In Oregon, in 1983, she shot her 3 children, 1 daughter died. As for how to answer this question,,, seems like he is assuming guilt and because of this my parents or me or my brothers and sister, our uncles and aunts were not considered because of an unproven allegation Does he truly believe this is ok??? Back in Phoenix, Arizona, in Moon Valley High School, Steve Downs met Elizabeth Diane for the first time. Our laws are not written that way. A group of ladies formed a group called HELDD which stands for Help Exonerate & Liberate Diane Downs. It kinda scared me, the thought that mommy could shoot me, like this mommy did. She was judged very harshly for her character and her defense was dismal. She felt fulfilled when she was pregnant because she believedit was the road to unconditional love. How ironic that the court and cops were so quick to believe Steve Downs, but he gave up on his own children after the tragedy. 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. Where is the blood spatter on Diane? In the beginning, detectives believed Diane's story, but they were not prepared for the actual story narrated by Christie, who survived the incident. Theybrought out the big guns to unload on the public, their idea of the truth: Diane Downs was a horrible creature and a jilted lover who shot her three children in cold blood to be free to pursue a relationship with the man she was obsessed with. So, why didn't Steve Downs get custody? Only after these avenues are exhausted should non-relative placement be looked at. I dont disagree, I just think it is another example of flaws in our justice system. When you hear her in interviews she sounds more concerned with herself than her kids. Nothing came from Diane herself. It will not make me popular, but I dont mind. If they could not find the gun or any trace of a shooting on Diane, and you think shes guilty, it would mean she had an accomplice. This case needed to be examined more thoroughly, but the mob mentality didnt allow it. Conflicting reports say Downs also acted as a surrogate during her fourth pregnancy, giving birth to a daughter after her trial in 1984. When they graduated from high school, the two reunited and rekindled their love despite their brief separation. The circumstances surrounding the case were not enough to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. There were many problems with her trial and that matters. When she resisted, he shot her kids and struggled with her. Either way he could NOT have seen who shot him unless he has eyes in the back of his head. The forensic evidence alone is absolutely weak. Steve and Diane Downs' children were adopted by Lane County prosecutor Fred Hugi and his wife, Joanne. I asked her brother James an answer to your question. I have nothing to gain and I am not making up songs and dances about a unicorn. They went after Diane at trial for tapping her foot when they played Hungry like the wolf. Yes, dad relinquished his rights but he knew that they loved their grandparents and had allowed Diane to take them for a visit without telling the authorities. Gunpowder is one of the toughest stains around, when it comes to removing it from clothes. The role of Diane Downs was played by none other than Farrah Fawcett and her lover was played by Ryan ONeal who had been Farrahs love interest in real life. They had him micromanaged, and with the testimony of little Christie they were in business. I know several people who know or knew both of the surviving children as well as Diane. Thanks Kit, It is a bit of a mystery to me that not more people see that if we removed the high profile name and the accompanying media storm, the case was no slam dunk. No conflict of interest from a prosecutor adopting a defendants children 2 years after the fact? If Oregonians were not all convinced at first, the media and the crown made sure they would be. However, Elizabeth was expelled from the religious institution as she didn't conform to the school's strong religious values. Steve Downs had allegedly stolen this gun from a friend named Billy Proctor, but after it was found and the ballistics did not match, Bill suddenly remembered keeping it only for a day before exchanging it for another Ruger automatic at a gun show in Mesa; which now meant that the gun that Diane allegedly used to shoot herself and the children, was still apparently nowhere to be found. Wasnt Mr. F supposed to be a child molester? Her 7-year old daughter Cheryl died but her 3-year old son Danny and her 8-year old daughter Christie survived. Celebrity Author Covers Case Ann Rule wrote 'Small Sacrifices,' later released as a movie. 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. If you are not bothered by lack of due process and a prosecutor making up psychiatric labels and adopting kids from a defendant or a judge who gets promoted from family court to criminal court to hang Diane, I am sure bothered by it. But without proof, Diane couldnt implicate Steve Downs any more than she could shoot him as he violated a restraining order threatening to beat her AGAIN. I am glad that some articles remain. But my beef is with the interference by the media, TV shows and Ann Rule. You mention that her attorney should have raised objections. Diane now had the title of dangerous offender. If I included the ones I dont post, it would need more than a like or dislike button. But I am so tired of the enough time has been served and other criminals have been paroled. I was raised by an evil narcissist and have not only seen this kind of behavior before, but I have seen the face of the devil and it is a look of pure evil that gives me the creeps. Mr. And what happened to her little daughter is beyond unethical. Only the people who present ongoing threats to the safety of the public in general are the ones this sentence is reserved for. But in the case of DD, there were a lot of elements missing. Mr. How do you expect the daughter to have any fair understanding of the situation or any decent contact with Dianes family when the people who have been calling her mother a murderer and a monster are dragging her in the media spotlight in the hope of writing another book or getting a new scoop, but all one sided. Jul 3, 2022; fotomontajes de amor para dos personas; Comments: pete walker complex ptsd website; Mission accomplished: Relevance? Considering the circumstances, it is difficult not to be a bit cynical about this grand gesture. I might not have put enough information to your liking, but I stuck to what came out at trial and not the fantasy factory coming from the state, the media and Rule. Everything matters in a trial and investigation. For all you readers of this blogger, I lived through the Diane Downs case. I think that the US system is barbaric Steve Downs was the husband of the infamous child killer, Diane Downs. It appeared rigged: Rigged? During cross-examination, she said that she witnessed the murders while sitting up and that Cheryl was sitting up on the front seat when she got shot. Her trial was speculative and based on so many fallacies. Q. Seeing her giggle and laugh during a videoed reconstruction gave me, as a mother, a sickening feeling. This whole case is flawed. I feel sorry for Diane too. tell someone else. The courts were divided in the 80s, family court, traffic court, criminal court, juvenile court I dont believe they ran out of judges to preside over them all. Offers may be subject to change without notice. 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. Diane had spent three days in the hospital ingesting massive doses of Morphine, Demerol, Percodan, and visterol. They hated her attitude and thought she was promiscuous and showed no sorrow or remorse. The innocence project gets so many requests and they have limited resources. It seems like Steve and Diane were meant to be together. Whats next? Is. Nuts maybe, but not threatening. TIL On May 19, 1983, Diane Downs shot her three children and drove them at 5-7 mph to the hospital. Seems like former husband, Steve Downs, should've been the custodial I cannot be more transparent than that and integrity was one of the missing pieces of the entire case. Regina, I love your comment! The Case of Liysa Northon Who Said True Crime Does not Pay? (Appendix 3). Too bad she did not interview Diane or her family. Its a fact. What I explain in the blog is that the fact that Foote is the one who removed the children from Dianes care is exactly why he should NOT have been presiding over her murder trial. The case was so one sided that it is about time some of us bring up the other side. The man you have listed as Fred Hugi is actually Dianes attorney Jim Jagger. 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. please express them and I will print them. The Pros and Cons of Getting Sole Legal Custody - Verywell Family A demonstration in court strongly suggested: Suggested, not confirmed. This is especially if it comes with a history of erratic behavior following the use of these substances. I tried to contact you by email but my email wouldnt acknowledge you email address. you quoted what diane said as to what happened When she resisted, he shot her kids and struggled with her. I dont know the woman. You seem to forget that even a few jurors started by voting not guilty on some of the charges. 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 found nothing. She was fighting back and they did not like it. And the flat affect and sometimes inappropriate smiling would come with the territory so you cannot judge her actions without taking into account that she might not have been acting according to the norms. Women who were somewhat normal begore, get pregnant, have the baby, then drown it a toilet, kill or beat the the baby in the first year..shaking or other means..its less often then notbut better believe these type of cases are reported constantly now on social media. Her release was recommended by a warden and a psychiatrist. Whatever mental illness she has, has gotten worse with each hearing. Dilantin is known to cause mental confusion and you can check it online, but consider the dosage she was on and it needs no clarification. Then ask yourself if thats how you want your son to grow up. Wow does he ever look different than how they portrayed him in the TV movie. 20 Celeb Parents Who've Lost Custody Of Their Children - BabyGaga It wasnt their fault, it was the job of the social workers and the courts to make sure the kids were not isolated from family. He was instead a result of an affair Diane had with a married man. Ruger #14-76187; described as the gun used by Diane and belonging to Steve Downs, was not the murder weapon. To have separated Christie from her brother and the rest of the family to be able to get her mom was unconscionable. In addition, the children were suffering life-changing physical and mental trauma, which would take years to heal. The tape is real and probably not admissible, but it seems to indicate that her testimony was coerced. And by the way, I wrote the blogs about Rule way before she passed. He failed. Diane clearly would have had to have had her rights terminated by the court. The gun is Def a big issue, the style of gun, whether it belonged to him or her, she Def had access to itthe child drew a picture of it, having large similarity to that gunbut it did always baffle me how she could find such a great hide for it in such a short period of time. All smoke and mirrors to fit a certain scenario. If the police department had done their job properly, I would not have written this blog, no matter the outcome. It was pretty apparent during the course of this saga that the media and the state were willing to give a free pass to anyone willing to badmouth Diane. He actually was the one who suggested theybecome intimate after many friendly, platonic conversations. She had been the bread winner for most of her marriage, and never wavered in her desire to bring financial stability to her family. Hugi didnt rush in and take the kids, he had time to consider. It gave Anne Rule carte blanche to legally use these labels in her book and it stuck. Criminalist James Pex was pretty clear about this. Diane downs. Posted by October 30, 2021 apush gilded age test on why didn't steve downs get custody The way it was. And their plan worked. Evidence or not, they were going to do their best to put her away for life. "We are obviously disappointed at the verdict. Thats the point. But the birth of little Danny did not make this bad boy change his stripes; he remained a cad and a destabilizing force in their lives. Right after the shooting, little Danny would ask the nurses, Why did the mean man shoot me? and it would be written down in the daily notes. Everything was in the bag and ready for trial. It is not, nor should be, a Conflict of Interest for a caring adult to Foster one or more siblings. This unhealthy marriage survived and became a daily struggle. Tis why at 10 years old I was hearing about this case in Ohio, and family members talked about it around me.it hit with great force that way. We make them president. I would say so. It is because she is a high profile person. The detectives and the state failed to act properly and it should not be an accepted practice. The court can just do an APR, Assignment of Parental Rights. Everyone in the world can believe something. It would be about November 20th that you would have gone back with Charlene, what, the next day? http://www.salem-news.com/articles/july152013/midnight-med-tb-2.php 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. She did diagnose her as suffering from cyclothymic disorder and treated her accordingly. To this day, his record is mixed; his law license was suspended for 6 months in 2011, and there was also talk of a suspension in 2015. If you read the blog, you will see examples of his lack of dedication. And thats fair enough. She says she was outside the car n watched the man shoot her children n then the only adult n person who could tell police about him only gets a shot in the arm n takes time to bandage her arm. (He WAS shot in the back remember). More reason to have investigated the case more thoroughly. Not our place to decide. A steel plate had to be attached and some lead fragments were removed. However, when all the details came to be understood by the police, Steve found out what really happened to his kids. On June 2nd, 1983, Juvenile Court Judge Gregory Foote held a hearing to take Christie and Danny away from ALL blood family (thus isolating them). As usual, Diane had resorted to the soothing comfort of a pregnancy to pretend life would get better; she would create a nest around her, come hell or high water. In reply to Kit Now Diane Downs did not say any of this, but told a hard to believe story, and then changed it from one to two masked guys, etc. I didnt know that. The blogger continues, I am not one sided. But I know that there were major problems with this case. It would not benefit you, my children, or society for me to perpetuate that lie. Speculative? It seems that everyone commenting just knows shes guilty, like you say. That is the reason effective trial counsel challenges the competency of a nine-year-old child to testify in a court of law. Most were married because Diane had no desire to remarry. The car was splattered with blood, but Diane had none on her. And if he really was attached to them and wanted to offer them a permanent home, it means he was unfit to be the prosecutor in this case. I will not remove anything. Tracy, I never said she was in the car. The details about the gun missing, the daughters testimony and the fact that she had no blood or gun residues are facts. It was the story of two troubled young souls trying to survive without a safety net. I will agree that it was suspicious that Diane got away with one bullet in the arm, even if the injury was severe, but she was outside the car and many scenarios are possible to that effect. Considering the circumstances, it is difficult not to be a bit cynical about this grand gesture: relevance? ), years in solitary confinment Whats wrong with us?! For example, the abhorrent decision regarding Keli Lane: https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.whimn.com.au/talk/news/why-i-think-keli-lane-should-not-be-in-prison/news-story/069a09c79589645c48de5bfa91e4ca0f. They are now leading their private lives as adults. I just read your opinion on the Pamela Smart case and the Scott Peterson case. Mrs. Fredericksons concern for her daughters emotional state was well placed. Yes, shes as guilty as Simpson. It's not even known if he still resides in Arizona, where he used to live with Diane and their three kids. 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. As a result, joint legal custody which means parents share in the decision-making 1 is becoming the default decision in many family court systems. Thats why Diane wouldnt agree to marry unless Knick first signed a premarital agreement that when they divorced, Knick would take nothing from their marriage. Spending 35 years incarcerated with time in isolation and often as a target is not going to improve mental health. I go through every new finding and I point out what was done at trial that did not respect due process. And with hindsight, the fact that this young mother had a personality disorder probably brought a lot of drama to the mix. Nearly every point you make here was addressed and disproved or not even allowed into evidence. It does not get any bigger than this. Even though his wife shot their children multiple times, and the case was national news, he never surfaced and kept a low profile. Its more understandable now, after all this time but it has done her so much harm, then and now You do not debate the content of the blog which you probably did not read anyway. But I think that in all fairness, many of them dont even know the details of the case and have watched Small Sacrifices instead. As soon as Diane was found guilty, Hugi demanded that Diane be evaluated by a psychiatrist before sentencing so they could declare her a dangerous offender and give her a stiffer sentence. What I believe doesnt matter at all. Surprisingly, he accepted the new child and learned to love him dearly. How could they expect a normal mother/daughter reunion between a beaten inmate whose mental health had degraded and a daughter trapped in this insanity? Unfortunately, there isn't much information about his whereabouts as he keeps a low profile. And the state refusing to turn them over to the defense? Christie was understandably all over the place and I agree that the way in which her statements were procured were very odd and seemed to be very coached. Diane did not get a fair trial. I also found it interesting that when he had visited Diane in prison, he had remarked a strange air about her; which did not mean guilt. This coercion came to Dianes attention in January 1989 (Appendix 39). Page 41 of case history. Doesnt change the fact that it was still a conflict of interest. ..maybe it was lack of Internet and cellies *shrug)..years later, my Co worker at burger King (I was 16)told me about the small sacrifices movie she watched the night before. The problem with high profile cases is that the media, the DA, the cops and authors like Ann Rule dictate the narrative and it becomes almost impossible to look any other way unless you are a critical thinker devoid of emotions related to the case. What about the terror of being interrogated by strangers and separated from her family? If the answer is, revenge, then it has been achieved. A conviction founded on lies is no conviction at all. Page 50 of Case History Meaning it was unlikely she was the shooter. Diane had siblings and parents. She wanted a lawyer to defend her vigorously but the judge stopped her from getting good representation. If she was the shooter, it had to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. I know several foster parents and social workers. She goes on to say that she has deep regret and mourns the loss and death of her children. On May 30, 1983, the McKenzie-Willamette Hospital Chaplain told Dianes father to hire an attorney because the State was going to take his grandchildren away. A number of them were clearly . CK allowed DD to drive away despite the fact she could identify him and he had a gun? Thanks again for bringing this to my attention. I accept that it is sometimes necessary but I believe in rehabilitation. Not giving you free reign here. This blog is riddled with inconsistencies, suppositions and a lack of the most basic referencing (e.g. Yeah, Ive noticed a lot of people thing Jim Jagger is Fred Hugi. If you read the blog, it is because of the lie told by prosecutor Hugi that ignored the assessment of her therapist Dr. Jamison and was condemned by the psychiatrist that they were convinced to find her guilty. Is it just to continue to punish her so long after she is obviously no longer a danger in any way to anyone? Dianes automobile was secured and examined and no gun was found. The gun problem or the absence of blood and powder residues are not make believe. Doing it without witnesses when she was so sick is underhanded. Guilty or not, the case was handled with prejudice and many errors occurred. I still dont buy her story. To listen to Christies taped conversation, click below. Knicks habit of turning on and turning off their relationship was known to Diane long before he admitted it in court a year later (Appendix 81, page 1520, line 21): Q. (I know that wasnt brought up this time but it usually is.) She unwillingly followed the cops in spite of being in pain and not wanting to leave the premises. Despite all these misgivings, they chose to stay strong in the marriage and had their first child, Christie Ann, in 1974. He was very irresponsible and probably could not handle them financially and emotionally. 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. Hi Nanette, it is not a matter of being gullible. I am not saying that Diane was a saint or Ann Rule a demon. It probably was not salacious enough for her readers that she polled online to establish if there was enough interest in the story to fill her pockets with a definite blockbuster. She talked to Diane for 15 minutes, there was thebizarre and partialOprah interview that was basically a lets bash Diane event and she wrote to Diane in jail to ask her what she thought of Hugi adopting her children. Clickhere to read about faulty ballistics.. 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. I guess he did not want too many people to know about the improprieties that happened in his courtroom: I guess? I am not one sided. I say these things if I were on the jury. The DA that put away their mom is not an appropriate placement choice. Read More: Where Is Robert Knickerbocker Now? I actually do not know what really happened. Yes, I usually answer the emails I get about the blogs. Diane asked for proof that her ex husband was behind the shooting. After all, many cases of domestic abuse and even neglect do stem from alcoholism or drug abuse. There isnt a whole lot known about where Steve Downs is these days. From what we know about Becky, she had chosen a difficult path and Diane was trying to warn her. Danny downs did indeed say a man shot him he also blamed a cartoon character. lol. This is a more common route for children with parents who are incarcerated for what looks to be the entire childhood of the children. CK was willing to take, or attempt to take, the lives of 4 people in order to steal their car. Everyone deserves peace. Therefore, those jagged bones were floating in a cloth wrap, merely resting in a cloth sling. Gosh Donna, you really dont have a clue. Diane was pregnant during the trial so if found not guilty, how would she have regained the love of her life? Her other daughter and son were severely injured. Considering the lack of evidence, it seems that she was condemned mostly because of herinappropriatestatements and behavior. so which one is it????? She complained about it, but that does not mean she did not suffer for her kids. While not evidence of guilt or innocence, it is certainly worth noting as part of the overall wrongs perpetrated during this fiasco of a trial and subsequent appeals. The child was adopted and was later named Rebecca. Do you remember about two days after that the two of you signing a lease on the apartment? What about the son saying that man and nurses noting that. Fairbanks jury finds Steven Downs guilty in Sophie Sergie's - KTOO The bio family should have been given the same opportunity to see the kids and demonstrate their ability to be the guardians. The detective said if Diane would just testify against Steve Downs, she and her children could go home and try to put their lives back together. .well yay for youtubelol..is when I first heard her in old interviews. She did it. You are already subscribed to our newsletter! If the goal was to get rid of them, why didnt she emulate her lesser half in this matter? But due to a law enacted in Oregon after she first became eligible for parole, she can now only apply every 10 years. But before you get too deep into the drug stuff with Van Houten, she chose to take drugs. Brewer changed his mind. May be the guy who says he did it. It was all about Charlene wanting KnickKnick ~wanting Dianeand Diane wanting a return to the peace she had before Knick asked his wife for a divorce. she chose to stay with Manson and his misfits. She always seems to have not a very close contact with reality. For the upcoming Halo TV show, original Master Chief voice actor Steve Downes was recast, despite Cortana voice actor Jen Taylor reprising her role from the iconic video game franchise. You are not the only one who thinks she is guilty and I know that getting their man at all cost is a popular mantra, but I disagree. Even Ann Rule in her book, keeps mentioning that they only had a few months to get Christie to talk, otherwise they could not keep her away from her mother any longer. Foote denied the motion and declared you have an attorney, use him.. Do you REALLY believe she expected them to live especially since she drove at less than 10 mph. I understand that the authorities were afraid to leave the two remaining children under her care if they thought she was guilty, but they could have been released to the grandparents or other blood relatives with supervised visits from their mom considering that she was not charged with any crime. Where is Diane Downs' husband now? The detective said to leave that up to the police. There have been behaviors that in the general course of events one may expect from a single parent that in a way have been falsely interpreted as being some form of evil.. She was harshly judged because of her demeanor. Likewise, Charlene had no intention of letting Knick divorce her (Appendix 81, page 1518, line 15). Of course, because this is what she does when people put her on the spot and ask questions concerning her mother and the shooting. You are right. Removing the children from her and presiding over her criminal trial?