The couple divorced in 1980 over Steven's insistence their son, Danny, was the result of an affair and not his biological child. After being recaptured, she was transferred to a more secure facility. Beeper goes off, said, Get in here. After leaving the public eye in 2010, she spoke to ABC News' "20/20" to share her life now. 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. After months of physical and mental therapy, Christie Downs was able to take the stand and tell what happened to her that horrible night. Late one May night in 1983, Diane Downs sped into an emergency room dropoff in Springfield, Ore., with a horrifying story to tell. 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. As for Danny, he has kept his life private. "I got pregnant because I miss Christie and I miss Danny and I miss Cheryl so much," she said. Downs' launched a violent attack on three of her children, Danny, Cheryl Lynn, and Christie Anne in 1983. In 1983, Diane Downs three children were brought to an Oregon hospital with gunshot wounds. 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 Christi (Hugi), Stephen (Danny), and Becky today. The woman who was on trial for shooting her own children was pregnant again -- and it was no accident. When I looked at Christie I thought she was dead, he said. 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). Danny, a computer whiz, is still partially paralyzed from the bullet in his back, but he is living a happy and normal life. And I said to her, We don't know that. 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. Diane Downs remains in prison in California. She went to the University of Oregon and now lives with her husband and children in the town. It was exciting. Late one May night in 1983, Diane Downs sped into an emergency room dropoff in Springfield, Ore., with a horrifying story to tell. [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]. He and his wife, Joanne, adopted them in 1986. View our online Press Pack. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. In 1987, just three years into her sentence, Downs escaped from the correctional facility in Oregon where she was being held. DIANE Downs is serving a life sentence for horrific crimes she committed against her own children. While he was looking for the keys, she jumped back in the car and sped off to the nearest hospital. The Diane Downs' Case Was no Small Sacrifice On May 19, 1983, Elizabeth Diane Downs and her three small children were shot on a country road near Springfield, Oregon. 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. Downs, who still maintains her innocence, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, plus 50 years. Critics said she deliberately became pregnant in order to garner sympathy from the jury. The judge made it clear that he did not intend for Downs to ever be free again. Her Facebook photos showcase a loving family living a normal life. Elizabeth Diane Downs, the convicted childkiller who escaped July 11, 1987 from the women's prison in Salem, Ore., is escorted out of state police headquarters in Salem following her capture July 21, 1987. Now, as Diane Downs comes up for parole next year, her daughter speaks out. She was sentenced to life plus 50 years for the crimes. Photo: September 26, 1988. For ten days, Downs managed to evade law enforcementdespite a fourteen-state manhuntbefore she was recaptured. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. 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. Jaeger says Downs told her she had picked someone on her postal route to seduce prior to her arrest. Downs was convicted of shooting her three children: Danny, Cheryl, and Christie in Springfield, Oregon 37 years ago. Star Witness at Downs' Trial: Her Daughter. By the time she arrived at the hospital, Cheryl, seven, was already dead and the other two children had suffered devastating injuries. She didn't know when to keep her mouth shut.. Her 7-year old daughter Cheryl died, but her 3-year old son Danny and her 8-year old daughter Christie survived. Christie and Danny were adopted by Lane County Prosecutor Fred Hugi and his wife, Joanne, in 1984. In 1983, Diane Downs said stranger shot her 3 kids. When then-prosecutor Fred Hugi asked Christie if she remembered who shot her, Christie Downs replied, "My mom.". An appeal of . In another one of her strange media appearances Downs spoke about the pregnancy. But what happened to her kids, Christie Ann and Stephen "Danny" Daniel? Downs' launched a violent attack on three of her children, Danny, Cheryl Lynn, and Christie Anne in 1983. 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. The baby was taken by the state and delivered to adoptive parents. 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. Conflicting reports say Downs also acted as a surrogate during her fourth pregnancy, giving birth to a daughter after her trial in 1984. Her blood pressure was non-existent or very low. When Downs went on trial in May of that year, she was pregnant again. And why are the kids fatally or near-fatally wounded, and she, being right-handed, is shot in the left arm? When I see what others have suffered, I think my boss probably saved my life.. They have maintained private lives since and have never spoken publically about their birth mother. 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 . It was mainly about my biological mom. Her brother Danny was permanently paralyzed from the waist down but both survived. 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. Twitter (Featured Image Credit: ABC News / 20/20). Shockingly, it was Downs daughter, Christie, who identified her mother in court as the shooter. Diane considered the kids to be a burden or a hindrance to Nick's arrival, Welch said. In 1983, horror stuck in Oregon as a mother took it upon herself to end the life of her own children. One died; two survived but had serious injuries. By the time Wilhite arrived, Downs had driven her blood-soaked car to the emergency room. Diane Downs gave birth to four children. Christie, now in her mid-40s, still lives in Oregon, in Springfield, and has a big, loving family. While they were unable to find the weapon, they found unfired casings in her home with extractor markings from the murder weapon. After Babcock found out about her notorious mother, she decided to make contact. Police scoured the crime scene for months searching for the weapon, a .22-caliber gun that wounded Diane and her 8-year-old daughter Christie, paralyzed her 3-year-old son Danny and killed her 7-year-old daughter Cheryl. Between the verdict and sentencing, the court recessed so that Downs could give birth to a girl she named Amy Elizabeth. "Wouldn't I have made sure they were dead and then cried crocodile tears? In 1994, after serving ten years, Downs was transferred to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Downs, herself, started feeling sick and was told by a supervisor to rest after seemingly showcasing symptoms at work, where she refurbishes bicycles for underprivileged children. And-- so with that, then we were free to treat her as need be. She stopped the car and asked him what he wanted. 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. She said she pulled over and got out to talk to the man. But suspicions of Downs herself quickly began to surface. It was May 19, 1983, a warm spring night. And I thought to myself, What am I going to do with three shot children?. You know, she just asked, How is she doing? Not one emotional reaction, he said. She said she had not seen a male stranger that night. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. [24] While in prison, she earned an associate degree in General Studies. Christie is now in her forties, according to Tuko, and the accident left her with a speech handicap. She shot her three children but claimed that she was carjacked and that her children were shot by a stranger. She lives and is from Bend, Oregon, and is single. [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. "There were a number of things which didn't make sense, even that first night," Welch said. On May 19, 1983, Diane shot the children Cheryl, 7, Christie, 8, and Danny, 3 multiple times at a close range. 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. Becky Babcock was born while Diane was incarcerated. [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. A surgeon told ABC News of treating Christie: When I looked at Christie I thought she was dead, he said. Wilhite said he was immediately directed to start working to save Christie while another surgeon took Danny. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Christie Downs, now 44, and her brother, 39, were adopted by the prosecutor in the case. In May of that year, the trial against Downs began with yet another inconceivable twist. 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. Cheryl Lynn followed in 1976, with Stephen Daniel being born in 1979. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The surgeon who helped to save Christie's life told ABC News: When I looked at Christie I thought she was dead. The girl was later renamed Becky Babcock. They told of her obsession with a married man who didn't want her kids around. Danny was permanently paralyzed from the waist down as a result of his injuries. In the frantic scene, hospital employees quickly determined that Cheryl was already dead and that Christie and Danny were clinging to life. A jury subsequently convicted Downs on all counts, and she was sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years, according to Glamour. From their wounds, Christie suffered a stroke that left with a speech impairment, and Danny got paralyzed from the waist down. Diane Downs also gave birth to a fourth child with yet another man; she became pregnant with that daughter, now known as Becky Babcock during the investigation. I mean, she is so close to death, it's unbelievable.. 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. Downs had also been shot, in the left forearm, though her wound was not life threatening. Sample Page; ; The tragedy that hit the Downs' kids changed their whole life. I mean, she is so close to death, its unbelievable.. He was instead a result of an affair Diane had with a married man. Downs is serving a life sentence for shooting her children, killing one They married in 1973, before divorcing in 1980. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. 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.". Learn about Diane Downs' children now: Christie, Stephen (Danny), and Becky. 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. In 1984, Diane was convicted of the death and injuries of her children, and she was sentenced to life in prison. Her adoptive parents called her Rebecca Becky Babcock. Wilhite said Christie's blood pressure had been so low that she suffered a stroke. Her blood pressure was non-existent or very low. [2][3] Their first child, Christie Ann, was born in 1974. Is She Still In Jail? In 1987, just three years into her sentence, Downs escaped from the correctional facility in Oregon where she was being held. 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. 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. All the kids were asleep as it was past 9 o'clock pm and her children were fairly young. Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheSunUSand follow us from our main Twitter account at@TheSunUS, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, 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. I sat and I thought about it for awhile, and I chose to open that letter. Her pupils were dilated. May 14, 2010 -- On June 17, 1984, Diane Downs was found guilty of shooting her three children, killing one. Thirty-five years ago, Diane Downs, now 64, was convicted of shooting her three children- Danny, Cheryl, and Christie- 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. . Watch the full story on "20/20" THIS FRIDAY, March 22 at 9 p.m. Look at her," Jaeger said. Downs told investigators that she and her. She replied, 'You've got to be kidding,' at which time he pushed her aside and reached in and shot the sleeping kids.". 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. Cops decided she was lying. Christie is married and had a baby boy in 2005. In 1983, Diane Downs' three children were brought to an Oregon hospital with gunshot wounds. It hasnt been easy, but it has been worth it. Powered by. And his response was, 'I want your car.' Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. And Christie knew that.. But as . Doug Welch remembers getting the call for what would turn out to be his first homicide investigation. Anne Jaeger was a local reporter for KEZI in Eugene, Ore., at the time. "Her initial statement was that she had taken the kids out to a friend's house," said Welch. Cheryl died; the other two children survived, but they suffered terrible wounds according to Glamour, the bullets paralyzed Danny and gave Christie a stroke. Danny, a computer whiz, is still partially paralyzed from the bullet in his back, but he is living a happy and normal life. "She talked all the time. 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. "You cant replace children, but you can replace the effect they give you. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? And got out and ask what he wanted. District Attorney Fred Hugi asked Christie if she remembered who shot her. She says things to me like, Boy, this has really spoiled my vacation, and she also says, That really ruined my new car. Doug Welch, then a detective with the Lane County Sheriff's Office, remembers getting the call for what would turn out to be his first homicide investigation. 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