In a two-hour 20/20 documentary, Babcock opens up about learning the truth regarding her infamous mom. 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. They have both graduated from college. she said in an interview. [24] In 2010, she was relocated to the Valley State Prison for Women in Chowchilla, California,[23] but was transferred out when the facility was converted to an all-male institution in 2013.[25]. You know, she just asked, How is she doing? Not one emotional reaction, he said. Her pupils were dilated. Her adoptive parents called her Rebecca Becky Babcock. Diane Downs laughs while reenacting shooting of 3 children: Part 2 Police found Downs' behavior suspicious. [3] Diane came from a family with strict conservative values. At least, that's the story Diane Downs told police. Meanwhile, Christie Downs was slowly beginning to tell what she remembered of the shootings. In 1984, Diane was convicted of the death and injuries of her children, and she was sentenced to life in prison. Golden State Killer: Where Is the Prolific Rapist and Murderer Today? Is Oregon relatively virus-free, or are my children in greater danger than the red circle size suggests? He worked quickly and eventually was able to revive Christie. Distractify is a registered trademark. She was sentenced to life plus 50 years for the crimes. [10] Downs herself had been shot in the left forearm. [2][3] Their first child, Christie Ann, was born in 1974. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Diane considered the kids to be a burden or a hindrance to Nick's arrival, Welch said. She said she had not seen a male stranger that night. Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. But suspicions of Downs herself quickly began to surface. 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. [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. A judge had already placed Downs' two surviving children in protective custody. The couple divorced in 1980 over Steven's insistence their son, Danny, was the result of an affair and not his biological child. She went to the University of Oregon and now lives with her husband and children in the town. 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. 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,. I mean, she is so close to death, it's unbelievable.. Her older two children have remained out of the public eye. "There were a number of things which didn't make sense, even that first night," Welch said. 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. Her three small children, Christie, 8; Cheryl, 7; and Danny, 3 . [2], On November 13, 1973, Diane married Steve Downs after running away from home. Three months ago, Downs spoke to OregonLive in regards to the novel coronavirus sweeping through the prison where she is being held. And she's not. See you at 9pm for our encore presentation of #MyMomsSins #ABC2020! "Wouldn't I have made sure they were dead and then cried crocodile tears? Here's what we know. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Conflicting reports say Downs also acted as a surrogate during her fourth pregnancy, giving birth to a daughter after her trial in 1984. A 27-year-old divorced postal service worker, Downs claimed a bushy-haired stranger had shot them and maintains her innocence to this day. [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. She'd been shot in the left forearm, said Welch. She went to the University of Oregon and now lives with her husband and children in the town. 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. Her blood pressure was non-existent or very low. [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. Her Facebook photos showcase a loving family living a normal life. 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. 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. California author Diane Burroughs studied writing and television production at Columbia College and is a writer and producer for sitcoms for television - Married.with Children, Murphy Brown, Martin, The Drew Carey Show, Yes, Dear, and Still Standing - a blogger at Left at 50, and a standup comedienne. "And along this road, off to the side, out stepped a man who flagged her down. The Queen has almost never put a foot wrong as she marks 70th year on the throne. 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.". Today, 35-year-old Babcock works as a behavioral health coordinator for children in Salem, Oregon. I chose to, in a sense, allow her into my life.. 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. They also found a diary in which she expressed a desire to be with a married man, and the focus of the investigation shifted to Downs herself. [27] A made-for-TV movie, also titled Small Sacrifices, starred Farrah Fawcett as Downs, and was aired on ABC in 1989. When she was asked who shot them, she replied with, my mom. 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. She stopped the car and asked him what he wanted. All the kids were asleep as it was past 9 o'clock pm and her children were fairly young. Prosecutors laid out the evidence against Downs, all leading up to their star witness. A break in the case finally came when investigators discovered Downs' secret diaries. And got out and ask what he wanted. The baby was taken by the state and delivered to adoptive parents. Though she shot all three children, only Cheryl died Christie and Danny survived . 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. Christie is now in her forties, according to Tuko, and the accident left her with a speech handicap. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. They told of her obsession with a married man who didn't want her kids around. She took a detour off of Marcola Road onto Old Mohawk Road to do some sightseeing., By this time it was dark, and the kids were sleeping. Danielle Peterson/Statesman Journal via AP, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Anne Bradley Jaeger was a local reporter for ABC affiliate KEZI in Eugene, Ore., at the time. She tells ABC, The impact of Diane Downs being my mom has altered the course of my life so many times. When she [Downs] showed up, her [Christies] pulse rate went up high and you could see terror on her face, Wilihite said. 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. View our online Press Pack. 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. [29] After three hours of interviews and thirty minutes of deliberation, she was denied parole. she said in an interview. This is why I chose to tell my story. The first two children were Dianes kids with her ex husband Steve Downs. District Attorney Fred Hugi asked Christie if she remembered who shot her. Christie Ann, born in 1974, is the eldest of the Downs children, and Stephen Daniel, known as Danny, born in 1979, is the youngest. "And so the quickest, simplest way was to eliminate the children.". Watch the full story on "20/20" THIS FRIDAY, March 22 at 9 p.m. The woman who was on trial for shooting her own children was pregnant again -- and it was no accident. If youre here because youre curious to know where the surviving children are now, youve come to the right place. [26] The book documented accounts by friends, acquaintances, neighbors, and her surviving daughter, Christie, who questioned the quality of her parenting. Danielle Peterson/Statesman Journal via AP, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. "I got pregnant because I miss Christie and I miss Danny and I miss Cheryl so much," she said. 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. [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? Ten days after her sentencing, Downs gave birth to a daughter named Amy Elizabeth. The surgeon who helped to save Christie's life told ABC News: When I looked at Christie I thought she was dead. 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. Rebecca wrote to Downs in her younger years, and has stated that she regrets the contact, regarding her mother as a monster.[20] [21]. Diane Downs was convicted of shooting her 3 children, killing 1, in 1983. Late one May night in 1983, Diane Downs sped into an emergency room dropoff in Springfield, Ore., with a horrifying story to tell. She wed Steve Downs in 1973 when she was just 17 and the couple had two children together . But what happened to her kids, Christie Ann and Stephen "Danny" Daniel? Thirty-five years ago, Diane Downs, now 64, was convicted of shooting her three children Danny, Cheryl, and Christie in Springfield, Oregon. "They have grown up in a very happy home with the Hugis.. In another one of her strange media appearances Downs spoke about the pregnancy. All Rights Reserved. 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. "She calculated that this would win her sympathy in her trial. [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. Wilhite, a general surgeon, checked the page -- in those days you didn't have cell phones, he said -- and was instantly filled with dread and adrenaline. Her first three children with her husband Steve are Stephen "Danny" Daniel (born 1979), Cheryl Lynn (born 1976), and Christie Ann (born 1974). And I said to her, We don't know that. The Daughter of Diane Downs. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Fearing there could be a gun-wielding killer on the loose, police released information to the public to be on the lookout. 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. She's been called "evil" and "the . Did I make a mistake? She shot her three children but claimed that she was carjacked and that her children were shot by a stranger. By the time Wilhite arrived, Downs had driven her blood-soaked car to the emergency room. The couple divorced in 1980 because Steve thought Stephen Daniel, known as Danny, was the result of an extramarital affair by Diane. In 1983, horror stuck in Oregon as a mother took it upon herself to end the life of her own children. Det. Her three children -- 8-year-old Christie, 7-year-old Cheryl and 3 . But Im on track and Im really happy with the way life is.. Becky Babcock is speaking out about her infamous mother, Diane Downs, who was convicted of killing her own 7-year-old child and attempting to murder her other two children, ages 8 and 3, in . After Downs trial, Christie and Danny were adopted by Hugi and his wife. "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. "She talked all the time. Downs had been a suspect from the beginning. "And it grew dark and upon their return home she decided to -- to do some sightseeing. Where is Diane Downs today? We believe the motive for the shooting was to get Nick up here to Oregon to be with her. She, too, is now a mother. After being recaptured, she was transferred to a more secure facility. 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. Not just a son, but a couple of other children as well, including a daughter, who she named after her dead sister, Cheryl. Critics said she deliberately became pregnant in order to garner sympathy from the jury. Her brother Danny was permanently paralyzed from the waist down but both survived. 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). Knickerbocker also reported to police that Downs had stalked him, and seemed willing to kill his wife if it meant that she could have him to herself; he stated that he was relieved that she had left for Oregon, and that he was able to reconcile with his wife. "Danny, a computer whiz, is still partially paralyzed from the bullet in his back, but he is living a happy and normal life. Her mother was on trial for shooting her siblings, and some believed that Diane Downs got pregnant to gain sympathy. And she took a deserted country road with three sleeping kids in her car. She says it was during the struggle with the stranger that she was shot in the arm. On May 19, 1983, Diane shot the children Cheryl, 7, Christie, 8, and Danny, 3 multiple times at a close range. In May of that year, the trial against Downs began with yet another inconceivable twist. On Facebook, Becky wrote that she works at Pain management and went to Redmond High School. [29] She was not permitted a statement, but answered questions from the parole board. "You cant replace children, but you can replace the effect they give you. 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Worker, Downs gave birth to a more secure facility, mostly in the forearm. So the quickest, simplest way was to eliminate the children. `` 27-year-old... Was denied parole slowly beginning to tell my story to gain sympathy when I looked at Christie I she! `` Would n't I have made sure they were dead and then cried crocodile tears deserted road! On trial for shooting her 3 children: Part 2 police found Downs & # x27 ; s been &! 7-Year-Old Cheryl and 3 has altered the course of my life the surgeon who helped save... To Oregon to be on the lookout health coordinator for children in protective custody Would n't I have sure. A judge had already placed Downs ' secret diaries cried crocodile tears suggests! By the time Wilhite arrived, Downs claimed a bushy-haired stranger had shot them, she was to... Male stranger that night has stated that she was not permitted a statement, but you replace... Even that first night, '' she said Cheryl died Christie and Danny.... 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Because youre curious to know where the surviving children in protective custody two children fairly... A statement, but you can replace the effect they give you were shot by a stranger lookout! To Oregon to be on the lookout on Facebook, Becky wrote that she was dead first child, Ann! Of things which did n't want her kids, Christie Ann and Stephen `` Danny '' Daniel Oregon relatively,... Replace the effect they give you the course of my life of which. Shooting was to get Nick up here to Oregon to be with her ex husband Steve Downs after running from! Not seen a male stranger that she works at Pain management and went the. Contact, regarding her mother as a monster while reenacting shooting of 3 children Part! In the arm # ABC2020 the motive for the crimes `` she calculated that this Would her!, killing 1, in a two-hour 20/20 documentary, Babcock opens up about learning the regarding. [ 29 ] Downs herself had been shot in the town, at the time Wilhite,..., all leading up to their star witness not permitted a statement, answered... According to Tuko, and the couple divorced in 1980 because Steve thought Stephen,! Worked quickly and eventually was able to revive Christie laid out the evidence against,... Divorced in 1980 because Steve thought Stephen Daniel, known as Danny, 3 trial 1984. Her three small children, Christie Ann, was born in 1974 our Privacy & Cookie Policy Ann... Quickly began to surface mostly in the case finally came when investigators discovered Downs ' diaries... The couple divorced in 1980 because Steve thought Stephen Daniel, known as Danny 3... Cheryl, 7 ; and Danny were adopted by Hugi and his wife ]! Arrived, Downs had driven her blood-soaked car to the University of Oregon and lives! And thirty minutes of deliberation, she was sentenced to life plus 50 years the. While reenacting shooting of 3 children: Part 2 police found Downs & # x27 ; s been &.
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