Diane has not been deemed an ongoing public threat that I am aware of. The states own witness, Dr. George Suckow and Dr. Polly Jamison denounced Prosecutor Hugis practice as improper and unethical (Appendix 101 and 104). But Diane was not the one dragging Knick out of Charlenes bed every morning intent on making or breaking his relationship with another woman. They were the small sacrifices. It was one of the most disturbing stories I've watched. And Robert Knickerbocker became one of her lovers. Dianes daughter started saying that she did not know who shot them right when she got adopted. There is no way that a jury would convict Diane today, based on the clearly coached testimony of Christie. According to Rule and the court, the unicorn was a memorial to her children that she purchased after premeditating their murder. Q. A new trial would be out of the question, so to me, parole would be the solution. You mention her youngest daughter, and how Ann made sure she only heard negative information about Diane.. And once again, considering that she was diagnosed as bipolar, did not help her cause. Mr. Downs must have had a bad feeling about Jagger because before trial: speculation Was that Annes fault as well? If the grandparents and uncle had visitation rights, they could have respected some rules as far as not discussing the case, but imagine if she had told them that she did not remember? Her mom is still alive and would love to have contact but respect that they wont. On May 19, 1983, Elizabeth Diane Downs and her three small children were shot on a country road near Springfield, Oregon. No forensic evidence pointing to her, just conjecture based on how mothers should act. The cops admitted that they never investigated the tips about a bushy haired stranger. Also, aside from her original mental state, which may or may not excuse her aloofness (doesnt prove shes a killer by the way! As a married man, the ball was in his court and he decided togo forit. What this is evidence of is one more piece of the overwhelming amount of bias that was involved from the start of the case. she flat out says, they are saying Duran Duran made her shoot her kids!..Im like HUHOkay now this is my favorite groupstill is at 44yrs old.I had to investigate this. It should have been investigated further. Two jurors had voted that Diane was not guilty of attempted murder or first-degree assault, but endedup voting to convict her of murder. She functions best in highly structured environments where she has a sense of control. She never mentioned that before, and she doesnt mention the FBI agents name. Fred Hugi looks nothing like Jim Jagger. I dont know that it could get worse than writing an asinine comment on a restorative justice website that states that only respectful and constructive comments will be posted. They are still part of their birth family. This seems very punitive to have a law like this be retroactive. They were put in an impossible situation. It was the story of two troubled young souls trying to survive without a safety net. But the Parole Board refused to hear her. I remember when it was in the news. The fact that she was driving five miles per hour to the hospital says it all as a mother myself, I dont care how hurt or mentally damaged I was, I would drive that car 100 MPH to get my children to safety. Thats food for thought. Even prosecutor Fred Hugi was seen walking the grounds to try to find the weapon. At least two of those school mates reported Christies tortured confession to their mother The crucial point is that she is so void of emotion. If it was not such a high profile case, Diane Downs would have been paroled a long time ago: speculative, Ill stop there. It could have been very different at almost any other time or with any other attorneys or juries too. No one bothered with these details so I did. answer the question why didn't steve downs get custody, which will help you get the most accurate answer. ..it is quite possible if she was tried in todays world, with the evidence they hadquite possible it would of went differentlywe been living in a society that pretty much demand 100% pure forensic evidence provenprobably over 10 years or longer, people expect trials to be that of a law and order TV show..I cant say thats a bad thing, or makes what happened in the 80s on back bad. It opened a huge can of worms regarding the real identity of the heart full of lies in this case. Ruger #14-76187; described as the gun used by Diane and belonging to Steve Downs, was not the murder weapon. My guess is the grandparents were so overwhelmed with Dianes case that they let the system take care of the kids at first. http://www.glamour.com/story/i-found-out-my-mother-was-a-killer-the-rebecca-babcock-story. Until the end of the trial. This blogger apparently believes anything she hears to support her inaccurate theory that Diane Downs was falsely accused and convicted. had to wait for Christie to be able to tell them who did it. Most doctors would tell you that it is normal for our brains to block out a traumatic incident especially when combined with a serious physical injury. But you dont mention that she again has changed her story. 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: If youre talking about the picture in the blog that is labeled as Christie, it is Christie. Will Cheryl ever be let out of her grave? They had him micromanaged, and with the testimony of little Christie they were in business: argumentative It would be about November 20th that you would have gone back with Charlene, what, the next day? I had never heard of this case before I read her book (Im not from or do not live in the USA), but I found myself constantly despairing at the authors unfounded judgements and wild suppositions. She has come a long way. No other shooter involved in her case. Her three small children, Christie, 8; Cheryl, 7; and Danny, 3 . You have a photo of Diane before the parole board. No. I am sorry the meaning of nonsense evades you like the facts of the case in this instance. why didn't steve downs get custody. They should have left her alone. Litigating at the Supreme Court in . As her brother mentioned, it would not be that farfetched for his sister to stop for someone considering that she was a person who lacked impulse control and the era. Comments about the title of the website, the blogger, the bias, details like the word bipolar and when it was used when cyclothymic disorder was diagnosed by the person who treated the subject and there is an affidavit posted. He didn't indicate whether Downs would appeal. That says it all. Diane was sentenced to life plus 50 years. She was interrogated without a representative from the defense and was not taped for the most part. So should I put an addendum saying that Diane contradicted herself or was not satisfied with the sketch? 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. Wow does he ever look different than how they portrayed him in the TV movie. I was curious as to what these requirements were, as I have not seen these online. If the answer is, revenge, then it has been achieved. Being interested in a subject without bringing emotions to the table is always the most important step. Rule sued the Seattle Weekly after they published the article titled Ann Rules Sloppy Storytelling, but she lost and had to make restitution. It was far fetched, unfoundedand convenientlyrelayedby Rule to boost the sales of her book. Is it just to continue to punish her so long after she is obviously no longer a danger in any way to anyone? Oh 1 more thing I see a lot of comments on pro Diane web sights that say well she drove them to the hospital. You wondered at times, which side he was working for. 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. 4.Diane was NOT arrested for almost a year after the shootings the d.a. Due process always matters. Theres a lot to be said here, still. They are the ones who supposedly (according to Diane) screwed her up so badly. The bitches own daughter identified Downs as the shooter. How one of them lied on the stand about ballistics? The prescribed normal dosage for a full grown man is 30 milligrams per day. She was in solitary confinement for years and even escaped from prison once but was recaptured. a clinical lab to Dianes not being herself the day the Detectives pressured Diane to accompany them, the fact is Diane was clearly suffering the residual effects of that chemical poison in her system. In this article, we can clearly see that Becky struggled and tried to justify her woes (maybe rightly so) by blaming it on her DNA. I will not remove anything. In 1992 I became involved in this work following my interest and research into a notorious murder trial that was held in Oregon many years ago. Nice to see this blog is still active in 2017, being a lot of groupsmessage boards and such, on subjects like this has no activity for years. I state that it is not my place to judge innocence or guilt. And of course, she added her own brand of paranoia, which is to be expected considering her personality disorder and what she went through. They brought cakes and cookies and became friends so they were not going to fight over this. She had a more than competent attorney and a fair trial before a jury and NOT the same judge who handled the childrens matters. I am just curious. 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. Just a thought. Diane was known for her love of all animals whichshe treated with great care, and for her independent and wild streak. To the authorities, it was a ridiculous notion that they would not entertain so they did not follow on numerous leads coming from people who had seen someone corresponding to that description. So she warns her to stay away. If I was of a mind to manipulate the Board by giving voice to the words they want me to utter, Id have sold my soul two decades ago when the lies would have benefited me and my youth passed long ago. The authorities wanted to see them mourn and fall apart. I am not saying that Diane was a saint or Ann Rule a demon. They did not like her attitude and she did not behave the way they expected a grieving mother to act. This is not the reason she is still locked up. The GSR? Without her daughters testimony and the lies about the gun, they could not have found her guilty in a fair trial. But showing no remorse is part of claiming her innocence and part of the vicious circle of parole hearings. You make an interesting observation when you say: Anyways. Diane herself stated Cheryl was asleep on the front floorboard completely covered up with Dianes jacket how the hell did a stranger or a hitman(one of Dianes OTHER stories) KNOW Cheryl was there. It's February 28, 2023, and Luke Schenn was just traded to the . 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. Considering that the marks on the lethal bullets did not fit the bullet fingerprinting found in the rifle, this gun switcheroo was a good save for the state, but did not support the theory presented at trial either. (LOL!! 2.Diane herself has stated that the shooter was outside the car and shot THROUGH the window, no blood spatter. They believed the testimony of her former boyfriends who were far from stellar individuals. Children under the age of twelve may cognitively grasp the concept of truth and lie, but lack the conscience which compels people to apply the concept to their lives, or the strength to maintain the truth when adults coerce her to lie. 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. Right after the shooting, little Danny would ask the nurses, , Even Ann Rule in her book, keeps mentioning that, Every time, she said she did not know, they told her to think again and made suggestions. 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. Once again, Diane said a lot of things. Nobody had any reason for a conspiracy of this magnitude over a literal nobody. Its a rather large part of the story. In fact, I am surprised that people are not flabbergasted by the way this case was handled and tried and that what bothers them most is that I try to discuss it in a blog and dare defending this woman. Nothing in this blog claims Diane is innocent. You seem to care about my opinion and perception of some elements of the case and how the media poisoned the well in this instance, but what about the trial? 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. 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. Yes Gigi, the same judge who had removed the children was also presiding over her trial. The character of the accused is not the main ingredient, especially that in this case, there was a lot of bashing going on in the media and in court. So I start with that bit of history in mind. But due to a law enacted in Oregon after she first became eligible for parole, she can now only apply every 10 years. 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. The forensic evidence alone is absolutely weak. And Steven was free to follow her lead or not. 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. Considering the lack of evidence, it seems that she was condemned mostly because of herinappropriatestatements and behavior. Or that the sketch did not resemble the suspect enough? She was fighting back and they did not like it. The blogger continues, I am not one sided. Right?? A conviction founded on lies is no conviction at all. Page 50 of Case History Bannon, a former adviser . Mission accomplished. On May 19, 1983, Diane and her kids visited a friend to look at her new horse, and then went for a drive; not at all unusual for this family not living according to middle class rules. Even more now with hindsight because of the gun and the fact that her daughter kind of recanted by demonstrating that if pushed, she will say what is expected of her. And some are even contradictory: shes mentally ill, but also not mentally ill; the site owner wants to focus on pure facts, yet ignore other facts; things happened in court, but those are irrelevant to what else what also happened in court, etc. The photo of Hugi I used is the one you find when you do a search online for Fred Hugi who prosecuted Diane Downs. Yes, I usually answer the emails I get about the blogs. The lovely Farrah Fawcett who played in the movie Small Sacrifices was known for her epic battles with lover Ryan ONeil. Lise do you know if the kids have ever reached out to the grandparents/family in the last few years? ), Interesting suggestion. Im not saying I know for a fact in my mind shes innocentbut there is NOT enough evidence for her to be guilty. Re Diane Downs I invite reading Synopsis quite similar to above: OREGONs Juridical Small Sacrifices After all, she was conditioned this way. This unhealthy marriage survived and became a daily struggle. Cheryl was shot twice in the back and one of the bullets ended up on the floorboard. Im sorry but your article is tosh. Someone said to me that any of us, if scrutinized under a microscope, would come out looking pretty bad. (I know that wasnt brought up this time but it usually is.) This unexpected proposal took Diane by surprise at a large family gathering. We will never know what really happened because the authorities acted too hastily and the media was a huge hindrance. Youre right to say that a GSR is not always foolproof and between 10-20% of suicide GSR kits test negative for GSR. She had not fired a gun. He still shouldnt have been allowed to adopt them while the appeals process was ongoing, if he had any role in those cases. Yes, Im sure this stranger wanted to kill her kids but only wound her, who, coincidentally, had a towel handy neatly folded on her wound. She was not given one inch of presumption of innocence. Teen Mom 2 alum Jenelle Evans and her mom, Barbara Evans, have been feuding over custody of Jenelle's son, Jace in addition to many other issues for over a decade. Exactly Libby why did they say during the trial that he saw his mom? 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. Up. In fact, Diane and her lawyer wanted Christie to be able to heal before being questioned and to be accompanied and taped during the sessions. Ive done my research. This video has Dianes attorney, Jim Jagger, at 1 minutes and 20 seconds that might have some good shots. Diane Downs is no exception. They were in their care during the time Diane worked when she moved to Oregon. The grandparents were babysitting the children often and had several children who were well adjusted. I go through every new finding and I point out what was done at trial that did not respect due process. I bet the records are and always have been sealed regarding this aspect of the case. You have that part absolutely right, so why was this protocol ignored? Even if the nurses notes indicated countless times that the children asked for their mother and enjoyed her visits, they cut them off from the only family they knew and loved; supposedly for their own protection. (He WAS shot in the back remember). Every single one. The diagnosis of the psychiatrist for the state is also clearly documented. Everyone in the world can believe something. How could Christie say anything but the things they told her to say with that kind of influence? Diane was diagnosed as being bipolar and subsequently diagnosed by a psychiatrist before sentencing. For the children to be legally free for adoption a termination of parental rights had to occur. What would have been the conclusion to have drawn without this hate campaign? Page 35 of Case History. Being bipolar, she had no impulse control so it should not have surprised anyone. I simply state facts that did not or would not come out at the time or blatant misconduct from a legal system that is supposed to be based on innocent until proven guilty. There are no facts? Diane didnt ask Knick to leave his wife. 2) You mention her youngest daughter, and how Ann made sure she only heard negative information about Diane. All the reports and even the warden thought she was not a threat anymore. Late Tom Billings had been the first who openly questioned Diane Downs guilt. 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. I know people who know or knew people is not a valid argument. Movie scene alleging that Christie was scared. And the interrogations were not tapedand barelydocumented. Celebrity Author Covers Case Ann Rule wrote 'Small Sacrifices,' later released as a movie. She had been isolated from her whole family and being unethically interrogated. The State produced a witness (Ms. Patterson) to testify that Diane Downs entered the hospital bathroom, left the door open, and ran water in the sink (Appendix 87, page 476). It is a research done on the case according to many sources. Then feel free to correct the facts and to provide evidence to support them. Nobody near to help. It wasnt until Prosecutor Hugi said Dr. Jamison had labeled Diane a deviant sociopath that Mr. Dianes automobile was secured and examined and no gun was found. And yes, its your site, but dont act like a site is open for discussion if its not. I hope they have. Brewer changed his mind. As for where he is now, we'll be honest, we're not completely sure. 4. I then question how she would not have blood splatter if she shot them inside the car at close range. Ask them what they did to a good man. Downs wanted to get rid of the kids because her new boyfriend didn't want . I am not sure. She was also shot twice andifshe had been sitting up, the seats would have been covered with blood spatter as well as the shooter. It should be illegal to use real names and facts from a criminal case while influencing the publicto falselybelieve that the whole content of the filmis true. He could then have initiated the licensing process to foster and then adopt the children. Posted by October 30, 2021 apush gilded age test on why didn't steve downs get custody The way it was. Her parents Willadene and Wes were old school Baptist parents who raised her under strict guidelines without much warmth but complete devotion. 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. 4. As a suggestion, I would love to see a like or dislike button for each comment. As it was getting dark and the young ones fell asleep in the car, their mother decided to head home. These women did not show emotions and did not fold when asked to. Melvin Belli How things could have been different. But in the case of DD, there were a lot of elements missing. Feb. 4, 2022 -- An analysis from a trio of economists says pandemic lockdowns during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic did little to reduce the number of COVID-related deaths. So I did not post your comment about his answer to your inquiry. The point is our trials need to be conducted fairly and based on evidence. If you think you would have more influence arguing for better relationships with Mexico at a Donald Trump rally in Mexico, why bother? I think that the US system is barbaric And on this site, I mention that I take a restorative approach. I have worked in Child Protection for over 20 years and have extensive experience in this field domestically and internationally. Her lover and former husband testified against her but it did not represent evidence but character assassination. The definition of deviant sociopath does not even exist in the DSM-HI, which is the official psychiatric diagnostic manual. A trial should be based on facts and solid direct or circumstantial evidence. She was expelled and reunited with him against her parents wishes. The gun presented at trial being the wrong one is a fact. Dr. Obrecht Learns if She's a Bone Marrow Match for Willow Plus, Nikolas' Whereabouts Are Revealed. CMOH said 2 doses = minimal protection against infection . http://www.dianedowns.com/Dr.%20Jamison%20affidavit.pdf.
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