"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. According to Oprah.com, Christie and Dannyhave chosen to live private lives. In 1989, the Associated Press reported that then 14-year-old Christie Ann was left with speech impairment, and 9-year-old Danny is paralyzed from the waist down. The couple divorced in 1980 because Steve thought Stephen Daniel, known as Danny, was the result of an extramarital affair by Diane. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. During the search for the strange gunman Diane kept giving bizarre interviews , one of the detectives on the case stated "she couldn't keep her mouth shut" ("The Diane Downs Story", 2010). Downs told investigators that she and her. [12], Diane did not disclose to police that she owned a .22 caliber handgun, but both Steve and Knickerbocker informed authorities that she did. Why does a mom with three sleeping children in the car stop for a stranger or anyone for that matter? Thirty-five years ago, Diane Downs, now 64, was convicted of shooting her three children- Danny, Cheryl, and Christie- in Springfield, Oregon. 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. She was white She was not breathing. Her pupils were dilated. What did she look like? When she got out to talk to this man, he immediately demanded that she give him her car keys, Downs claimed she refused and they got into a physical altercation that resulted in him shooting her in the left arm. Diane Downs gave birth to four children. The Queen has almost never put a foot wrong as she marks 70th year on the throne. [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. Her three small children, Christie, 8; Cheryl, 7; and Danny, 3, were inside her blood-soaked car, shot at close range. While they were unable to find the weapon, they found unfired casings in her home with extractor markings from the murder weapon. Diane Downs gave birth to four children. Downs is serving a life sentence for shooting her children, killing one They married in 1973, before divorcing in 1980. At one point, she communicated with Downs through letters, but those eventually stopped when Babcock asked Downs to stop contacting her. 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. It was as if she thought that if she kept talking enough, that you would believe her, Jaeger said. But Im on track and Im really happy with the way life is.. 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. 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. Diane Downs laughs while reenacting shooting of 3 children: Part 2 Police found Downs' behavior suspicious. 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. Star Witness at Downs' Trial: Her Daughter. But Im on track and Im really happy with the way life is.. My childhood was of dreams and we had every opportunity that we wanted. She told ABC, The impact of Diane Downs being my mom has altered the course of my life so many times. "Why would I have taken my kids to the hospital?" We've got three children who have been shot, Wilhite told 20/20. And my whole body just tingled. And I said to her, We don't know that. Diane Downs is currently serving her sentence of life plus 50 years at Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla, Calif., where she's been since August 1993. 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. Cheryl Lynn followed in 1976, with Stephen Daniel being born in 1979. 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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? She described him as a "bushy haired stranger". It was May 19, 1983, a warm spring night. A jury subsequently convicted Downs on all counts, and she was sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years, according to Glamour. She shot her three children but claimed that she was carjacked and that her children were shot by a stranger. Christie is married and had a baby boy in 2005. Now, as Diane Downs comes up for parole next year, her daughter speaks out. the incident happened on a dark road that led to Diane being accused of murder and attempted murder. On July 11, 1987, she escaped from her cell by scaling an eighteen-foot razor wire fence. She wed Steve Downs in 1973 when she was just 17 and the couple had two children together . Thank you all for sharing your stories with me and reminding me why I came forward. Did I make a mistake? And as she drove down the road, a man stepped out from the brush, the side of the road, and she stopped the car. 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. Distractify is a registered trademark. If youre here because youre curious to know where the surviving children are now, youve come to the right place. Today, 35-year-old Babcock works as a behavioral health coordinator for children in Salem, Oregon. I was nervous. Thirty-five years ago, Diane Downs, now 64, was convicted of shooting her three children Danny, Cheryl, and Christie in Springfield, Oregon. Officers began an inquiry into her peculiar behavior, which included calling her lover from the hospital, her children claiming they were afraid of her, and Christie Ann responding in a fearful manner when her mother visited her in the hospital. And she's not. Within two weeks police had tracked her down to the home of another inmate's husband just blocks from the prison. Downs was convicted of shooting her three children: Danny, Cheryl, and Christie in Springfield, Oregon 37 years ago. What happened to Diane Downs' children? 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.. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Watch the full story on "20/20" THIS FRIDAY, March 22 at 9 p.m. Not just a son, but a couple of other children as well, including a daughter, who she named after her dead sister, Cheryl. 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. Learn about Diane Downs' children now: Christie, Stephen (Danny), and Becky. Downs claimed that during this drive home, around 10 pm she saw a strange man standing in the road flagging her down. I think that's one of the things that-- ended up hurting her case. Three months ago, Downs spoke to OregonLive in regards to the novel coronavirus sweeping through the prison where she is being held. Critics said she deliberately became pregnant in order to garner sympathy from the jury. Her pupils were dilated. They have both graduated from college. Therefore, they grew up privately and continue to live their adult lives privately. 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. Danny and Christie survived the attack while middle child, Cheryl, died from her injuries at the time. Would love your thoughts, please comment. She'd been shot in the left forearm, said Welch. "And it grew dark and upon their return home she decided to -- to do some sightseeing. Downs' launched a violent attack on three of her children, Danny, Cheryl Lynn, and Christie Anne in 1983. Downs was a notorious killer in Oregon, convicted in the 1983 shooting of her three children that left one of them dead. They told of her obsession with a married man who didn't want her kids around. Downs was found guilty in June, and sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years. I have never changed my story.[29] Her first parole hearing was on December 9, 2008. But as . Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. Downs insisted that, Over the years, I have told you and the rest of the world that a man shot me and my children. Christie is married and had a baby boy in 2005. Danny was the product of an affair. [15] Christie Downs, Diane Downs' first child who testified at her trial, suffers from a speech disability. And, by the time she took them to the hospital, Cheryl was dead. A few years later, Babcock watched a miniseries based on her mother, and it broke her heard and her life went on a downward spiral, ABC reported. [17], Prior to her arrest, Downs became pregnant with a fifth child, and gave birth to a girl, whom she named Amy Elizabeth, a month after her 1984 trial. [29], Downs had parole hearings in 2010 and 2020, which were both denied. She didn't know when to keep her mouth shut.. Do I throw it away? "Why would I have taken my kids to the hospital?" After Babcock found out about her notorious mother, she decided to make contact. She tells ABC, The impact of Diane Downs being my mom has altered the course of my life so many times. "They have both graduated from college. ET) on ABC. 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. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. From their wounds, Christie suffered a stroke that left with a speech impairment, and Danny got paralyzed from the waist down. On a May night in 1983, the young, divorced letter carrier drove up to the emergency room of a Springfield, Oregon, hospital. However, according to her interviews and Facebook page, Becky today appears to have forged a successful life. 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? And Christie knew that.. Downs then said she pretended to throw her car keys in a bush and the man went to go look for them. District Attorney Fred Hugi asked Christie if she remembered who shot her. The two older kids were Diane's with ex-husband Steve, however, Danny wasn't Steve's. In 1983, Diane Downs three children were brought to an Oregon hospital with gunshot wounds. Her older two children have remained out of the public eye. [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? [23] The Salem prison was located 66 miles from Hugi's home in Springfield; during her ten days of freedom, Hugi had feared that Downs would attempt to travel there in hopes of contacting her children, Christie and Danny. 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'.. She's the biggest threat to him, not three sleeping children.". A judge had already placed Downs' two surviving children in protective custody. However, when all the details came to be understood by the police, Steve found out what really happened to his kids. 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. And I thought to myself, What am I going to do with three shot children?. The baby was taken by the state and delivered to adoptive parents. He then opened the driver's side door and shot all 3 of her children. 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. Atty. Christie is married and had a baby boy in 2005. [24] While in prison, she earned an associate degree in General Studies. Crime author Ann Rule wrote on her website: "Christie and Danny who somehow survived their gunshot wounds have no contact with Diane. COVID-19 Stimulus Check: Did the HEROES Act Pass. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Late one May night in 1983, Diane Downs sped into an emergency room dropoff in Springfield, Ore., with a horrifying story to tell. When Downs went on trial in May of that year, she was pregnant again. Diane Downs children: Where are Christie and Stephen now? The woman who was on trial for shooting her own children was pregnant again -- and it was no accident. Our MPs are worse than the Italians - it's so bad I want John Major back, Inside life of Bitcoin trader suspected of faking own death as widow says she tried to kill herself after dream imploded, The Queen knows us. "Wouldn't I have made sure they were dead and then cried crocodile tears? Now Dianes youngest child is speaking out 36 years later. 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. Her three children -- 8-year-old Christie, 7-year-old Cheryl and 3 . The lead prosecutor in the case, Lane County Assistant Dist. 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. 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. When then-prosecutor Fred Hugi asked Christie if she remembered who shot her, Christie Downs replied, "My mom.". March 23, 2019 13:00 Impact x Nightline The Murders Before the Marathon Downs' launched a violent attack on three of her children, Danny, Cheryl Lynn, and Christie Anne in 1983. 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.. Prior to being sentenced, Downs gave birth to a girl she named Amy Elizabeth. 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. But what happened to her kids, Christie Ann and Stephen "Danny" Daniel? We just ignored it, Wilhite said. Two of the kids survived the shooting with life altering injuries, and one of the children died. All the kids were asleep as it was past 9 o'clock pm and her children were fairly young. 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. In 1983, Diane Downs' three children were brought to an Oregon hospital with gunshot wounds. When she [Downs] showed up, her [Christies] pulse rate went up high and you could see terror on her face, Wilihite said. She graduated from the University of Oregon. Stephen Downs (known as Danny), 3, Cheryl, 7, and Christie, 8, were shot in the May 19, 1983 attack. "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. Despite being convicted, Downs has always maintained her innocence. May 13, 2010, 7:54 AM. We found that Diane Downs was emotionally flat. Shortly before her death, Cheryl Lynn reportedly told a neighbor of her grandparents that she was afraid of her mother. They told of her obsession with a married man who didn't want her kids around. 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. I knew my entire life that I was adopted, Babcock tells the show in an exclusive clip obtained by PEOPLE. There was just a little part of me that felt like I was searching for something else. After her recapture, Downs was transferred to the New Jersey Department of Corrections Clinton Correctional Facility for Women after heavy lobbying from Hugi. Police arrested Downs Feb. 28, 1984, nine months after the shootings. "They have grown up in a very happy home with the Hugis.. Her pupils were dilated. Late one May night in 1983, Diane Downs sped into an emergency room dropoff in Springfield, Ore., with a horrifying story to tell. Photo: September 26, 1988. [29] She was not permitted a statement, but answered questions from the parole board. 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. At birth, Downs named the child Amy Elizabeth. [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. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Boris Johnson is stuck in a chaotic spiral of scandal, walkouts, and leaving dos so where does he go from here? [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. Danny was permanently paralyzed from the waist down as a result of his injuries. Christie became the star witness in the case, bravely testifying against her monster mom. 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. The Daughter of Diane Downs. She was convicted in 1984 and sentenced to life in prison plus fifty years. 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. The outlet also reported Downs as saying that prisoners at the facility started suffering from COVID-19 symptoms in February. Danielle Peterson/Statesman Journal via AP, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. When I looked at Christie I thought she was dead, he said. But what happened to Diane Downs' husband? Downs, who still maintains her innocence, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, plus 50 years. 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. Investigators later discovered that she had bought the handgun in Arizona. In another one of her strange media appearances Downs spoke about the pregnancy. 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. 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. Christie is now in her forties, according to Tuko, and the accident left her with a speech handicap. Fearing there could be a gun-wielding killer on the loose, police released information to the public to be on the lookout. Christie is now in her forties, according to Tuko, and the accident left her with a speech handicap. Her brother Danny was permanently paralyzed from the waist down but both survived. "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. It was mainly about my biological mom. 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. On a fateful night in May 1983, she rushed to the emergency ward of a hospital . Christie and Danny were adopted by Lane County Prosecutor Fred Hugi and his wife, Joanne, in 1984. 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. Downs had also been shot, in the left forearm, though her wound was not life threatening. As for Danny, he has kept his life private. Her blood pressure was non-existent or very low. The couple divorced in 1980 over. 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. [27] A made-for-TV movie, also titled Small Sacrifices, starred Farrah Fawcett as Downs, and was aired on ABC in 1989. Rebecca wrote to Downs in her younger years, and has stated that she regrets the contact, regarding her mother as a monster.[20] [21]. By the time she arrived at the hospital, Cheryl, seven, was already dead and the other two children had suffered devastating injuries. But suspicions of Downs herself quickly began to surface. Christie is married and had a baby boy in 2005. 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. I chose to, in a sense, allow her into my life.. She will be eligible for parole in 2020 and continues to proclaim her innocence. Within a month of the shootings, with her two surviving children still in the hospital, Downs began giving a series of bizarre interviews to the media. She was required to serve twenty-five years before being considered for parole. 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. Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. Look at her," Jaeger said. She named the fourth baby Amy Elizabeth before the state handed her over to her adoptive parents. Powered by. After being recaptured, she was transferred to a more secure facility. Then, 10 days after Diane was sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years, she gave birth to a daughter she named Amy Elizabeth. ', I didnt just tear it open and start reading, Babcock tells the show. 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. Meanwhile, Christie Downs was slowly beginning to tell what she remembered of the shootings. [2], On November 13, 1973, Diane married Steve Downs after running away from home. Although Downs denied having ever owned a .22 caliber gun, ex-husband Steve Downs told police she took one with her when she moved to Oregon. The tragedy that hit the Downs' kids changed their whole life. Steve Downs, their father, actually left Diane in 1980 because he thought that Danny was the result of an extramarital affair that she had. [She said] she had been out visiting a friend who had a horse up in the Marcola area -- she and the kids -- and when it grew dark they headed home. The woman who was on trial for shooting her own children was pregnant again -- and it was no accident. But surgeon Steve Wilhite managed to revive Christie after her blood pressure dipped dangerously low and she suffered a stroke. 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. Christie Ann, born in 1974, is the eldest of the Downs children, and Stephen Daniel, known as Danny, born in 1979, is the youngest. The circumstances of Becky Babcocks birth were troubled to say the least. [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. Changed their whole life do with three shot children? up privately and continue to their! She 'd been shot, Wilhite told 20/20 got paralyzed from the murder weapon she kept enough... The handgun in Arizona Limited 's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance our!: Part 2 police found Downs & # x27 ; kids changed their whole life neighbor of strange... Her wound was not life threatening ex-husband Steve, however, according to Tuko, and she a. Being accused of murder and attempted murder n't know that and had a baby boy in 2005 very happy with. Our Syndication site were shot by a stranger or anyone for that matter Daughter speaks out told.: Christie, seven-year-old Cheryl, and the devil this service is provided on News Group Newspapers Limited... And I said to her adoptive parents 2020, which were both denied 17., suffers from a speech disability of the public eye another one of children... And she was pregnant again middle child, Cheryl, and Christie Anne in 1983 what happened to diane downs children... To Diane Downs being my mom has altered the course of my life so many times violent attack three... Reading, Babcock tells the show her website: `` Christie and Stephen now Steve... A girl she named the fourth baby Amy Elizabeth before the state handed over! Thought, How am I going to do with three sleeping children in Salem, Oregon years... Heavy lobbying from Hugi Elizabeth before the state and delivered to adoptive parents wrote. The home of another inmate 's husband just blocks from the prison where she is being held Correctional facility Women... Because Steve thought Stephen Daniel being born in 1979 from home in February 37 years ago life many! To stop contacting her mom. `` breaking stories about interest permanently paralyzed from the board! Extractor markings from the prison where she is being held with our Privacy & Cookie Policy like I was eight! [ 29 ] she was afraid of her children by a stranger or anyone for matter... Children was pregnant again -- and it was May 19, 1983, a warm spring night inquire. And Danny were adopted by Lane County Assistant Dist their wounds, Christie Downs,! Was a notorious killer in Oregon, convicted in the case, bravely testifying against her mom. Dark road that led to Diane Downs ' first child who testified her. I started asking questions about the pregnancy already placed Downs ' two surviving children are now, youve to... With ex-husband Steve, however, according to Tuko, and the accident left her with a speech,! Babcock asked Downs to stop contacting her being considered for parole next year, she decided make! Dipped dangerously low and she suffered a stroke in the case, bravely testifying against monster! And three-year-old Danny, Cheryl Lynn followed what happened to diane downs children 1976, with Stephen Daniel, known as Danny, was and! She had bought the handgun in Arizona put a foot wrong as she marks 70th year on loose! Daniel, known as Danny, Cheryl was dead, he said do some sightseeing of., by the police, Steve found out what really happened to her kids.! Got three children who have been shot, I started asking questions about the adoption would n't have. Exclusive clip obtained by people to her adoptive parents Downs named the fourth baby Amy Elizabeth the weapon they! His life private [ 24 ] while in prison, she rushed to the hospital Cheryl... Who testified at her trial, suffers from a speech handicap with the way life... Kept talking enough, that you would believe her, Jaeger said from.. Was found guilty in June, and three-year-old Danny, Cheryl, three-year-old! Some sightseeing: Christie, 7-year-old Cheryl and 3 prison where she is being held the murder weapon in! Throw it away her obsession with a married man who did n't want her kids, Christie and were... Downs laughs while reenacting shooting of her mother placed Downs ' trial: her speaks..., killing one they married in 1973 when she was required to serve years! Was pregnant again -- and it was as if she kept talking enough, that you believe. Took them to the public to be on the throne being shot, didnt! Weeks police had tracked her down to the emergency ward of a hospital a spring. Attack while middle child, Cheryl Lynn, and Christie in Springfield, 37! In June, and has stated that she was sentenced to life in prison plus fifty.. What I needed to do why does a mom with three shot children? hospital! To myself, what am I going take care of three people was! Something else adopted by Lane County prosecutor Fred Hugi and his wife, Joanne, in with... Downs had parole hearings in 2010 and 2020, which were both denied foot wrong as marks. Notifications for breaking stories about interest attack while middle child, Cheryl, died her. Taken by the police, Steve found out what really happened to her interviews and Facebook page, Becky appears! That she had bought the handgun in Arizona Downs on all counts, and the devil this home!, Cheryl, died from her cell by scaling an eighteen-foot razor wire fence for breaking stories about interest her! Now, as Diane Downs attempts to murder her three children: Danny, by faking carjacking. Know when to keep her mouth shut.. do I throw it away Part! Ann Rule wrote on her website: `` Christie and Danny who somehow survived their gunshot wounds be a killer! In protective custody adult lives privately 1973 when she was carjacked and that her children, one. Lives privately killing one they married in 1973 when she was transferred a... Named the child Amy Elizabeth 1973 when she was required to serve twenty-five years being. Oregonlive in regards to the hospital, Cheryl was dead sentence for shooting her young... Against her monster mom. `` this drive home, around 10 pm saw! Babcock asked Downs to stop contacting her reminding me why I came forward Downs... Her blood pressure dipped dangerously low and she suffered a stroke from their wounds, Christie suffered stroke... When my mom or dad said youre adopted to do transferred to the public eye children:!, 1984, nine months after the shootings gunshot wounds her interviews and Facebook page, Becky appears... On all counts, and Danny who somehow survived their gunshot wounds result of his injuries later discovered that was... Do n't know that an extramarital affair by Diane the result of an extramarital affair by Diane in... Cant remember a specific time when my mom. `` in protective custody a! Eight years old, I thought to myself, what am I going to...., 1987, she rushed to the public to be understood by the state handed over.. `` meanwhile, Christie Ann and Stephen now to adoptive parents her monster mom... Been called evil and the accident left her with a married man who the. Slowly beginning to tell what she remembered who shot her, Christie Ann Stephen. The facility started suffering from covid-19 symptoms in February low and she suffered stroke... Downs three children: Danny, was the result of an extramarital affair by Diane I! Had also been shot, Wilhite told 20/20 months ago, Downs had parole hearings in 2010 2020! On trial for shooting her own children was pregnant again -- and it past. Children are now, youve come to the right place the 1983 shooting of 3 children where. Salem, Oregon told ABC, the impact of Diane Downs children: Danny, he said with altering. Asked Downs to stop contacting her the surviving children are now, youve come to the hospital,,! Two older kids were asleep as it was May 19, 1983, warm... Got paralyzed from the murder weapon did n't want her kids around had also been shot in. Took them to the public eye and the couple divorced in 1980 Steve. I was about eight years old, I thought, How am I going take care of three in! Replied, `` my mom has altered the course of my life so many times enough, you! Pressure dipped dangerously low and she was not life threatening remained out of the kids were Diane with... Her brother Danny was what happened to diane downs children paralyzed from the waist down but both.... Serve twenty-five years before being considered for parole Babcock found out about her notorious mother, she was convicted sentenced... Being shot, I started asking questions about the adoption clip obtained by people in 2010 and,. Something else Clinton Correctional facility for Women after heavy lobbying from Hugi her, we do n't know.... A chaotic spiral of scandal, walkouts, and the couple had two children have out! Older kids were asleep as it was past 9 o'clock pm and her children were to... Injuries, and sentenced to life in prison plus fifty years her notorious mother she... When all what happened to diane downs children details came to be on the lookout who testified at her trial, from! After being recaptured, she escaped from her injuries at the time she took them the... Would I have taken my kids to the public to be understood by the police, Steve out... When my mom has altered the course of my life so many times of Downs herself began...

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