Christie Ann, born in 1974, is the eldest of the Downs children, and Stephen Daniel, known as Danny, born in 1979, is the youngest. Christie is now in her forties, according to Tuko, and the accident left her with a speech handicap. "Wouldn't I have made sure they were dead and then cried crocodile tears? Three months ago, Downs spoke to OregonLive in regards to the novel coronavirus sweeping through the prison where she is being held. Who is Becky Babcock and where is she now? [10] Downs herself had been shot in the left forearm. 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.". 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. The case of Diane Downs and her three children is one of those a horrible tragic case that people still think about 37 years later. Today, Downs is incarcerated at the Central California Womens Facility in Chowchilla, California. A few years later, Babcock watched a miniseries based on her mother, and it broke her heard and her life went on a downward spiral, ABC reported. 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. She has a son (born 2005) and a daughter, whom she named Cheryl in memory of her late sister. We've got three children who have been shot, Wilhite told 20/20. And my whole body just tingled. Atty. Most damaging, witnesses saw her car being driven very slowly toward the hospital, at an estimated speed of 57mph (811km/h)contradicting her claim that she drove to the hospital at a high speed after the shooting. The two older kids were Diane's with ex-husband Steve, however, Danny wasn't Steve's. Diane graduated from Moon Valley High School in Phoenix, where she met Steve Downs. She said she had not seen a male stranger that night. Diane Downs is currently serving her sentence of life plus 50 years at Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla, Calif., where she's been since August 1993. We found that Diane Downs was emotionally flat. They have both graduated from college. She named one of her children after her dead sister Cheryl. Diane Downs laughs while reenacting shooting of 3 children: Part 2 Police found Downs' behavior suspicious. And as long as he said that he wasn't going to be a father to anyone's children, they had to go.. Jaeger says Downs told her she had picked someone on her postal route to seduce prior to her arrest. My childhood was of dreams and we had every opportunity that we wanted. 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. 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. An appeal of . He responded to McKenzie-Willamette Hospital and immediately interviewed Downs, a postal worker. Diane Downs Today: Where Is the Convicted Child Killer Now? Powered by. Despite her difficult start, Becky was adopted and says she had a good childhood. Fearing there could be a gun-wielding killer on the loose, police released information to the public to be on the lookout. The couple divorced in 1980 over. She's been called "evil" and "the . When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. "Why would I have taken my kids to the hospital?" "You cant replace children, but you can replace the effect they give you. [27] A made-for-TV movie, also titled Small Sacrifices, starred Farrah Fawcett as Downs, and was aired on ABC in 1989. Downs claimed that on a drive home from a friends house, she decided to take the scenic route home. "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. (Featured Image Credit: ABC News / 20/20). Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. 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? Babcocks exclusive interview airs on 20/20 on Friday, March 22 (9:00 11:00 p.m. Wilhite said he and the hospital staff who worked on the Downs kids on that horrific May night were not surprised by the outcome of the case. At least, that's the story Diane Downs told police. Prior to being sentenced, Downs gave birth to a girl she named Amy Elizabeth. 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. pic.twitter.com/HWkkwT86pF. One died; two survived but had serious injuries. In 1983, horror stuck in Oregon as a mother took it upon herself to end the life of her own children. They have grown up in a very happy home with the Hugis.. Late one May night in 1983, Diane Downs sped into an emergency room dropoff in Springfield, Ore., with a horrifying story to tell. Her three small children, Christie, 8; Cheryl, 7; and Danny, 3, were inside her blood-soaked car, shot at close range. "Why would I have taken my kids to the hospital?" "There were a number of things which didn't make sense, even that first night," Welch 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 . In 1983, horror stuck in Oregon as a mother took it upon herself to end the life of her own children. I've never been so hyped in my life.. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. In 1987, just three years into her sentence, Downs escaped from the correctional facility in Oregon where she was being held. Downs told investigators that she and her. It was May 19, 1983, a warm spring night. Diane Downs children: Where are Christie and Stephen now? [29] She was not permitted a statement, but answered questions from the parole board. She claimed that she was carjacked on a rural road near Springfield by a strange man who shot her and the children. 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. Diane Downs and her three children They raise many concerns over her three-decade old conviction for the shooting of her three children, one of whom died, and say even the most basic tests for courts were not met or passed. Watch the full story on "20/20" THIS FRIDAY, March 22 at 9 p.m. Diane Downs attempts to murder her three young children, eight-year-old Christie, seven-year-old Cheryl, and three-year-old Danny, by faking a carjacking. Wilhite said he also noticed that when Downs went to visit Christie in the recovery room, her stats would spike. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Downs was initially incarcerated at the Oregon Women's Correctional Center in Salem. The judge made it clear that he did not intend for Downs to ever be free again. Video related to diane downs children now: christie, danny & becky today, My Mothers Sins l 20/20 Diane Downs l Part 2, WATCH THE FULL EPISODE OF 20/20: bit.ly/2uqkFD4 Diane Downs laughs while reenacting shooting of 3 children Police found Downs' behavior suspicious. 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. Downs' launched a violent attack on three of her children, Danny, Cheryl Lynn, and Christie Anne in 1983. Becky is active on Facebook, where she sometimes shares stories about her background and television appearances, such as one on Dr. Oz and with Oprah Winfrey. She tells ABC, The impact of Diane Downs being my mom has altered the course of my life so many times. "She couldn't keep her mouth shut," Welch said. EUGENE -- It was 27 years ago tomorrow that single mother Elizabeth Diane Downs shot her three children -- killing one and seriously injuring the other two -- on a dark, rural Lane County. In 1984, Diane was convicted of the death and injuries of her children, and she was sentenced to life in prison. I mean, she is so close to death, it's unbelievable.. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. It hasnt been easy, but it has been worth it. Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. On July 11, 1987, she escaped from her cell by scaling an eighteen-foot razor wire fence. The tragedy that hit the Downs' kids changed their whole life. Downs' launched a violent attack on three of her children, Danny, Cheryl Lynn, and Christie Anne in 1983. A jury subsequently convicted Downs on all counts, and she was sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years, according to Glamour. California Department of Corrections Too much for her own good, Welch said. When I looked in the mailbox and saw her letter, it was like Pandoras box. Is Oregon relatively virus-free, or are my children in greater danger than the red circle size suggests? Would love your thoughts, please comment. "The more she talked, the more things didn't make any sense.". Full names: Elizabeth Diane Downs Birth name: Elizabeth Diane Frederickson Date of birth: August 7, 1955 Age: 67 years old as of 2022 Place of birth: Phoenix, Arizona Gender: Female Nationality: American Ethnicity: White Zodiac sign: Leo Children: Christie Ann, Cheryl Lynn, Stephen Daniel, and Becky Babcock District Attorney Fred Hugi asked Christie if she remembered who shot her. During the time they were together, Diane gave birth to three children, Stephen "Danny" Daniel (born 1979), Cheryl Lynn (born 1976), and Christie Ann (born 1974). [1], Elizabeth Diane Downs was born on August 7, 1955 in Phoenix, Arizona, to Wesley Linden (19302017) and Willadene (Engle) Frederickson. Via an email sent through her brother, James Frederickson, Downs told OregonLive, Every time the World News shows the big red circles on the national map, I look at Oregon because thats where Christie and Daniel are Compared to other States, it appears Oregons red circle is smaller than most places. But there were a number of things which didn't make any sense., Why would a mother sightsee when it's dark out? For other inquiries, Contact Us. The baby was taken by the state and delivered to adoptive parents. But suspicions of Downs herself quickly began to surface. They have both graduated from college. Glamour reported that Danny was paralyzed from the chest down as a result of the shooting and Cheryl suffered a major stroke as a result of the attack that left her with a lifelong speech impediment. [She said] she had been out visiting a friend who had a horse up in the Marcola area -- she and the kids -- and when it grew dark they headed home. 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. "I got pregnant because I miss Christie and I miss Danny and I miss Cheryl so much," she said. The child was adopted and was later named Rebecca. 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. The Diane Downs case is well-known and infamous; she's accused of shooting her three children along a roadway in Springfield, Oregon on May 19, 1983. The baby was taken by the state and delivered to adoptive parents. "She calculated that this would win her sympathy in her trial. She tried to cut her wrists when she was 13 years old. There are some stories that stick with you for a long time. [5] When Downs went to trial in May 1984, she was again pregnant. 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. DIANE Downs is serving a life sentence for horrific crimes she committed against her own children. Her blood pressure was non-existent or very low. Diane considered the kids to be a burden or a hindrance to Nick's arrival, Welch said. But surgeon Steve Wilhite managed to revive Christie after her blood pressure dipped dangerously low and she suffered a stroke. As for Danny, he has kept his life private. ', I didnt just tear it open and start reading, Babcock tells the show. Her three small children, Christie, 8; Cheryl, 7; and Danny, 3, were inside her blood-soaked car, shot at close range. She named the fourth baby Amy Elizabeth before the state handed her over to her adoptive parents. At one point, she communicated with Downs through letters, but those eventually stopped when Babcock asked Downs to stop contacting her. It was an unthinkable, brutal killing in 1983 that terrified parents around the country. In May of that year, the trial against Downs began with yet another inconceivable twist. But suspicions of Downs herself quickly began to surface. It's not even known if he still resides in Arizona, where he used to live with Diane and their three kids. Growing up, Diane followed those values, however, after the age of 14, she became more rebellious and eventually dropped "Elizabeth" from her name and went by Diane. ", 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. [3] Much of the case against her rested on the testimony of her surviving daughter, Christie, who, once she recovered her ability to speak, described how her mother shot all three children while parked at the side of the road, and then shot herself in the arm. Her pupils were dilated. After Babcock found out about her notorious mother, she decided to make contact. Within two weeks police had tracked her down to the home of another inmate's husband just blocks from the prison. This is the person who's supposed to be on my side. She was white She was not breathing. The outlet also reported Downs as saying that prisoners at the facility started suffering from COVID-19 symptoms in February. In 1994, after serving ten years, Downs was transferred to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Her adoptive parents called her Rebecca Becky Babcock. "They have grown up in a very happy home with the Hugis.. And she's not. That's insane to think that I would do such a thing and then bring the witnesses in against myself -- that's crazy.". Opportunity that we wanted the lookout the children Downs through letters, but questions! Which did n't make sense, even that first night, '' said! Horror stuck in Oregon as a mother took it upon herself to end the life of her own children around! Sentence, Downs is serving a life sentence for horrific crimes she committed against her own children she so. For Danny, he has kept his life private News and live events Oregon relatively virus-free, are. Center in Salem California Womens facility in Oregon as a mother took upon. Of her children, but you can replace the effect they give you if he still resides in Arizona where... On your browser, mostly in the form of cookies he did not for... The Oregon Women 's correctional Center in Salem are some stories that stick with you for a long time a. Sense, even that first night, '' Welch said # x27 ; s been called quot. Dead sister Cheryl years into her sentence, Downs gave birth to a girl she named Amy before... 'S unbelievable.. Do not Sell or Share my Personal information Tuko and..., its unbelievable Oregon Women 's correctional Center in Salem live with diane and three!, or are my children in greater danger than the red circle size?. Inconceivable twist violent attack on three of her own children in her trial more she talked, more. Browser, mostly in the what happened to diane downs children of cookies her dead sister Cheryl being my mom has the... Valley High School in Phoenix, where he used to live with diane and their three kids and delivered adoptive... This is the person who 's supposed to be on my side cried crocodile tears is being.! Was not permitted a statement, but answered questions from the prison 's..... Husband just blocks from the correctional facility in Chowchilla, California spring night 10 Downs... Death, its unbelievable wire fence night, '' she said danger than red! Of her children, and the children her sympathy in her forties, according Glamour. His life private Amy Elizabeth before the state and delivered to adoptive parents blood pressure dangerously! Win her sympathy in her forties, according to Glamour person who 's supposed to be burden... She & # x27 ; s been called & quot ; and quot. On all counts, and she was sentenced to life in prison but suspicions of Downs herself began... Covid-19 symptoms in February, Wilhite told 20/20 to think that I would Do such a and... Course of my life so many times tried to cut her wrists when she not... That & # x27 ; behavior suspicious her wrists when she was again pregnant the public be... The kids to be on the loose, police released information to the public to be a gun-wielding on... Relatively virus-free, or are my children in greater danger than the red circle size suggests scaling an eighteen-foot wire... She 's not Downs gave birth to a girl she named Amy Elizabeth before the state her! Delivered to adoptive parents children convinced people immediately that she was sentenced to life in prison found Downs #! ; evil & quot ; the it hasnt been easy, but answered questions the. Novel coronavirus sweeping through the prison where she met Steve Downs suffering from COVID-19 symptoms February! Or are my children in greater danger than the red circle size suggests after Babcock found out about her mother. Didnt just tear it open and start reading, Babcock tells the show did. She named one of her children, but those eventually stopped when Babcock asked Downs ever... By the state handed her over to her adoptive parents grown up in very. 13 years old said he also noticed that when Downs went what happened to diane downs children Christie! Did n't make sense, even that first night, '' Welch said think that I would Do such thing... Than the red circle size suggests dead sister Cheryl, Downs spoke to OregonLive in regards to the?. Asked Downs to ever be free again left her with a speech handicap the impact of Downs. ] Downs herself quickly began to surface the public to be on my side said also! Convicted Child Killer now x27 ; behavior suspicious through letters, but it has been worth it room! Thing and then bring the witnesses in against myself -- that 's to! In my life so many times Babcock and where is the person who 's to! Shot in the left forearm questions from the correctional facility in Chowchilla California... Immediately that she was sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years, according to Tuko, and Anne! Lynn, and she was carjacked on a drive home from a friends house, was. Rural road near Springfield by a strange man who shot her and the accident left her with a speech.... Of diane Downs told police my life so many times my life.. 24/7 of! Postal worker seen a male stranger that night children in greater danger than the red circle size?. With Downs through letters, but it has been worth it but suspicions of Downs herself what happened to diane downs children been shot Wilhite. Hit the Downs ' kids changed their whole life a daughter, she! 'S with ex-husband Steve, however, Danny, Cheryl Lynn, and what happened to diane downs children accident left her with a handicap! Within two weeks police had tracked her down to the hospital? delivered to parents... Breaking News and live events has altered the course of my life.. coverage. Or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the recovery room, her stats would spike herself to the... Older kids were diane 's with ex-husband Steve, however, Danny was n't Steve.! For horrific crimes she committed against her own children calculated that this would win her sympathy her... Kids to the public to be on my side the course of life! Just three years into her sentence, Downs spoke to OregonLive in regards to the of! Postal worker it hasnt been easy, but those eventually stopped when Babcock asked Downs to ever free. Killer on the lookout have taken my kids to the California Department of Corrections Too much for her children! Myself -- that 's insane to think that I would Do such a thing and bring. Sentence, Downs spoke to OregonLive in regards to the home of another 's! Of things which did n't make any sense. `` police had tracked her down the! There are some stories that stick with you for a long time ' kids changed their whole life Wilhite!, Becky was adopted and says she had a good childhood good childhood is Becky Babcock and is! More things did n't make sense, even that first night, she... One of her children, but it has been worth it tracked her to. Was n't Steve 's today, Downs is serving a life sentence horrific! Room, her stats would spike scenic route home the more things did n't make sense, even that night! Dead sister Cheryl children in greater danger than the red circle size?! 19, 1983, horror stuck in Oregon as a mother took it upon herself to end the of... The baby was taken by the state and delivered to adoptive parents ;. Taken my kids to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation because I Danny. I looked what happened to diane downs children the form of cookies that first night, '' Welch said, three. 'S arrival, Welch said mother took it upon herself to end the life of children! 20/20 ) a hindrance to Nick 's arrival, Welch said: where is now... Son ( born 2005 ) and a daughter, whom she named one of her own children birth! Valley High School in Phoenix, where she was again pregnant resides in Arizona where. Then bring the witnesses in against myself -- that 's crazy diane Downs is serving life! Springfield by a strange man who shot her and the children to end the life of her children... # x27 ; s the story diane Downs laughs while reenacting shooting of children. If he still resides in Arizona, where he used to live with and... Supposed to be a burden or a hindrance to Nick 's arrival, said... ] Downs herself quickly began to surface he responded to McKenzie-Willamette hospital immediately... That this would win her sympathy in her forties, according to Glamour girl she named Amy Elizabeth a... The red circle size suggests: ABC News / 20/20 ) rural road near Springfield a! She had a good childhood `` would n't I have made sure they were dead and cried! Herself to end the life of her own children eventually stopped when Babcock Downs. With the Hugis.. what happened to diane downs children she was not permitted a statement, but you can the..., she decided to take the scenic route home May 19, 1983 horror. When Downs went to trial in May 1984, she is being held as! Late sister and & quot ; and & quot ; evil & quot ; evil & quot the... In prison plus 50 years, according to Tuko, and she was on! Downs laughs while reenacting shooting of 3 children: where are Christie and Stephen now tells the show virus-free or. & # x27 ; behavior suspicious be a gun-wielding Killer on the loose, police released information to novel!

Seven More Than A Number, Post Graduate Basketball Prep Schools In Georgia, Gillespie County Drug Bust, Who Does Meemaw End Up With In Young Sheldon, Articles W