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. Diane Downs Today: Where Is the Convicted Child Killer Now? Diane's 2 children who survived the shooting . Where are Diane Downs' children now? Becky is active on Facebook, where she sometimes shares stories about her background and television appearances, such as one on Dr. Oz and with Oprah Winfrey. She shot her three children but claimed that she was carjacked and that her children were shot by a stranger. District Attorney Fred Hugi asked Christie if she remembered who shot her. Powered by. Two of the kids survived the shooting with life altering injuries, and one of the children died. . She said she had not seen a male stranger that night. 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. The more she talked, and she talked a lot and frequently, the more she talked, the more things didn't make any sense. Christie and Danny were adopted by Lane County Prosecutor Fred Hugi and his wife, Joanne, in 1984. There's very few cases quite like this one, he said. [28], In her first application for parole in 2008, Downs reaffirmed her innocence. Downs' launched a violent attack on three of her children, Danny, Cheryl Lynn, and Christie Anne in 1983. Of course, being married, she has also changed her last name. Since his ex wife was sentenced to life in prison, he has not reappeared in public life nor has he given any television interviews about his family. In 1983, horror stuck in Oregon as a mother took it upon herself to end the life of her own children. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? I still worry about them and love them, though theyll never know it.. I think that's one of the things that-- ended up hurting her case. Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheSunUSand follow us from our main Twitter account at@TheSunUS, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. DNA Test Kits Are Helping Solve Cold Cases Decades Later, After Nearly a Year, There Could Finally be an Investigation Into the Death of Elijah McClain. Danielle Peterson/Statesman Journal via AP, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Her three small children, Christie, 8; Cheryl, 7; and Danny, 3 . Anne Bradley Jaeger was a local reporter for ABC affiliate KEZI in Eugene, Ore., at the time. A 27-year-old divorced postal service worker, Downs claimed a bushy-haired stranger had shot them and maintains her innocence to this day. READ MORE: abcn.ws/2W9dzyC In 1983, Diane Downs. Not just a son, but a couple of other children as well, including a daughter, who she named after her dead sister, Cheryl. Crime author Ann Rule wrote on her website: "Christie and Danny who somehow survived their gunshot wounds have no contact with Diane. Powered by. Her brother Danny was permanently paralyzed from the waist down but both survived. The circumstances of Becky Babcocks birth were troubled to say the least. And his response was, 'I want your car.' Downs is serving a life sentence for shooting her children, killing one They married in 1973, before divorcing in 1980. Who is Becky Babcock and where is she now? [11] The forensic evidence did not match her story; there was no blood spatter on the driver's side of the car, nor was there any gunpowder residue on the driver's door or on the interior door panel. She's the biggest threat to him, not three sleeping children.". Det. "You cant replace children, but you can replace the effect they give you. And as she drove down the road, a man stepped out from the brush, the side of the road, and she stopped the car. She had been shot in the left forearm, though her wound was not life-threatening. A surgeon told ABC News of treating Christie: When I looked at Christie I thought she was dead, he said. Critics said she deliberately became pregnant in order to garner sympathy from the jury. 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, its unbelievable. Dianes emotionless, cold demeanor about the children convinced people immediately that she was the shooter. [27] A made-for-TV movie, also titled Small Sacrifices, starred Farrah Fawcett as Downs, and was aired on ABC in 1989. 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. She says things to me like, Boy, this has really spoiled my vacation, and she also says, That really ruined my new car. ', I didnt just tear it open and start reading, Babcock tells the show. She was sentenced to life plus 50 years for the crimes. "She talked all the time. Danny was permanently paralyzed from the waist down as a result of his injuries. Christie is married and had a baby boy in 2005. He responded to McKenzie-Willamette Hospital and immediately interviewed Downs, a postal worker. Prosecutors laid out the evidence against Downs, all leading up to their star witness. 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. 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. 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. She found out who her biological mother was when she was 11 years old, ABC reported. After being recaptured, she was transferred to a more secure facility. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. It was as if she thought that if she kept talking enough, that you would believe her, Jaeger said. [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. READ NEXT: COVID-19 Stimulus Check: Did the HEROES Act Pass? On Facebook, Becky wrote that she works at Pain management and went to Redmond High School. Is She Still In Jail? In a sense, Diane was her own worst enemy.". He responded to McKenzie-Willamette Hospital and immediately interviewed Downs, a postal worker. Wilhite said he also noticed that when Downs went to visit Christie in the recovery room, her stats would spike. A judge had already placed Downs' two surviving children in protective custody. Her 7-year old daughter Cheryl died but her 3-year old son Danny and her 8-year old daughter Christie survived. [10] Downs herself had been shot in the left forearm. My childhood was of dreams and we had every opportunity that we wanted. [29], Downs had parole hearings in 2010 and 2020, which were both denied. Late one May night in 1983, Diane Downs sped into an emergency room dropoff in Springfield, Ore., with a horrifying story to tell. Three months ago, Downs spoke to OregonLive in regards to the novel coronavirus sweeping through the prison where she is being held. 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. She tried to cut her wrists when she was 13 years old. Christie, now in her mid-40s, still lives in Oregon, in Springfield, and has a big, loving family. Her blood pressure was non-existent or very low. 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 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. That girl was later renamed Rebecca "Becky" Babcock.[6]. She says it was during the struggle with the stranger that she was shot in the arm. 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? She lives and is from Bend, Oregon, and is single. He and his wife, Joanne, adopted them in 1986. And I said to her, We don't know that. The baby was taken by the state and delivered to adoptive parents. She also made a number of statements that both police and hospital workers considered highly inappropriate.[3]. She briefly escaped in 1987, but was quickly recaptured. Downs was found guilty in June 1984, and sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years. However, when all the details came to be understood by the police, Steve found out what really happened to his kids. [24] While in prison, she earned an associate degree in General Studies. "She couldn't keep her mouth shut," Welch said. 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. "She saw the kids as a burden, they were in the way and he wasn't going to join her as long as she had the kids," Welch said. By the time she arrived at the hospital, Cheryl, seven, was already dead and the other two children had suffered devastating injuries. 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. Despite being convicted, Downs has always maintained her innocence. It's not even known if he still resides in Arizona, where he used to live with Diane and their three kids. "And along this road, off to the side, out stepped a man who flagged her down. [3] Diane came from a family with strict conservative values. 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. DIANE Downs is serving a life sentence for horrific crimes she committed against her own children. When I looked at Christie I thought she was dead, he said. In 1983, Diane Downs three children were brought to an Oregon hospital with gunshot wounds. I've never been so hyped in my life.. Heavy is withholding that last name and the photos to protect her privacy. The child was later renamed Rebecca Babcock by her adoptive parents. Her mother was on trial for shooting her siblings, and some believed that Diane Downs got pregnant to gain sympathy. 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. [3][14], Downs was convicted on all charges on June 17, 1984, and sentenced to life in prison plus fifty years. Her pupils were dilated. Ten days after her sentencing, Downs gave birth to a daughter named Amy Elizabeth. Babcocks exclusive interview airs on 20/20 on Friday, March 22 (9:00 11:00 p.m. Within two weeks police had tracked her down to the home of another inmate's husband just blocks from the prison. 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. Her older two children have remained out of the public eye. Diane Downs always wanted to be a mom, she told Inside Edition in its first-ever episode in 1989. 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. What happened to Diane Downs' children? Her blood pressure was non-existent or very low. Doug Welch remembers getting the call for what would turn out to be his first homicide investigation. Amy, who was adopted and given the name BeckyBabcock, went public about her mother in 2010 and has also met her in a bid to find out about her roots. 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. [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. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Diane Downs gave birth to four children. 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. Offers may be subject to change without notice. She claimed that she was carjacked on a rural road near Springfield by a strange man who shot her and the children. We found that Diane Downs was emotionally flat. May 14, 2010 -- On June 17, 1984, Diane Downs was found guilty of shooting her three children, killing one. The girl was later renamed Becky Babcock. Downs had picked someone on her postal route to seduce prior to the start of her trial. They have maintained private lives since and have never spoken publically about their birth mother. Star Witness at Downs' Trial: Her Daughter. 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. 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. It was scary. It was exciting. In 1983, Diane Downs' three children were brought to an Oregon hospital with gunshot wounds. Her three small children, Christie, 8; Cheryl, 7; and Danny, 3, were inside her blood-soaked car, shot at close range. Therefore, they grew up privately and continue to live their adult lives privately. And got out and ask what he wanted. While he was looking for the keys, she jumped back in the car and sped off to the nearest hospital. But as . By the time she arrived at the hospital, Cheryl, seven, was already dead and the other two children had suffered devastating injuries. 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. She, too, is now a mother. "They have both graduated from college. COVID-19 Stimulus Check: Did the HEROES Act Pass. Despite being convicted, Downs has always maintained her innocence. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Downs told investigators that she and her children had been shot in a carjacking, but police found a secret diary detailing her obsession with a married man who did not want kids. 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. Downs told investigators that she and her. In 1983, Diane Downs said stranger shot her 3 kids. Downs was employed by the United States Postal Service, assigned to the mail routes in the city of Cottage Grove, Oregon. In 1984, Diane Downs was convicted of shooting her three children, 3-year-old Danny, 7-year-old Cheryl, and 8-year-old Christie. "I got pregnant because I miss Christie and I miss Danny and I miss Cheryl so much," she said. Author Ann Rule wrote the book Small Sacrifices (1987), which detailed Downs' life and murder trial. Late one May night in 1983, Diane Downs sped into an emergency room dropoff in Springfield, Ore., with a horrifying story to tell. 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. Diane Downs remains in prison in California. Her three small children, Christie, 8; Cheryl, 7; and Danny, 3, were inside her blood-soaked car, shot at close range. One died; two survived but had serious injuries. 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. Her 7-year old daughter Cheryl died, but her 3-year old son Danny and her 8-year old daughter Christie survived. As for Danny, he has kept his life private. 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,. And, by the time she took them to the hospital, Cheryl was dead. 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). Thirty-five years ago, Diane Downs, now 64, was convicted of shooting her three children Danny, Cheryl, and Christie in Springfield, Oregon. Thank you all for sharing your stories with me and reminding me why I came forward. Downs was found guilty in June, and sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years. After leaving the public eye in 2010, she spoke to ABC News' "20/20" to share her life now. Why is she wounded in the arm? Danny and Christie survived the attack while middle child, Cheryl, died from her injuries at the time. Her three children -- 8-year-old Christie, 7-year-old Cheryl and 3 . On a May night in 1983, the young, divorced letter carrier drove up to the emergency room of a Springfield, Oregon, hospital. [2] Despite her parents' disapproval of their relationship, Downs continued the relationship. There was just a little part of me that felt like I was searching for something else. Becky Babcock was born while Diane was incarcerated. [30][31][1] Downs maintained her innocence in all parole hearings. Downs' sentence meant she could not be considered for parole until 2009. And Christie's mother, Diane, could-- say whatever she wanted. 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. I was very stern with her.". The Diane Downs' Case Was no Small Sacrifice On May 19, 1983, Elizabeth Diane Downs and her three small children were shot on a country road near Springfield, Oregon. Her first three children with her husband Steve are Stephen "Danny" Daniel (born 1979), Cheryl Lynn (born 1976), and Christie Ann (born 1974). 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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. He then opened the driver's side door and shot all 3 of her children. 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. Wilhite immediately jumped back into his car and raced to McKenzie-Williamette Medical Center as fast as he could. She said she had not seen a male stranger that night. Christie became the star witness in the case, bravely testifying against her monster mom. 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. However, investigators and hospital workers became suspicious, because they decided that Downs' manner was too calm for a person who had just experienced such a traumatic event. Thirty-five years ago, Diane Downs, now 64, was convicted of shooting her three children- Danny, Cheryl, and Christie- in Springfield, Oregon. 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. A jury subsequently convicted Downs on all counts, and she was sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years, according to Glamour. [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. A judge had already placed Downs' two surviving children in protective custody. [15] Christie Downs, Diane Downs' first child who testified at her trial, suffers from a speech disability. "She calculated that this would win her sympathy in her trial. She replied, 'You've got to be kidding,' at which time he pushed her aside and reached in and shot the sleeping kids.". 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 . In 2005, she gave birth to her first child, a boy, and later gave birth to a daughter who she named Cheryl after her sister. And, considering how the emotionally flat blonde responded to the whole experience of the shooting, the trial, and the conviction, it was no surprise that ABCs 20/20 decided to cover the case. It was an interesting interview. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Christie is married and had a baby boy in 2005. 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. She named one of her children after her dead sister Cheryl. A break in the case finally came when investigators discovered Downs' secret diaries. When Wilhite went to go update Downs on her daughters condition, he said he was surprised by her reaction. "She was white, she was not breathing. 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. And as long as he said that he wasn't going to be a father to anyone's children, they had to go.. 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