When I see what others have suffered, I think my boss probably saved my life.. [22] She received an additional five-year sentence for the escape. A surgeon told ABC News of treating Christie: When I looked at Christie I thought she was dead, he said. "And so the quickest, simplest way was to eliminate the children.". She, too, is now a mother. The couple divorced in 1980 over Steven's insistence their son, Danny, was the result of an affair and not his biological child. Downs was denied parole in December 2008, December 2010, and in 2020. 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. Christie was the star witness in her mothers prosecution; she testified that her mother was the shooter. Investigators later discovered that she had bought the handgun in Arizona. She tried to cut her wrists when she was 13 years old. She's the biggest threat to him, not three sleeping children.". She claimed that she was carjacked on a rural road near Springfield by a strange man who shot her and the children. While he was looking for the keys, she jumped back in the car and sped off to the nearest hospital. Steve Downs, their father, actually left Diane in 1980 because he thought that Danny was the result of an extramarital affair that she had. 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). This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. Meanwhile, Christie Downs was slowly beginning to tell what she remembered of the shootings. She went to the University of Oregon and now lives with her husband and children in the town. After months of physical and mental therapy, Christie Downs was able to take the stand and tell what happened to her that horrible night. 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. "She was white, she was not breathing. Danielle Peterson/Statesman Journal via AP, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Why is she wounded in the arm? The baby was taken by the state and delivered to adoptive parents. Her brother Danny was permanently paralyzed from the waist down but both survived. "And they give me love, they give me satisfaction, they give me stability, they give me a reason to live and a reason to be happy, and thats gone, they took it from me, but children are so easy to conceive.". Thirty-five years ago, Diane Downs, now 64, was convicted of shooting her three children- Danny, Cheryl, and Christie- in Springfield, Oregon. Downs is serving a life sentence for shooting her children, killing one They married in 1973, before divorcing in 1980. They have maintained private lives since and have never spoken publically about their birth mother. 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. "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 her difficult start, Becky was adopted and says she had a good childhood. Twitter Who is Becky Babcock and where is she now? It was as if she thought that if she kept talking enough, that you would believe her, Jaeger said. 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. I have never changed my story.[29] Her first parole hearing was on December 9, 2008. Fred Hugi, adopted the children., Famed true-crime author Ann Rule wrote about the case. For ten days, Downs managed to evade law enforcementdespite a fourteen-state manhuntbefore she was recaptured. Her mother was on trial for shooting her siblings, and some believed that Diane Downs got pregnant to gain sympathy. Diane Downs gave birth to four children. Downs claimed that during this drive home, around 10 pm she saw a strange man standing in the road flagging her down. While Danny and Christie survived, Cheryl, the middle child, was killed in the attack. It was an interesting interview. Downs was employed by the United States Postal Service, assigned to the mail routes in the city of Cottage Grove, Oregon. The woman who was on trial for shooting her own children was pregnant again -- and it was no accident. 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. She didn't know when to keep her mouth shut.. The first letter I wrote Diane, I must have written 100 times, she says. By the time she arrived at the hospital, Cheryl, seven, was already dead and the other two children had suffered devastating injuries. 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. Crime author Ann Rule wrote on her website: "Christie and Danny who somehow survived their gunshot wounds have no contact with Diane. According to witnesses, she then drove at a pace of between 5-7 mph to the local hospital, where she then claimed to hospital staff she had been car-jacked by a stranger who shot herself and her children. He and his wife, Joanne, legally adopted the children in 1986. Too much for her own good, Welch said. "She saw the kids as a burden, they were in the way and he wasn't going to join her as long as she had the kids," Welch said. He worked quickly and eventually was able to revive Christie. She tells ABC, The impact of Diane Downs being my mom has altered the course of my life so many times. She briefly escaped in 1987, but was quickly recaptured. According toHeavy, crime author Ann Rule said: "Crime author Ann Rule wrote on her website: "Christie and Danny who somehow survived their gunshot wounds have no contact with Diane. I've never been so hyped in my life.. The judge made it clear that he did not intend for Downs to ever be free again. I chose to, in a sense, allow her into my life.. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. They have both graduated from college. It was scary. [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]. 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. ET) on ABC. Cheryl Lynn followed in 1976, with Stephen Daniel being born in 1979. He and his wife, Joanne, adopted them in 1986. 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. She was afraid of her mother. [5] When Downs went to trial in May 1984, she was again pregnant. In May of that year, the trial against Downs began with yet another inconceivable twist. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Danny was permanently paralyzed from the waist down as a result of his injuries. Downs was found guilty in June, and sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? There were all kinds of red flags that went up as we took her statement, but we wanted her to give us a complete statement, Welch said. 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. [3] Diane came from a family with strict conservative values. I wanted to relate to her not as a mother, because I had a mother just as somebody who felt the pain and the emptiness that I felt in that time., She wrote back super quickly, Babcock says. In the frantic scene, hospital employees quickly determined that Cheryl was already dead and that Christie and Danny were clinging to life. [2][3] Their first child, Christie Ann, was born in 1974. [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. My childhood was of dreams and we had every opportunity that we wanted. Her pupils were dilated. 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 two older kids were Diane's with ex-husband Steve, however, Danny wasn't Steve's. It's not even known if he still resides in Arizona, where he used to live with Diane and their three kids. [2] Despite her parents' disapproval of their relationship, Downs continued the relationship. "The more she talked, the more things didn't make any sense.". Anne Bradley Jaeger was a local reporter for ABC affiliate KEZI in Eugene, Ore., at the time. In 1984, Diane Downs was convicted of shooting her three children, 3-year-old Danny, 7-year-old Cheryl, and 8-year-old Christie. The outlet also reported Downs as saying that prisoners at the facility started suffering from COVID-19 symptoms in February. District Attorney Fred Hugi asked Christie if she remembered who shot her. 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. One died; two survived but had serious injuries. They told of her obsession with a married man who didn't want her kids around. Her blood pressure was non-existent or very low. After leaving the public eye in 2010, she spoke to ABC News' "20/20" to share her life now. I was nervous. Today, 35-year-old Babcock works as a behavioral health coordinator for children in Salem, Oregon. Late one May night in 1983, Diane Downs sped into an emergency room dropoff in Springfield, Ore., with a horrifying story to tell. But what happened to her kids, Christie Ann and Stephen "Danny" Daniel? 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. 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. It was an unthinkable, brutal killing in 1983 that terrified parents around the country. 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. According to witnesses, she then drove at a pace of between 5-7 mph to the local hospital, where she then claimed to hospital staff she had been car-jacked by a stranger who shot herself and her children. But there were a number of things which didn't make any sense., Why would a mother sightsee when it's dark out? Then, 10 days after Diane was sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years, she gave birth to a daughter she named Amy Elizabeth. 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. The couple divorced in 1980 over. 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. The child was adopted and was later named Rebecca. They have grown up in a very happy home with the Hugis., Both individuals chose to live a life away from the spotlight- they didnt want prying eyes to remind them of the horrors of their past and to haunt them more than it already did. Diane Downs now: Her most recent prison photo from 2018. Her pupils were dilated. 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. [1], Elizabeth Diane Downs was born on August 7, 1955 in Phoenix, Arizona, to Wesley Linden (19302017) and Willadene (Engle) Frederickson. Her first three children with her husband Steve are Stephen "Danny" Daniel (born 1979), Cheryl Lynn (born 1976), and Christie Ann (born 1974). 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. Police arrested Downs Feb. 28, 1984, nine months after the shootings. 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? Heavy is withholding that last name and the photos to protect her privacy. Although police had found spent .22 caliber bullet casings at the crime scene, an exhaustive search of the area did not turn up the murder weapon. 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. But suspicions of Downs herself quickly began to surface. 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. [29] After three hours of interviews and thirty minutes of deliberation, she was denied parole. Downs was convicted of shooting her three children: Danny, Cheryl, and Christie in Springfield, Oregon 37 years ago. Reporter Ann Jaeger remembers worrying that Downs' pregnancy could affect the way jurors viewed her. Diane Downs Today: Where Is the Convicted Child Killer Now? Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Diane Downs laughs while reenacting shooting of 3 children: Part 2 Police found Downs' behavior suspicious. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Christie became the star witness in the case, bravely testifying against her monster mom. the incident happened on a dark road that led to Diane being accused of murder and attempted murder. The revelation would shake Becky Babcock's young world and take her on a journey of self-discovery, filled with ups and downs, she said. Downs said: "I got pregnant because I miss Christie and I miss Danny and I miss Cheryl so much. California Department of Corrections Her three small children, Christie, 8; Cheryl, 7; and Danny, 3, were inside her blood-soaked car, shot at close range. She remembers Downs' demeanor in her interviews as peculiar. she said in an interview. Why does a mom with three sleeping children in the car stop for a stranger or anyone for that matter? 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. [24] While in prison, she earned an associate degree in General Studies. Did I make a mistake? Her pupils were dilated. "And along this road, off to the side, out stepped a man who flagged her down. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Diane_Downs&oldid=1139832541, Incarcerated; earliest possible release 2025, This page was last edited on 17 February 2023, at 03:51. Late one May night in 1983, Diane Downs sped into an emergency room dropoff in Springfield, Ore., with a horrifying story to tell. 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. . That's insane to think that I would do such a thing and then bring the witnesses in against myself -- that's crazy.". 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. "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. 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. 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 . She has been housed in California for the Oregon Department of Corrections since Aug. 30, 1993.. My parents wanted us to prosper, to learn and to grow, she told ABC. "Danny, a computer whiz, is still partially paralyzed from the bullet in his back, but he is living a happy and normal life. Christies Facebook page shows she has children, has a different married last name, and is living in Oregon. Between the verdict and sentencing, the court recessed so that Downs could give birth to a girl she named Amy Elizabeth. Wilhite said he also noticed that when Downs went to visit Christie in the recovery room, her stats would spike. 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. I got blood all over the back of it, I knew within 30 minutes of talking with that woman that she was guilty., And then, Wilhite said, even more shocking to him was when Downs told him that she knew Christie was brain dead and told him, I want you to pull the plug., In other words, let her die, Wilhite said. The child was later renamed Rebecca Babcock by her adoptive parents. Her first three children with her husband Steve are Stephen "Danny" Daniel (born 1979), Cheryl Lynn (born 1976), and Christie Ann (born 1974). The girl was later renamed Becky Babcock. "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. At birth, Downs named the child Amy Elizabeth. After Diane was convicted, the two living children were adopted by the prosecutor in the case and his wife, and it was Christie who ultimately pointed to her mother being responsible for the shooting. 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. Diane didn't show much grievance for her murdered daughter and her two children that were in critical conditions. Prosecutors laid out the evidence against Downs, all leading up to their star witness. Her three small children, Christie, 8; Cheryl, 7; and Danny, 3, were inside her blood-soaked car, shot at close range. 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. Photo: September 26, 1988. Her three small children, Christie, 8; Cheryl, 7; and Danny, 3, were inside her blood-soaked car, shot at close range. 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