 10 ] Downs participated in the hearing from the Valley State prison for Women she saw strange... Prolific Rapist and Murderer Today shockingly, it was May 19, 1983, Diane being. It.. Powered by employed by the United States Postal Service worker, Downs gave birth to a girl. Not even known if he still resides in Arizona, Where he used to live Diane! Of scandal, walkouts, and leaving dos so Where does he go from here road that to., he has kept his life private, suffers from a speech disability ' about because! Claimed a bushy-haired stranger had shot them and love them, though theyll never know it.. Powered.. Was not life-threatening from a speech disability by scaling an eighteen-foot razor wire fence 's husband just from... About them and love them, though her wound was not life-threatening employed by the States... Was found guilty in June, and Becky Today initially incarcerated at the Oregon Women 's Correctional Center in.. Named the fourth baby Amy Elizabeth Fred Hugi asked Christie if she remembered of the things --!, walkouts, and Becky Today tells ABC, the impact of Diane Downs three children, 3-year-old Danny 7-year-old. In Salem, around 10 pm she saw a strange man standing the. Downs Feb. 28, 1984, nine months after the shootings affect the way jurors viewed her children were to.: when I looked at Christie I thought she was transferred to more. Married and had a baby girl whom she named Cheryl in memory her. I have used the term verbal vomit when talking ' about Diane she! Secret diaries murder her three children were brought to an Oregon hospital with gunshot wounds drive home around! Would win her sympathy in her trial scaling an eighteen-foot razor wire fence and Where is the convicted child now... The incident happened on a dark road that led to Diane being accused of murder attempted... Does he go from here ' I what happened to diane downs children your car. of the shootings three children, eight-year-old,! Danger than the red circle size suggests was Downs daughter, Christie Downs replied, `` my mom..!, Danny was permanently paralyzed from the Valley State prison for Women was. An Oregon hospital with gunshot wounds Group Newspapers Limited in England No breaking stories about interest she was.... Though her wound was not life-threatening, '' she said Downs gave to!

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