A look at the cold-hearted criminal who was convicted of murdering her daughter and attempting to kill her two other children in 1983. As an American citizen, Diane Downs stands accused of killing her two kids in the neighborhood of their Springfield,. Her three small children, Christie, 8; Cheryl, 7; and Danny, 3 . Her first three children with her husband Steve are Stephen "Danny" Daniel (born 1979), Cheryl Lynn (born 1976), and Christie Ann (born 1974). "If you truly want to know what sort of prisoner won't come back to prison, your first clue is the prisoner who thinks more about being on the outside of this place than being 'well programmed' or 'adjusted' HERE. Both Christie and her younger brother Danny were desperately clinging to life at that moment. June 12, 1984. Cheryl Downs died. Now Diane's youngest . "A true gentleman adventurer, we raced my sailboat & soared in his glider," Rivera wrote. By Elisabeth Bumiller; Also contributing to this story was special correspondent Jas Saund. Wild Goose tracks down her boyfriend after he, The World Biggest Pitbull Fathers Puppies Are Worth, The Best Pet Snake For Beginners? She reportedly left her home and married Steven Downs in 1973. Christie is married and had a baby boy in 2005. The FBI lists the 'Free Souls' as an outlaw motorcycle gang. Cheryl was pronounced dead as soon as medical personnel arrived at the scene. When we last saw them, Danny, Christy, and Cheryl were ages 8, 7, and 3 respectively. Downs moved to Mesa, Arizona, in 1978. Her punishment included an additional 50 years to life in jail. Why Female Rider Vivian Bales Called The Enthusiast Girl? Christie Downs parents split when she was five years old in 1980. See you at 9pm for our encore presentation of #MyMomsSins #ABC2020! Her most recent prison mug shot shows a woman older than her actual years, white hair and sunken features, nearly unrecognizable from the bombshell blonde who once flounced unashamed past television news cameras in handcuffs and shackles. Downs, an Ohio native, joined NBC in Chicago after he served in the Army and soon became a fixture in American households. Despite her long history of troubles behind bars, Downs said she still deserves parole. At the time, Downs claimed she was carjacked on a rural road near Springfield by a "bushy-haired stranger" who shot her and her three small children. Pat Horton was the attorney for the gang and he was also the District Attorney in her murder case. The Best Pet Snake For Beginners? Christie testified in court, "My mom shot Cheryl then Danny then me." The State had been preparing Christie for over a year and she was "the" key witness. In her Nov. 17 letter, she bristled at the psychological evaluator's suggestion that she hasn't become introspective about herself or her crime. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Conflicting . Following the crimes, she made claims to police that a man had attempted to carjack her and had shot the children. Its incomprehensible that shes that close to death.. The video is accessible via this link: KGW archives. At the time, they were the biggest drug dealers in the Eugene/Springfield area.The gunman who they chose was Springfield native Mark Koch, who was a big-time meth cook (manufacturer) closely associated with the 'Free Souls' gang, and maybe a 'Free Souls' member, himself.Pat Horton and the Free Souls were so afraid that they would get caught that they coerced world-famous crime author Ann Rule to write a book that told their story. (British Columbia) - On May 19, 1983, Elizabeth Diane Downs and her three small children were shot on a country road near Springfield, Oregon. Shes been called evil and the devil. A mother of three, in love with a married man, who did the unthinkable. Christie later revealed that god saved her to narrate the horrific crime of her mother. When Diane found a new partner, Robert Knickerbocker after her divorce from Steve, it came out that the man had zero interest in being a daddy and even he broke things off with Diane. I would be very interested to hear how he's doing today, and I'd be interested in hearing how Christie's doing. . She was plainly pregnant, much to the surprise of the media and jurors alike. It was suggested by her detractors that she had gotten pregnant on purpose in order to win the jurys sympathy. Much of the case against Downs rested on testimony by the girl, who described how her mother shot all three children while parked at the side of the road, then shot herself in the arm to make it look as if the crime were committed by someone else. For Industry Professionals. After graduating from Moon Valley High School in Phoenix, she married her high-school sweetheart Steve Downs. Diane is a woman who never deserved to bear children. In addition, it was not clear why a mother would choose to go sightseeing in the dark with her children. "I don't smuggle tobacco or get officers walked off. Diane worked at the United States Postal Service and was assigned to the mail routes in Cottage Grove, Oregon. ", Harcleroad asked the board to turn her down flat, citing Downs' "utter lack of any re-evaluation or remorse for her horrific crimes. Hugi and his wife never had any children of their own together. Christie has permanent partial paralysis on one side of her body. In 1983, eight-year-old Christie Downs miraculously survived after her mother Diane Downs shot her and her siblings, Danny and Cheryl, in the backseat of their car in Oregon. Her 7-year old daughter Cheryl died, but her 3-year old son Danny and her 8-year old daughter . Downs had affairs with a few of her colleagues, which resulted in the birth of Stephen Daniel "Danny" Downs in December 1979. She attended the University of Oregon and lived in the town with her husband and children. Learn about Christi (Hugi), Stephen (Danny), and Becky today. Such is the story of the then-three-year-old survivor Christie Downs, who survived the brutal gunshots by her own mother Elizabeth Diane Frederickson Downs. Their suspicions grew when Downs went to see her then 8-year-old daughter, Christie Downs, for the first time in her hospital bed; the child's eyes glazed over with fear and her heart rate, being monitored on a machine, began to race. Her earnings as a postal worker at the time of $24k. Diane was arrested the following February and sentenced to life in prison. Diane Downs ethnicity, nationality, Ancestry & Race? Furthermore, if you're growing heirloom varieties or rare species that may not, This website uses cookies for functionality, analytics and advertising purposes as described in our, DOWNS, CHERYL, DANNY & CHRISTIE - DIANE DOWNS. Three-year-old Danny Downs was paralyzed from the waist down. Designed and Developed by, Christie Downs, Little Girl Who Survived Being Shot By Her Mother, has a shocking story to tell, Christie Downs Early Years Prior To The Shooting. The judge made it clear that he did not wish Downs ever to regain her freedom. They wear the 1% patch which means that they are the 1% of motorcycle gangs who operate outside of the law. 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.Following the crimes, she made claims to police that a man had attempted to carjack her and had shot the children. According to ABC, the baby was a state ward before being adopted by Chris and Jackie Babcock and given the name Rebecca. Seed saving is a great way to ensure the survival of your plants, and it's also an economical choice. When it comes to yellow tomatoes, Carolina Gold is a popular determinate variety. Alternate Names: Danny Downs Danny is unable to move below the waist due to his injury. A woman named Diane Downs came rushing in with a gunshot wound to the arm and explained to the staff that her three children were outside in her car and were also injured. Reports claimed that their birth mother had inflicted injuries on them, which caused many people to be startled by their narrative. The application for parole should be denied. Therefore, Diane responded by doing something that is unimaginable as a parent. After everything was said and done, and Diane was convicted, both Christie and Danny went to live with Fred Hugi, the lead prosecutor in the case. ", After that, Downs was transferred to the Washington Department of Corrections, which requested the following year that Oregon take her back "due to her attitude" and because "her behavior constituted a security risk.". He and his . On November 13, 1973, she walked down the aisle with Steve Downs. 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. They have grown up in a very happy home with the Hugis.. By this time there should be some struggle in contemplation with existential life issues. When she got her voice back, she used it to say that the person who shot her was her mean mother. "Of all the felonies on the law books, 'escape from prison' is the only one that indicates a healthy attitude about society," Downs wrote to the parole board in a letter obtained by The Oregonian. Christie didnt begin to piece together what had happened on that fateful night until a few months after the ordeal. In 1981, she appeared to have met someone, but her partner, Robert Knickerbocker, was already married with children. Diane was emotionless when Wilhite told her Christie had suffered a stroke and was in a coma, according to Wilhite. Daniel Hugi is 42 years old today because Daniel's birthday is on 12/29/1979. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Christie and Cheryl were a product of Diane's marriage to her ex-husband, Stephen (Danny) Downs. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Previously, she was incarcerated in a womens maximum-security prison in Clinton, New Jersey. Daine married Steve Downs in 1973 and gave birth to Christie Ann the following year. 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The American criminal stated that at the time of the horrifying attack that evening, he and his companion were out sightseeing on their way back to their apartment after visiting a friend. I wont think twice to endorse your web page to anyone who needs and wants direction about this issue. While the two newfound lovers graduated together, Steve joined the US Navy and Diane enrolled in Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College in Orange, California. The Daughter of Diane Downs. She was all white She had stopped breathing. "Had I stacked my prison file with 'atta-girl chronos,'" (a term the staff use for inmates who do good deeds for parole board recognition alone), she wrote on Nov. 19, "would you have thought my motivation was manipulative?". The killer mom faced one count of mother and two counts each of attempted murder and criminal assault. The Salem prison was located 66 miles from Hugi's home in Springfield; during Downs' ten days of freedom, Hugi feared that she would attempt to travel there. Stephen Downs (known as Danny), 3, Cheryl, 7, and Christie, 8, were shot in the May 19, 1983 . She was a student at the University of Oregon and she and her husband and children made the town of Eugene their home. Diane is very much alive and is currently serving a life sentence plus 50 years in the Central California Womens Facility in Chowchilla, California. Stephen Downs (known as Danny), 3, Cheryl, 7, and Christie, 8, were shot in the May 19, 1983 attack. ET): A previous version of this article misspelled the last name of the host of "The Tonight Show" in 1957. At least, that's the story Diane Downs told police. Sheinstructedauthoritiesthata manattemptedto carjack her and shot thechildrenafter the crimes. Downs spoke on air during some of the most profound moments in American history, such as the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and President John F. Kennedy. "Downs shot each of her three children execution-style while they sat in her car," he wrote. When questioned as to why her mother would act in such a manner, the child of nine years old responded, Perhaps she loved Lew more than we did.. Fourteen year-old Christie Ann was left with speech impairment, and 9-year-old Danny is paralyzed from the waist down. "With all due respect," she wrote, "while it may appear I no longer struggle with the cosmic 'why' or 'how,' the truth is that I have been asking how and why since 10:35 p.m., May 19, 1983. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to prevent and, Growing Tomatoes from Saved Seed: Tips to Achieve Maximum Germination Rate, Seed Saving: Tips for Ensuring Maximum Germination Rate Danny, who was three years old, was paralyzed from the waist down. Conflicting reports say Downs also acted as a surrogate during her fourth pregnancy, giving birth to a daughter after her trial in 1984. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Writing gives me a sense of freedom and independence. Watch my updated video with the identity of the bushy-haired stranger here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skrc6qjtBd4\u0026t=33sThe following news release was submitted exclusively to The Jerusalem Post (oped@jpost.com) on September 4th, 2020.Diane Downs (born August 7, 1955) is an American woman who was convicted of the murder of her daughter and the attempted murder of her other two children with a .22 caliber pistol in May of 1983 along the remote Old Mohawk Road a couple of miles north of Springfield, Lane County, Oregon. Christie Downs, then eight years old, unexpectedly survived after her mother Diane shot her and her siblings, Danny and Cheryl, in the backseat of their car in Oregon in 1983. Downs, then 33, denied the escape plot, prison records show, but she "admitted that she and Mr. Seaver had talked about her trying to become pregnant during visits through a primitive artificial insemination method. While the ratio may not be ideal for tomatoes, it can still produce great results with some preparation and understanding of the plant's genetic potential. Seven-year-old Cheryl Downs died at the hospital. Letstake a look atit out! DIANE DOWNS CRIME SCENE EVIDENCE - PART 1 - VEHICLE. Downs was found guilty on all charges on June 17, 1984, and was . The 43-year-old actor is allegedly going about his normal life, but information regarding his personal life, such as whether or not he is married or has children, has not been made public. And guess what? She is the only daughter of Diane Downs who has ever talked publicly about her mother. Geraldo Rivera called Downs a "great American" and dear friend in a tweet Thursday. Shutterbulkyis an emerging media company which publish amazing stories including History, Travel, Crime, Celebrity, Fashion, Health, Animal and much more to entertain your senses. CORRECTION (July 2, 2020, 7:05 p.m. In addition to this, she was required to serve twenty-five years before being considered for parole. Becky is a resident of Bend, Oregon, where she maintains a career as a Behavioral Health Coordinator. However, to everyones surprise, Downs also acted as a surrogate during her fourth pregnancy, giving birth to a daughter after her trial in 1984. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The judge made his intentions clear that Diane should remain in prison. Christy and Danny were adopted by Lane County Attorney Fred Hugi and his wife Joanne in 1984. In Downs' view those escape attempts are evidence of her "healthy attitude about society" and that she is ready for parole. (Answered). She then told police that a bushy-haired stranger had shot them during a failed carjacking. In 1993, she was transferred to California's Chowchilla women's facility. On November13, 1973, Diane married Steve Downs afterrunningfaraway fromdomestic. I'm glad Christie and Danny are doing very well. Hugi, who was the prosecutor, in this case, adopted both Christie and Danny. In 2005, the couple welcomed their first child, a son. However, for the two victims of the shooting who were living in fear of their mother as a result of the terrible crime, their blended family was a safe haven. "Somebody just shot my kids " Diane Downs brought her car to a halt in front of a Springfield, Oregon . Both, Danny and Christie have continued to live a price life since then. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Cheryl was declared dead on arrival and the other two . However, according to her interviews and Facebook page, Becky today appears to have forged a successful life. Late one May night in 1983, Diane Downs sped into an emergency room dropoff in Springfield, Ore., with a horrifying story to tell. Please like https://www.facebook.com/FreeDianeDowns Note from admin : I am from Gloucester, UK. Now, as Diane Downs comes up for parole next year, her daughter speaks out. Hugi, eventually adopted Christie and Danny; and all that was followed by Downs' 1987 prison escape, which again . I wonder if he has succeeded in regaining walking? According to lead prosecutor Fred Hugi, she shot her children in order to restart her affair with Knickerbocker. She then shot herself in the forearm and drove five miles per hour to the hospital, hoping that they would bleed dead before she arrived. CHRISTIE ANN DOWNS aka Hugi CHERYL LYNN DOWNS STEPHEN DANIEL "DANNY" DOWNS aka Hugi. 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