I do not have to state anything at the beginning of the blog. PAY ATTENTION: Click 'See First' under 'Follow' Tab to see Tuko.co.ke news on your FB Feed, Get the news that matters from one of the leading news sites in Kenya, Kenyans Share Hilarious Memes, Frustrations as KPLC Announces Nationwide Power Blackout, Xtian Dela's Mum Cries Bitterly As She Begs Son to Come Home, Says She's Not Seen Him in 4 Years, Linet Toto's Dowry: 7 Delectable Photos from MP's Negotiation Ceremony, Couple Lose KSh 3.4m on Their Wedding After Guests Don't Show Up: "So Heartbroken", Little Girl Begs Man on the Road for Money, Video Surprises Many, David and Rebecca Muir wedding, relationship, and family, Who is Lil Meech's mom? Anyways. The very suspicious aspect of this ballistic saga is that Hugi said they had the bill of sale and serial number for the first Ruger and it was definitely the murder weapon. Moreover, he apparently told her that he did not want children and this statement alone would seal Dianes fate. Not our place to decide. And, when she got assigned to the mail routes in the city of Cottage Grove, Oregon, as a part of her job with the U.S. postal service, he didnt have any qualms with her taking the children. I hope they have. What about the affidavits of the guy who confessed to several people? Not unlike Diane, Alice did not want to share her pain in public. You can check this link and go online to see her picture with Cheryl and the rest of the family. Maybe dad relinquished, it sounds like he may have. The mommy murderess pulled her car over the side of the road and shot her three young children in the backseat. My brother was a first-generation immigrant who died in police custody Im sure nothing I write will change that. The timing of her arrival at the hospital should have been discussed and explained in more details. Ive been trying to decipher her handwriting on the couple of pages she wrote to her daughter (misquoted on here somewhere is a highlighted If you love your little boy, youll take him far away from here- why is this being taken as a threat and not a warning?!). The authorities believed that the children's father was not a good fit to look after the children after what they had endured when their mother tried to murder them. Golden State Killer: Where Is the Prolific Rapist and Murderer Today? Fitness fanatic, 27, broke her spine lifting weights but didn't realise until she woke up the next morning unable to move - and why her terrifying injury should be a warning to all gym-goers They removed them and proceeded to interrogate the poor girl until she gave them what they needed. The fruit of this abduction was the May 23, 1983, videotape re-enactment staged by Detective Tracy in which Diane is clearly hysterical. They went after Diane at trial for tapping her foot when they played Hungry like the wolf. It is said that they didnt go to Steve because he wasnt a fit father or well equipped to take care of children who had gone through such a traumatic experience. She followed all the correct Parole Boardprocedures for two years with no hearing. The DA that put away their mom is not an appropriate placement choice. Downs is a worthless as the day is long.. Maybe you should read the blog before commenting. Years later, seven witnesses signed affidavits telling of a man named Jim Haynes continuing confessionthat he wasthe shooter, and his appearance boresimilarities to the sketch. The men in her life were in no shape or form called on their irresponsible or wild behavior. The price of celebrity for her was losing her freedom and her children for life. Whenever your shoot a gun that many times and that close to the victims, theres going to be blood and powder residues. Lets not take that lightly. They were the small sacrifices. You are wondering about the question why didn t steve downs get custody but currently there is no answer, so let kienthuctudonghoa.com summarize and list the top articles with the question. She should have had the lawyer of her choice and if they wanted to charge her with the crimes, they should have stuck with what evidence and circumstances they had. You can click here to read about the case of Alice Crimmins during which the lead detective was heard telling the other cops before the bodies of the children were ever found:You take the husband, Ill take the bitch.. After the trial that convicted Diane Downs, Fred Hugi, the Prosecutor adopted Christie and Danny (they were in foster care for 2 years before he decided to adopt them), the two surviving children. And if the fact that cops lied about the gun to close the deal did not bother you, it bothered me because this is not due process. He could not during the marriage so he walked away. After asking her to have an affair, he kept vacillating between his wife and her. It is said that their union was loveless and that Steve was a player who was also quite irresponsible and immature from time to time. Steve Bannon won't be detained before trial on charges of contempt of Congress after he failed to comply with subpoenas from the House committee investigating January 6. They now throw people in prison in the US for debts. She always seems to have not a very close contact with reality. Ive been to London to Fly the Queen ~ and Back to Collect Artifacts, Haleigh Cummings Was Once Lost but Now She Is Found, Meet Rene Acoby: In-House Female Dangerous Offender, Kelli Stapleton- A Mothers Wuthering Woes. That was the extent of her investigation of Dianes side. I like to believe the best about people too but there are certain things that absolutely cant be ignored. It was omnipresent in the courtroom as well as the Duran Duran song, The judge instructed them to continue on to force a verdict. She managed to jump in the car after getting shot in the arm. You left and you and Diane Downs spent an evening at a motel? Nobody near to help. There was no blood on the front seats so Cheryl was laying down and Christie was asleep laying down and never witnessed anything. I dont know how familiar she was with the area, but I do not think that it matters anyway. Nobody knows but her. It gave Anne Rule carte blanche to legally use these labels in her book and it stuck. She was extremely intelligent but her emotional IQ was no match and her desire for freedom, love and affection were dangerously dragging her down a path of self-destruction. Gregory Foote who had denied access to the children by all blood relatives and given their care over to the State, was promoted from juvenile to senior judge to preside over the trial of Diane Downs.. Take your smugness elsewhere, at long last. You mention that her attorney should have raised objections. It was cited that she keeps her emotions close to the vest. She entertained the idea of opening a surrogacy agency but the project never really took off. I also wish that Dianes children have a great life. Leaving out a lot of info that should be included and presenting a very one sided take on these things. Mrs. Fredericksons concern for her daughters emotional state was well placed. 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. She may be highly vulnerable to losing control of her emotions in emotionally charged situations, creating faulty judgment and ineffective and inappropriate behavior. And Steven would hunt her down anyway and charm his way back into her life. He was very irresponsible and probably could not handle them financially and emotionally. Diane, of her own admission, had plenty of affairs while she worked at the Post Office. Yet that didnt stop Knick from asking Mr. Frederickson for a job and for Dianes hand in marriage (Appendix 81, page Case History Page 25). After completing his education and their short-lived high school romance, Steve Downs would move on to join the navy. Their first child, Christie Ann, was born in 1974. why didn't steve downs get custody - Maryland Idiomas A test for the presence of gunshot residue conducted on Dianes hands the night of the shooting, returned a negative result (Appendix 23). Detective Welch reminded Diane of the assault her sister witnessed in February 1983, in which steve Downs broke Dianes tailbone (Appendix 74, page 1025). She folded it neatly around her arm. Thank you for presenting a side of the story & case apart from the usual narrative. Even if I have no doubt that Hugi loved the kids, we have to wonder why he adopted them two years later just when little Christie started saying she had no clue who shot them. Page 35 of Case History. As she walked away, Detective Welch called after her, If you dont testify against Steve, youre going to lose everything. Diane turned back to say, Show me proof, and walked away. She has done her time in prison and I hope that she gets the chance to get out and spend time with her mother and siblings. Ive not seen the movie or read the book. ANNE RULES BOOK IS A LIE, ,ALL MADE UP CRAP. The circumstances surrounding the crimes against these innocent children demand to be used as evidence.. My comment to you Lise is about your reply to a previous comment where you say Diane should have been released by now regardless of her statements. A fair trial is a right in this country, not a judicial suggestion. Too bad she did not interview Diane or her family. Her trial was speculative and based on so many fallacies. However, Steve later discovered that Danny wasn't his biological son and divorced his wife. The notes taken daily by the nurses became a point of contention at trial. Now in hindsight, seeing footage on youtube, especially the interview she did with the reporter Anne Jagger, the things she says and facial expression is exactly described in the bookhad to find the section in the book, but on that note, Anne rule did site that interview correctly. Downs: And there was a big reward, too. There is no way that a jury would convict Diane today, based on the clearly coached testimony of Christie. But if you compare them, and if stranger there was, there are similarities but it is not dead on. She got an apartment and I was going to move in with her. The fact that the Hugis did so successfully is arguably proof of this. If you had commented on one of the elements contained in the blog, it might have been enlightening. Back to DD, I think she suffered some kind of mental breakdown, her account of the facts was never reliable, all the case appears murky, which points to an incompetent handling of the situation by the police and justice system. Foote then handled the juvenile docket and first encountered Downs when he ordered her two surviving children into state protective custody. Mr. Jagger said it wasnt t enough to know a witness had lied, but she would have to prove it. Another conflict of interest. If, as Proctor said, it was exchanged right away, and the other Ruger was subsequently stolen by Steven, how was it remotely possible for him to have this info? Her lover and former husband testified against her but it did not represent evidence but character assassination. The lovely Farrah Fawcett who played in the movie Small Sacrifices was known for her epic battles with lover Ryan ONeil. But what happened to Diane Downs' husband? . This case flew under my radar so to speak because it happened before my time. In high school, she met handsome Steven Downs who saw her for the great beauty she had become. As Ms. Patterson left the stand, Diane complained to her attorney that Ms. Patterson had lied under oath. Guilt or innocence no longer need to be debated in this case. I think you may be right that she is likely still locked up due to her diagnoses of antisocial, histrionic and narcissistic, but again, no one would care and this crappy diagnosis wouldnt have been bought and paid for if not the high profile nature of the case. He failed. She knew that Knickerbocker hated trouble of any kind, and thathe would have never come back to her after an ugly shooting where she had been wounded and her kids damaged. answer the question why didn t steve downs get custody, which will help you get the most accurate answer. When a unicorn and hungry like the wolf make their way into a court room during a high profile trial, its a red flag. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPLkIcSzftE&ab_channel=DianeDownsArchives. Its too late for me to call myself a murderer (when I am not) just to purchase my freedom. I hope she is granted parole. Everywhere, EXCEPT the door through which Diane reported to police, the male stranger had passed. Page 37 of Case History. Right away, the police asked her to go back to the crime scene even thoughshe did not want to leave her children behind. That is the way she was brought up,especially at the demand of her rigid but verydedicated father. The State had the same gut feeling and made sure she would pay. The police DID fingerprint the car, from grill to trunk and in between. They checked her nails to see if she could have buried the gun and they were clean. Not meaning to sound disrespectful, but you seem to be doing what you accuse Ann Rule of doing. She signed an affidavit to that effect and wanted the jury informed of it but it was never done. This is especially if it comes with a history of erratic behavior following the use of these substances. It was also said at trial that the shooter would have been left handed, which was not the case for Diane. Its a dangerous proposition when a lack of due process becomes acceptable because they know she is guilty. If you listen to the recording, Christie clearly says I dont know who did it. She was asleep, thats why. In her case it seems to be more a matter of punishment. This case had many similarities to the Alice Crimminsstory. Besides, none of those diagnoses are illegal. The US is a very strange bird when it comes to crime and punishment. I am also engaged in other wrongful convictions that have taken place within the US. Yet, that is exactly what the videotape showsDiane laughing hysterically about hurting her arm. He may still reside in Arizona, but there is no proof of the same. Contemporary family finding principles argue that a child is best nurtured by parents, then immediate family members, extended family members, spiritual family (Godparents), close friends, etc. It appeared rigged and the fact that Ann Rule sat in the courtroom ready to produce a Masterpiece of Guilt could only help the prosecution. If it was not such a high profile case, Diane Downs would have been paroled a long time ago, considering her good behavior and lack of priors. Will Cheryl ever be let out of her grave? (witness statement the gentleman who was behind her for at least 10 minutes). To this day, his record is mixed; his law license was suspended for6 monthsin 2011, and there was also talk of a suspension in 2015. And Hugi seemed pretty sure he would get what he was asking for. And she went back to her parent's home in Arizona. She did it. So she could not have shot her kids at the distance determined by the state unless she changed her clothing and it did not come up at trial. (her family confirmed that she had a mood disorder, possibly bipolar 2), So when Dr. George Suckow from the Oregon State Hospital in Salem was called as a States rebuttal witness and he made a professional diagnosis of Diane as histrionics, antisocial and narcissistic, he openly said in court that he interviewed Diane for 1 hour and read evidence presented by the state to make his diagnosis.. She'd also shot herself in the forearm. In fact, Diane had consulted a psychologist after the tragedy and after months of consultation, she was never diagnosed as a sociopath. And she should be allowed parole! According to the state, the shooter was well inside the car and would have had gun powder on its clothing, body or hair if 3 people were shot in the car at close distance. They were not truth seekers and enjoyed a nice burning at the stake instead. And on this site, I mention that I take a restorative approach. You are right. Many attribute the conviction of Downs to the arrival of author Ann Rule at Downs' trial. Become TUKO.co.ke ambassador get a branded T-shirt, hoodie or water bottle at our TUKO Shop! No conflict of interest there? The board said that her mental or emotional disorder makes her a danger to society. Diane doesnt believe Rebecca is her daughter, rather a media puppet ran by Rule. statement regarding the effects of the childrens medications while in hospital should acknowledge where the blogger obtained information about the side effects.). Did CK shoot at car when DD drove away? As a suggestion, I would love to see a like or dislike button for each comment. Not exclusively a USA trait, this happens also in many countries, but in a technologically advanced superpower like USA this attitude is more shocking, and maybe also more worldwide spread. Crime is entertainment and big money so this case will continue to be on the forefront and the same assumptions will be repeated over and over again. The child was adopted and was later named Rebecca. So glad you wrote and provided this information. 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 were a few calls and on one occasion, The most frequent remarks I hear about the case when confronted by the state misconduct and the lack of evidence are gut feelings , So the hell with no gun, no GSR, no blood and no witnesses except a sick child who denied knowing who shot them until she could not anymore and happened to be adopted by the prosecutor; making it look like she could never change her mind and reveal that she has no memory of the shooting and maybe have the case reversed. They met for the first time in Moon Valley High School in Phoenix, Arizona. The blog tries to bring balance and more objectivity to a case that was TOTALLY one sided and still is. It was never a slam dunk. On May 19, 1983, Elizabeth Diane pulled over her car by the side of the road in Springfield, Oregon and shot her children multiple times with a 22-calibre pistol. If personal diaries were to be believed, half of the population would be in great jeopardy. Except for Paul Cortez. They were put in an impossible situation. ..it is quite possible if she was tried in todays world, with the evidence they hadquite possible it would of went differently we been living in a society that pretty much demand 100% pure forensic evidence proven. To listen to Christies taped conversation, click below. It has nothing to do with the facts of the case. It was Judge Footes first criminal case and it was against a woman whose children he had removed from her care even though she had not been convicted or sentenced; a conflict of interest and pure madness. Belli filed a motion for a 2-week extension to familiarize himself with the case because he had to be in Italy, and declared Diane innocent in a press conference, but Foote denied the motion and declared you have an attorney, use him.. Thanks for the link. From what we know about Becky, she had chosen a difficult path and Diane was trying to warn her. If you want to defend Diane Downs, more power to you. The fact that there was a rush to judgment, an investigation targeting only one result and a media coverage often presenting lies is very bothersome. It deserved as much attention as a Unicorn, a song or all the other hearsay floating around because at least, they came from real people signing official documents. What mother takes her kids out at night and then stops for a stranger with her kids in the car? Theres a lot to be said here, still. My opinion of why Mr. Hugi adopted Christie and Danny was to seal their lips. When I hear some people say that they would have liked to smack that smirk off Dianes face when she interacted with the cops or the media, I sayreadthis to understand accounts of people laughing at the wrong time and how it is related to their personality disorder. Im from Australia and have recollections of this case. Knick never signed the premarital agreement and Diane never married him. That is pure bullshit. I do not declare her innocent. Wow. woman quot~ unquote, do you remember anything like that? In 1979, headstrong Diane gave birth to Danny who was not Stevens biological son because he had no desire to be a father again. There is absolutely no evidence that Hungry like the Wolf was playing when Christie got shot but it is another detail they added to bring a dramatic element to this trial. And Ann Rule said that the unicorn that was omnipresent in court was part of the premeditation. As for where he is now, well be honest, were not completely sure. Once you are vilified in the media in the US, the way Downs and others have been, a lot of people shut their eyes and their mind to any other possibility than what was presented in the court of public opinion. It opened a huge can of worms regarding the real identity of the heart full of lies in this case. The Lifetime channel constantly makes movies based loosely on the truth; this approach is an effective weapon aimed at swaying public opinion about high-profile cases. We make them president. Only in Hollywood and in Ann Rules books, would you find such fantasy. It is because she is a high profile person. The bio family should have been given the same opportunity to see the kids and demonstrate their ability to be the guardians. So either way, it would not be so far fetched that someone said he was the shooter.A little investigation would not hurt. "We are obviously disappointed at the verdict. The best policy for Diane Downs would have been to remain silent, but she fought back and smiled at the wrong time and according to them, enjoyed the attention. From what Ive read, she gets a parole hearing every decade and the next time in 2030 she will be 75. Anne Rule might have inflamed the case with her book Small Sacrifices and her theory of the crime, but in reality, the case of Diane Downs was no small sacrifice. She had been isolated from her whole family and being unethically interrogated. In 1999, a Board Certified Psychiatrist practicing in Oakland, California wrote a letter to the parole board on behalf of Diane Downs to explain how things had changed since 1984 when she was diagnosed with a severe personality disorder. He did not consider her a risk factor at all and believed she would do well if released into society, because she had no prior history of violence and never had a problem with violence or bad behavior while incarcerated. She was the first to admit that at times, she was somewhat neglectful, impatient, yelled too much, and could have been a better mother, but she seemed to have turned the corner and was doing her best with the means at her disposal. Mr. Downs must have had a bad feeling about Jagger because before trial: speculation He had an attorney, Fred G. Campbell Jr., send us a letter denying our request and telling us: You are legally, as well as factually, a stranger to them. Who does he think he is? But showing no remorse is part of claiming her innocence and part of the vicious circle of parole hearings. Around 1 in 20 residents in Arkansas and Tennessee were missed during the 2020 census, and four other U.S. states had significant undercounts of their populations which could shortchange them Most people negotiate the ups and downs of . One of them named Angel, called 15-year-old Christie on the phone. The infamous murder story of 1983 was like an excerpt from a crime thriller, a mother doing the unfathomable. this is your 2nd quote which contradicts the first one .. Lets not forget that she was presumed to have fired a gun 6 times at close range within the confines of a small car. 4. The Media or ISIS? In the end, it is scary how media becomes some kind of Roman circus where people is thrown in order to become a source of business. RAISING THE BAR BUT CERTAINLY NOT IN ARIZONA, http://www.glamour.com/story/i-found-out-my-mother-was-a-killer-the-rebecca-babcock-story, http://www.manipulatedtrial.de/oregon_s_small_sacrifices_1603.pdf, http://www.salem-news.com/articles/july152013/midnight-med-tb-2.php, http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n364/a03.html, http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20080910_Prison-happy_U_S__must_reconsider_use_of_mercy.html, http://sputniknews.com/us/20150620/1023613662.html#ixzz3djEXlSAC, http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_prison_state_of_america_20141228, https://www.google.com/search?q=diane+downs+with+christie+cheryl+and+danny&sxsrf=ACYBGNQDEM3XNQjZXlqNQpYLhZCn7ic5iw:1576689995166&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjNuNT427_mAhUcJTQIHbveBMIQ_AUoAXoECA4QAw&biw=1024&bih=462#imgrc=gQkU10UxNhHn_M, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPLkIcSzftE&ab_channel=DianeDownsArchives, Say Her Name But Spell It Right The Tale of Breonna Taylor, And Justice For All The Watts Family Murders, Babe in the Woods & Big Country The Murder of Nicole Vanderheyden, Colonel Russell Williams Where Have You Been? They felt safe there. Unfortunately, Danny Downs was permanently paralyzed from the waist down because of a bullet injury in his back. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. There are no facts? So imagine when you are troubled to begin with. They rarely are, especially in the US. Seems to me that if that part of the story were true, and she really wanted to find her childrens shooter, she would have provided that information. She was no mother of the year and in the car when the kids got shot. I then question how she would not have blood splatter if she shot them inside the car at close range. In my blog, I was referring to the case of Liysa Northon whose suit was dismissed, but when Ann Rule tried to sue the Seattle Magazine, its editor and Northons husband for their article on her shoddy work, she lost and had to pay restitution. Either way he could NOT have seen who shot him unless he has eyes in the back of his head. why didn't steve downs get custody. so which one is it????? The GSR? If I included the ones I dont post, it would need more than a like or dislike button. What I believe doesnt matter at all. Foote ruled in favor of the prosecution and against the defenseon most of the admissible evidence questions including all the nurses notes about Danny talking about a man shooting him but admitted Christies reports about her mother shooting her. She did not have the opportunity to clean her hands with the right product to erase all traces and she was tested pretty fast, contrary to many other cases. Dr. Joshua Budhu is a neuro-oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. In 1984, Diane was convicted of the death and injuries of her children, and she was sentenced to life in prison. They finally charged her and she did 10 years for the death of her children.