And the kids-- one is fatally shot and the other two are seriously injured., Welch said there were a lot of problems with her story and by the end of the interview, we knew that she had been lying'.. It hasnt been easy, but it has been worth it. 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 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. Conflicting reports say Downs also acted as a surrogate during her fourth pregnancy, giving birth to a daughter after her trial in 1984. On Facebook, Becky wrote that she works at Pain management and went to Redmond High School. Previously, Diane was housed in a maximum-security prison for women in Clinton, N.J. As for why she wasn't in Oregon where the crimes took place, " [prison] officials said they . Do I open it? "People would see little sound bites of her talking on television, and I think they started getting the feeling that there's something really wrong with this person," Jaeger said. Diane Downs now: Her most recent prison photo from 2018. In May of that year, the trial against Downs began with yet another inconceivable twist. My parents wanted us to prosper, to learn and to grow, she told ABC. A break in the case finally came when investigators discovered Downs' secret diaries. Now, as Diane Downs comes up for parole next year, her daughter speaks out. Boris Johnson is stuck in a chaotic spiral of scandal, walkouts, and leaving dos so where does he go from here? Late one May night in 1983, Diane Downs sped into an emergency room dropoff in Springfield, Ore., with a horrifying story to tell. View our online Press Pack. The baby was taken by the state and delivered to adoptive parents. When I hear about three children being shot, I thought, How am I going take care of three people? Because I wasn't afraid of what I needed to do. She, too, is now a mother. "Wouldn't I have made sure they were dead and then cried crocodile tears? And I thought to myself, What am I going to do with three shot children?. Her three small children, Christie, 8; Cheryl, 7; and Danny, 3, were inside her blood-soaked car, shot at close range. 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. Today, Downs is incarcerated at the Central California Womens Facility in Chowchilla, California. Why is she wounded in the arm? The outlet also reported Downs as saying that prisoners at the facility started suffering from COVID-19 symptoms in February. Downs' launched a violent attack on three of her children, Danny, Cheryl Lynn, and Christie Anne in 1983. After Babcock found out about her notorious mother, she decided to make contact. She said she had not seen a male stranger that night. 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. Prosecutors laid out the evidence against Downs, all leading up to their star witness. According to ABC News, as of March 2019, Becky was 34-years-old and working in Salem Oregon as a behavioral health coordinator for children. In 2017, she posted on Facebook about a new job, writing that she works with the mentally ill helping to give them a better life.. And Christie's mother, Diane, could-- say whatever she wanted. 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. Christie was the star witness in her mothers prosecution; she testified that her mother was the shooter. He worked quickly and eventually was able to revive Christie. Her first three children with her husband Steve are Stephen "Danny" Daniel (born 1979), Cheryl Lynn (born 1976), and Christie Ann (born 1974). Diane Downs children: Where are Christie and Stephen now? In another one of her strange media appearances Downs spoke about the pregnancy. Her first three children with her husband Steve are Stephen "Danny" Daniel (born 1979), Cheryl Lynn (born 1976), and Christie Ann (born 1974).. Where are Diane Downs' children now? It was exciting. You know, she just asked, How is she doing? Not one emotional reaction, he said. On a fateful night in May 1983, she rushed to the emergency ward of a hospital . I was very stern with her.". Shockingly, it was Downs daughter, Christie, who identified her mother in court as the shooter. [2] Despite her parents' disapproval of their relationship, Downs continued the relationship. She says things to me like, Boy, this has really spoiled my vacation, and she also says, That really ruined my new car. 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. But what happened to her kids, Christie Ann and Stephen "Danny" Daniel? In 1983, Diane Downs said stranger shot her 3 kids. Star Witness at Downs' Trial: Her Daughter. I was nervous. EUGENE -- It was 27 years ago tomorrow that single mother Elizabeth Diane Downs shot her three children -- killing one and seriously injuring the other two -- on a dark, rural Lane County. Not just a son, but a couple of other children as well, including a daughter, who she named after her dead sister, Cheryl. On a May night in 1983, the young, divorced letter carrier drove up to the emergency room of a Springfield, Oregon, hospital. 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 showered, slept for 4 hours, woke up and drank water, then went back to sleep for 16 more hours, she wrote. Her three small children, Christie, 8; Cheryl, 7; and Danny, 3 . 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. And why are the kids fatally or near-fatally wounded, and she, being right-handed, is shot in the left arm? [10] Downs herself had been shot in the left forearm. And his response was, 'I want your car.' "And it grew dark and upon their return home she decided to -- to do some sightseeing. Babcock learned who her mother was at age 11, after tricking her babysitter to divulge the name. While they were unable to find the weapon, they found unfired casings in her home with extractor markings from the murder weapon. She replied, 'You've got to be kidding,' at which time he pushed her aside and reached in and shot the sleeping kids.". In 1994, after serving ten years, Downs was transferred to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. 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. Her pupils were dilated. We've got three children who have been shot, Wilhite told 20/20. And my whole body just tingled. She went to the University of Oregon and now lives with her husband and children in the town. "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. I have never changed my story.[29] Her first parole hearing was on December 9, 2008. We just ignored it, Wilhite said. 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. ET) on ABC. [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. Downs was found guilty in June, and sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years. Golden State Killer: Where Is the Prolific Rapist and Murderer Today? Her 7-year old daughter Cheryl died but her 3-year old son Danny and her 8-year old daughter Christie survived. And I said to her, We don't know that. Meanwhile, Christie Downs was slowly beginning to tell what she remembered of the shootings. She had been shot in the left forearm, though her wound was not life-threatening. Thirty-five years ago, Diane Downs, now 64, was convicted of shooting her three children- Danny, Cheryl, and Christie- in Springfield, Oregon. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. 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. 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. And, by the time she took them to the hospital, Cheryl was dead. 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. [29], Downs had parole hearings in 2010 and 2020, which were both denied. 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. Prior to her sentencing, Downs gave birth to a baby girl whom she named Amy Elizabeth. [7], On May 19, 1983, Downs shot her three children, and drove them in a blood-spattered car to McKenzie-Willamette Hospital in Springfield, Oregon. Late one May night in 1983, Diane Downs sped into an emergency room dropoff in Springfield, Ore., with a horrifying story to tell. Jaeger said. "You cant replace children, but you can replace the effect they give you. In 1987, just three years into her sentence, Downs escaped from the correctional facility in Oregon where she was being held. (Featured Image Credit: ABC News / 20/20). I mean, she is so close to death, its unbelievable.. After being recaptured, she was transferred to a more secure facility. 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. But what happened to Diane Downs' husband? The stroke Christie Downs suffered impaired her speech and initially prevented her from telling police what she had seen. There's very few cases quite like this one, he said. 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. Author Ann Rule wrote the book Small Sacrifices (1987), which detailed Downs' life and murder trial. Diane's 2 children who survived the shooting . And got out and ask what he wanted. Downs, who still maintains her innocence, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, plus 50 years. Diane Downs is an American murder convict who has been serving a life sentence since 1984. As for Danny, he has kept his life private. A surgeon told ABC News of treating Christie: When I looked at Christie I thought she was dead, he said. While Danny and Christie survived, Cheryl, the middle child, was killed in the attack. 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 initially prevented her from telling police what she had seen. In court, according to Glamour, prosecutors argued that Downs motive to get rid of her children stemmed from the fact that her boyfriend at the time did not want kids. It was mainly about my biological mom. Jaeger remembers worrying that Downs' pregnancy could affect the way jurors viewed her. She also made a number of statements that both police and hospital workers considered highly inappropriate.[3]. When I looked in the mailbox and saw her letter, it was like Pandoras box. [1], Elizabeth Diane Downs was born on August 7, 1955 in Phoenix, Arizona, to Wesley Linden (19302017) and Willadene (Engle) Frederickson. She named one of her children after her dead sister Cheryl. He and his wife, Joanne, legally adopted the children in 1986. 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. A 27-year-old divorced postal service worker, Downs claimed a bushy-haired stranger had shot them and maintains her innocence to this day. Her pupils were dilated. From Arizona to Oregon, the family had moved just shortly before the incident for Dianes job in the U.S. postal service. The tragedy that hit the Downs' kids changed their whole life. 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. It's very seldom that does my body tingle like that, he added. Within a few weeks, the kids who had survived were placed in protective custody and were no longer in Steve's care. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Christie Downs, now 44, and her brother, 39, were adopted by the prosecutor in the case. "Her initial statement was that she had taken the kids out to a friend's house," said Welch. Her three small children, Christie, 8; Cheryl, 7; and Danny, 3, were inside her blood-soaked car, shot at close range. The girl was later renamed Rebecca Babcock. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Christie is now in her forties, according to Tuko, and the accident left her with a speech handicap. [27] A made-for-TV movie, also titled Small Sacrifices, starred Farrah Fawcett as Downs, and was aired on ABC in 1989. The horrific crime, which Downs has always denied committing, is the subject of a 20/20 documentary that is airing on June 21, 2019 in an encore presentation. "Danny, a computer whiz, is still partially paralyzed from the bullet in his back, but he is living a happy and normal life. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Diane Downs with her three children Stephen, Christie and Cheryl, Diane Downs is serving a life sentence for the attack on her children, Downs gave birth to a fourth child after her trial in 1984, Christie testified against her mother, pictured. Most damaging, witnesses saw her car being driven very slowly toward the hospital, at an estimated speed of 57mph (811km/h)contradicting her claim that she drove to the hospital at a high speed after the shooting. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. In May of that year, the trial against Downs began with yet another inconceivable twist. She shot her three children but claimed that she was carjacked and that her children were shot by a stranger. Fred Hugi, adopted the children., Famed true-crime author Ann Rule wrote about the case. While he was looking for the keys, she jumped back in the car and sped off to the nearest hospital. She remembers Downs' demeanor in her interviews as peculiar. Downs was a notorious killer in Oregon, convicted in the 1983 shooting of her three children that left one of them dead. When she [Downs] showed up, her [Christies] pulse rate went up high and you could see terror on her face, Wilihite said. Police arrested Downs Feb. 28, 1984, nine months after the shootings. [29] She was not permitted a statement, but answered questions from the parole board. The girl was later renamed Becky Babcock. Sample Page; ; She was the star witness in her mom's prosecution and her testimony helped convict her. See you at 9pm for our encore presentation of #MyMomsSins #ABC2020! Downs had picked someone on her postal route to seduce prior to the start of her trial. The baby was taken by the state and delivered to adoptive parents. "There were a number of things which didn't make sense, even that first night," Welch said. After Diane was convicted, the two living children were adopted by the prosecutor in the case and his wife, and it was Christie who ultimately pointed to her mother being responsible for the shooting. What did she do?. She was denied parole in 2008 and again in 2010. Look at her," Jaeger said. Powered by. She's been called "evil" and "the . 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. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. 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. What is the latest information pertaining to the convicted child killer? But Im on track and Im really happy with the way life is.. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Elizabeth Diane Downs talks about her conviction for killing her 7 year old daughter and wounding two of her other children in Springfield, Ore., during an interview at the Correctional Institute for Woman in Clinton, N.J., March 12, 1989. Danny was permanently paralyzed from the waist down as a result of his injuries. She tried to cut her wrists when she was 13 years old. But what happened to her kids, Christie Ann and Stephen "Danny" Daniel? One died; two survived but had serious injuries. It was May 19, 1983, a warm spring night. The Queen has almost never put a foot wrong as she marks 70th year on the throne. Heres what you need to know about where Diane Downs children are now: Shes been called evil and the devil. A mother of three, in love with a married man, who did the unthinkable. Reporter Ann Jaeger remembers worrying that Downs' pregnancy could affect the way jurors viewed her. Diane Downs Today: Where Is the Convicted Child Killer Now? 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. There are some stories that stick with you for a long time. Following the crimes, she made claims to police that a man had attempted to carjack her and had shot the children. Diane Downs was convicted of shooting her 3 children, killing 1, in 1983. 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. That girl was later renamed Rebecca "Becky" Babcock.[6]. 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. 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. Now, her children are all grown up and many want to know what they are up to now 2 Becky Babcock is the fourth and youngest child of Diane Downs Credit: ABC NEws Who is Diane Downs' daughter Becky Babcock? [2] She has testified that her father sexually abused her when she was 12 years old. After months of physical and mental therapy, Christie Downs was finally able to take the stand and tell what happened to her that horrible night. She was required to serve twenty-five years before being considered for parole. [15] Christie Downs, Diane Downs' first child who testified at her trial, suffers from a speech disability. Conflicting reports say Downs also acted as a surrogate during her fourth pregnancy, giving birth to a daughter after her trial in 1984. After months of physical and mental therapy, Christie Downs was able to take the stand and tell what happened to her that horrible night. Beeper goes off, said, Get in here. 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. I mean, she is so close to death, its unbelievable.. The first two children were Dianes kids with her ex husband Steve Downs. 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. [5] When Downs went to trial in May 1984, she was again pregnant. It's not even known if he still resides in Arizona, where he used to live with Diane and their three kids. In 1983, Diane Downs' three children were brought to an Oregon hospital with gunshot wounds. She says it was during the struggle with the stranger that she was shot in the arm. Doug Welch remembers getting the call for what would turn out to be his first homicide investigation. 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, Oregon. Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheSunUSand follow us from our main Twitter account at@TheSunUS, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Of course, being married, she has also changed her last name. DIANE Downs made international headlines for callously shooting three of her children - her fourth wasn't yet born. Christie became the star witness in the case, bravely testifying against her monster mom. In 1984, Diane Downs was convicted of shooting her three children, 3-year-old Danny, 7-year-old Cheryl, and 8-year-old Christie. In a two-hour 20/20 documentary, Babcock opens up about learning the truth regarding her infamous mom. The baby was taken by the state and delivered to adoptive parents. She wed Steve Downs in 1973 when she was just 17 and the couple had two children together . 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. "They have both graduated from college. Her Facebook photos showcase a loving family living a normal life. If my story touches even one person, it was all worth it, she wrote, sharing a positive message she received from a woman whose daughter is adopted and who says Becky was brought into this life to make a difference.. Where is Diane Downs today? Heavy is withholding that last name and the photos to protect her privacy. Between the verdict and sentencing, the court recessed so that Downs could give birth to a girl she named Amy Elizabeth. Why does a mom with three sleeping children in the car stop for a stranger or anyone for that matter? Police arrested Downs Feb. 28, 1984, nine months after the shootings. Diane Downs children: Where are Christie and Stephen now? Rebecca wrote to Downs in her younger years, and has stated that she regrets the contact, regarding her mother as a monster.[20] [21]. According toHeavy, crime author Ann Rule said: "Crime author Ann Rule wrote on her website: "Christie and Danny who somehow survived their gunshot wounds have no contact with Diane. As an adult, Rebecca (Becky) appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show[18] and ABC's 20/20,[19] where she discussed how she felt about her biological mother. Babcocks exclusive interview airs on 20/20 on Friday, March 22 (9:00 11:00 p.m. 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. 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.". A judge had already placed Downs' two surviving children in protective custody. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Crime author Ann Rule wrote on her website: "Christie and Danny who somehow survived their gunshot wounds have no contact with Diane. Danny was permanently paralyzed from the waist down as a result of his injuries. Here's what we know. Is She Still In Jail? A 27-year-old divorced postal service worker, Downs claimed a bushy-haired stranger had shot them and maintains her innocence to this day. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Downs was denied parole in December 2008, December 2010, and in 2020. Cops decided she was lying. Downs claimed that on a drive home from a friends house, she decided to take the scenic route home. Danielle Peterson/Statesman Journal via AP, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Too much for her own good, Welch said. "You cant replace children, but you can replace the effect they give you. From their wounds, Christie suffered a stroke that left with a speech impairment, and Danny got paralyzed from the waist down. She was sentenced to life plus 50 years for the crimes. ET on ABC. I knew my entire life that I was adopted, Babcock tells the show in an exclusive clip obtained by PEOPLE. Her three small children, Christie, 8; Cheryl, 7; and Danny, 3, were inside her blood-soaked car, shot at close range. Diane Downs remains in prison in California. At birth, Downs named the child Amy Elizabeth. The child was adopted and was later named Rebecca. Watch the full story on "20/20" Friday, March 22, at 9 p.m. Born June 27, 1984, Becky, 37, is famously known as the daughter of Diane Down, 66. 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. [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. I mean, obviously, if she's pregnant, she loves children, right?" Det. "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 thats gone, they took it from me, but children are so easy to conceive.". Downs said: "I got pregnant because I miss Christie and I miss Danny and I miss Cheryl so much. Stephen danny downs was the son of Diane Downs is a murderer who was convicted in the United States and is currently serving a life term for the crime she committed in 1984. Survived, Cheryl was dead, he added survived their gunshot wounds have no contact with diane and their kids!, Downs claimed that she had taken the kids fatally or near-fatally wounded, and devil... 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