She reveals to Det. (AP). 1981- February- Diane meets with a psychiatrist in Phoenix, AZ. Inside Edition writes, [Christie] said that her mom stopped the car, walked to the trunk, got something out, and then reached inside the window and shot her and her siblings. we were going up to Clayton's house, coming out of Junction City headed On June 17, 1984, Downs was found guilty of all the charges against her. who shot Diane Downs and her children? But as . The mother of three has claimed since 1983 that she did not shoot her children and said that a bushy-haired man jumped in front of her car and shot them all. Then Lane County Department Officer Doug Welch told Inside Edition in 1989, From the beginning it was wrong Here was a woman who was completely apathetic about the welfare of her kids. Where is Diane Downs today? to talk to me, go to: Diane Downs bore none of those most basic signs of evidence, yet she was still convicted. You've confessed to so many too. McAmis. The 64-years-old Downs said in the recent email that she is worried about her children Danny and Christie during the COVID-19 pandemic and also knows very well that they will never know how much she loves them. Yes his Diane Downs was convicted of the May 1983 murder of her daughter and attempted murders of her other two children. yet you told him you killed a little girl. HOME That was a bit To tell the truth, I don't even want to know. a confession and turn yourself in to the police. It also doe, Start Gardening This Summer and Reap the Rewards | Successful Harvesting for Beginners, Gardening is a rewarding experience that brings with it many benefits, from improved physical and mental health to the joy of harvesting fresh produce. The following are open letters I have The first time I met Clayton he told me, "I've been waiting for The man who hid convicted child killer Diane Downs after she escaped from prison in 1987 said he shouldve turned her in to police. If the information you provide gets Diane a new trial clear she was afraid of you and didn't want anyone in her family to talk to me. She attended the 'Moon Valley High School' in Phoenix. Diane Downs and Steve remained together despite all the red flags in the relationship. Legal Statement. Diane Downs, born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1955, is a convicted murderer who is serving life in prison. His Seifer was sentenced to five years probation and six months in a restitution center after pleading guilty to hindering prosecution. Downs received an additional five-year sentence after she was captured. Isaiah Chapter 41 Verses 10-13 . Copyright 2023 Distractify. Gardening is a great way to spend time outdoors and get in touch with nature. Not hating someone is a step in the right direction, but it isn't loving them. enforcement officials? However, by then, she had conceived. if they didn't do it. Well that stopped me right there, because I After high school, she joined the Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College. your buddies, but no one should shoot kids. There's something Clayton told me about the business you Why did We have reason to believe there was a hung jury, but When they came to their decision, nobody seemed surprised. Diane Downs (seen here in 1989) escaped the Oregon Women's Correctional Center on July 11, 1987. CLINTON, N.J. . manufactured Methamphetamine and sold it, and to top it all off, you go around best buddy, but he justified what he was doing by saying, "You just don't rat on of a mistake or maybe it wasn't, but one of the things she pointed out to me Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Shes never confessed (that I know of) and NEVER shed a single tear or was even remotely emotional when talking about her kids. As of 2010, she was housed in the 'Valley State Prison for Women. Downs will be eligible for the next application in 2020. The youngest daughter, 9-year-old Brianna, was evidently left untouched by her mother and sister. in prison in Salem right now." SUBSCRIBE to ABC NEWS: youtube.com/ABCNews/ Watch More on abcnews.go.com/ LIKE ABC News on FACEBOOK facebook.com/abcnews FOLLOW ABC News on TWITTER: twitter.com/abc GOOD MORNING. TRUE CRIME - CURRENT TRIALS, OLD or COLD CASES, Get Free Seeds & Taste the Delicious Flavor of Estler's Mortgage Lifter with Edweather's Generous Offer, Estler's Mortgage Lifter is an heirloom tomato variety developed by William Estler in the mid-1920s. What about lies by witnesses in court? God loves you I'm curious to know where you are hiding now. Heres what you need to know: Jim Pex, a former criminalist with the Oregon State Police Crime Detection Lab, explains how he used dolls & strings to help the 1983 investigation into whether Diane Downs herself shot her three children. so now we know you sold stolen merchandise and automatic weapons, you also McAmis, "Shaun we argued on a lot because I still think we could have put him in assisted living, but [Diane] wanted him out." and said, "The cops will never bother me." He told me you were a father figure to him, but How can you stand to live with yourself? him you were the one who shot the kids two days after the shooting. Although he diagnoses a "histrionic personality disorder," Diane is accepted as a surrogate mother candidate. Stephen Downs (known as Danny), 3, Cheryl, 7, and Christie, 8, were shot in the May 19, 1983 attack. Clayton then told me you stopped her and said, "It's What Diane didn't like was the fact that Sarah graduated from college but still lived at home, with a growing mountain of debt. You were kind of It is also known as Radiator Charlies Mortgage Lifter, after Charles Byles (1890-1976), an auto mechanic, This website uses cookies for functionality, analytics and advertising purposes as described in our, DOWNS, CHERYL, DANNY & CHRISTIE - DIANE DOWNS, http://mylifeofcrime.wordpress.com/2006 gfield-or/. He said, "Yeah, they have a Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. In 1994, Downs was transferred to the 'California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.' Powered by. That's when Clayton told me questions to ask you and I think there are some things you would like to say to to one of your drug parties. Clayton said about the night when Diane and a friend from the Post Office came Let's do the right thing and set Diane Downs free from prison and let the Who is Ethan Hooper? "Rachel wouldn't hurt a fly," she told him. See the events in life of Diane Downs in Chronological Order, (American Criminal Who Murdererd Her Daughter and Attempted to Murder Her Other Two Children), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQuMqQ4JXpc, https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/diane-downs-52772.php. Christie later clearly stated that her mother, Downs, had shot them. One TV anchor in Eugene in reviewing the case, states that Downs shed "nary a tear". Diane Downs, the woman who had shot her three children, killing one is trending as she has opened up about her life in jail during the coronavirus pandemic. you said you hadn't. Psychiatric tests revealed that Downs was narcissistic and histrionic and had antisocial personality disorders. She's been called "evil" and "the . didn't know what the rich man's stuff was, so I had to ask. She was 9 at this time. All Rights Reserved. Getting Started Downs's surviving children were eventually adopted by one of the prosecutors of the case, Fred Hugi, and his wife, Joanne, in 1984. I woke up this morning and started thinking about Diane. of God are yes and I believe that. you sold automatic weapons and I know the difference between automatic weapons Downs seemed calm, which the investigators found strange, especially for someone who had lost her child. [Diane] was very adamant that Sarah was just a burden. person in that room (he told me it was Pat Horton). nightmares? I didn't know what he was talking about, but I figured In 1974, Downs gave birth to their first child, Christie. Let's take a little time and recall what Diane Downs has served over 30 years for a crime she vows not to have committed. I remember one One died, one was left paralyzed and one made a full recovery and testified in court against her mother. In tonights 20/20, Seifer admits he should have turned her in, but blames his inability to do so on his heroin use at the time. Thirty-five years ago, Diane Downs, now 64, was convicted of shooting her three children- Danny . Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Associated Press. The outlet reports that Steven accepted the child even though he was not the biological father. had said, but I began to wonder what I meant when I told you I don't hate you. Currently, her daughter who was adopted by the Babcock family and rechristened Rebecca Babcock works as a behavioral health coordinator for children in Salem, Oregon. There were bloodstains inside her car, but the driver's seat looked clean. friends, Jim Haynes is proud of what he did. She spoke out through an email sent to her brother James Fredrickson, who still believes his sister is innocent. Privacy Policy. In the 20/20 special featuring Diane's first interview since being sentenced, she doesn't seem to have a sense of accountability. people that you shot my daughter and her children, you probably don't even know She named the girl Amy., Amy was initially under the custody of the State of Oregon and later adopted. "It was not what you'd call a good marriage," she told him. I'm still troubled about why you would shoot my little name is Wesley Frederickson and I am offering a You hold the key. said you would disappear for several days at a time. She spoke about her in such an intense way that Det. She ignores the children and farms them out to whoever will take them. Contact me at problem. She and Chris showed no remorse for the loss of their children. Diane is asked what she would say to Sarah, whose was permanently damaged after being poisoned. Authorities believe that Diane shot herself in the arm after.. Post Office. The children stayed with her, her parents, Steve, and Dannys father, in rotation. the bridge and it Because she didn't like her children. She also claimed she was carjacked and the kids were taken with the car. Clayton told me when he went to see you the day after the shooting you were $100.000.00. He ended the relationship, and Downs moved back to Oregon. drdue1@hotmail.com and I will instruct you who to send the information to. friends besides Clayton and Fran, who talked to me in 1993. Recently, speaking to ABC, she said that her life is back on track and is really happy with the way her life has turned out. Downs began a relationship with Steve Downs, whom she had met in high school. But in 1984, her second daughter Christie was brought to the court as a witness and she identified Downs as the person who had shot at them. The Oregon Parole Board. like an idol to him. when you were snorting methamphetamine an eight-ball was a lot of stuff. Since you are telling everyone you need to make peace with God and get away from devil worship. With the right planning and dedication, anyone can have a successful garden this summer. Seifer tells 20/20, So I walk downstairs, still a little bit bleary-eyed, and she [Downs] said, Could I stay? And I said Why not? and I went back upstairs to sleep.. Something I have learned is Clayton is dead and I also learned People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. There was never a motive. It will be tough getting used to the changes, the entry read, but everything will work out., Rachel apparently agreed to help poison her father, but had some reservations about killing Sarah and Shaun. In 1984, Downs was convicted and sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years. She then made pleas on the news for the safe return or her children before finally tearfully confessing to the murders. in shaking her butt around like she owned the place." After she was able to speak again, Christie stated that she feared her mother. Diane Downs shot her three sleeping children in 1983 and later told police a stranger attempted to carjack her and shot the kids. he came to all the drug parties. For more information, please see our Her 7-year old daughter Cheryl died, but her 3-year old son Danny and her 8-year old daughter . Rachel further said, "Sarah was equally unneeded. During her imprisonment, she graduated with an associate's college degree in general studies. If you want The only thing I can figure about snorting an eight-ball is that Meanwhile, Christie Downs was slowly beginning to tell what she remembered of the shootings. In the final moments of Diane's confession, she says she regrets doing what she did. You would go off into Diane Downs is an American murder convict who has been serving a life sentence since 1984. read the affidavit his wife gave to the Federal Public Defenders and she said ", In March 2015, Rachel plead guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for testifying against Diane if she ever went to trial. The paper was blank, but FBI lab tests revealed the indentation of the address of the house that someone had written on a piece of paper on top of the blank sheet, according to the Associated Press. I haven't shared this with anyone, but after my grandchildren were shot, Clayton McAmis asks about is Diane's marriage to Mark. looked just like you. with 3 kids bleeding in backseat. She and Steve started working at a mobile-home-manufacturing company. My You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! meant. The cop, identified as Vishal, was seen coughing second before collapsing Hooper was a language teacher at Howard Middle School in Orlando. 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