I am just curious. They were treated very badly in this matter. Do you remember probably about four or five days after They hardly investigated any other lead after a couple of weeks. Diane was pregnant during the trial so if found not guilty, how would she have regained the love of her life? Because she was failing quite miserably at remaining pure and chaste, she was expelled after only a year, and thus, she returned to her parents home in Arizona. Golden State Killer: Where Is the Prolific Rapist and Murderer Today? The rest of the family? 4. Being bipolar, she had no impulse control so it should not have surprised anyone. During the process of the termination (which can take the whole 2 years in question, with appeals) the court is mandated to find family to take the children. If Hugi got attached to the children, why did he wait 2 years when little Christie was starting to say she had no clue who shot them? Why on earth would anyone recommend leaving the kids with the grandparents? Since he was in possession of a similar gun, he was a suspect as well, but, when the ballistics did not match, Diane Downs quickly became the prime suspect. It became judicial kidnapping to obtain a coerced confession: inflammatory The car was splattered with blood, but Diane had none on her. Diane Downs is guilty beyond any doubt and I do not believe that her daughter was coached. Their theory was very shaky. It does seem time has done worse to her. You mention her youngest daughter, and how Ann made sure she only heard negative information about Diane.. I hope she is granted parole. Dianes family could give you countless examples of the inaccuracies they found in her book. Lise,,,,, yes you did. Makes no difference to me. 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. He gave temporary custody to Dr. Wilhite. I also grew up in as time of the most infamous case in Australias judicial history: Lindy Chamberlain and the dingo stole my baby. The blog I read is all about the improprieties and flat out misconduct in Dianes trial (and the way Ann Rule profited off of it with fiction). Thanks for the link. He has also once again decided to defy . So not addressing the content of the blog and rambling about everything else while asking for a disclaimer is nailing it? Charlene would call Diane at all hours of the day and night to threaten violence if Diane continued on with her husband. He asked her for the car keys and she pretended to throw them away to distract him. Fitness fanatic, 27, broke her spine lifting weights but didn't realise until she woke up the next morning unable to move - and why her terrifying injury should be a warning to all gym-goers One of them named Angel, called 15-year-old Christie on the phone. You read a few comments. 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. And if you add the fact that they never found the gun, it doesnt leave much evidenceto back upthe theory that she was the shooter. Don't get butt hurt. Where to begin? Christie was only eight, had suffered gunshot wounds and was in shock. He didn't indicate whether Downs would appeal. This video has Dianes attorney, Jim Jagger, at 1 minutes and 20 seconds that might have some good shots. Its more boring to tell the truth and the readers might not have flocked to read a fair story without no real heroes and villains. I talked about her still being locked up, all these years later, because I really want to know is it because we believe she will commit more crimes or is it because we need more revenge? My opinion of why Mr. Hugi adopted Christie and Danny was to seal their lips. If you read the blog, you will see many examples of media hype and character assassination. The lawsuit against Ann Rule was thrown out as unfounded because after reading her book they could find no inconsistencies She sat thru the entire trial AND used actual court transcripts. Diane and her family fought for them but were blocked from day one. Which is itself a redundant practise: the blogger repeatedly states that Downs should be released. After asking her to have an affair, he kept vacillating between his wife and her. Copyright 2023 Distractify. 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. But before you get too deep into the drug stuff with Van Houten, she chose to take drugs. Of course, her mental health has deteriorated. People have always been wondering about Steve Downs, Danie Downs ex-husband. They never found the gun and she showed no signs of having fired one. Her persona allowed them to build this ironclad narrative when in fact, it was far from definite. Devoting ur life to taking down a dead author is a waste of ur talents. A sick kid who had a stroke and traumatized being pressured for weeks to remember her mother killing her? What happened to Diane Downs ex-husband? I guess he did not want too many people to know about the improprieties that happened in his courtroom: I guess? Now she claims she was dating an FBI agent at the time, was holding some top secret pictures for him, and she was on the road to meet someone to pass them off, at the instruction of her FBI boyfriend. I care about the experts reports written about Diane because they know her situation and mental state. Only the people who present ongoing threats to the safety of the public in general are the ones this sentence is reserved for. Maybe someone needs to read Part two in Dr. Billings in-depth review of the Diane Downs Murder Case in Oregon. Her flat affect is even more pronounced now and it did her in at the time, but she was lucid enough to clearly see that Rule and the media used Becky for their personal gain. This blog is riddled with inconsistencies, suppositions and a lack of the most basic referencing (e.g. I like to believe the best about people too but there are certain things that absolutely cant be ignored. Steve knew Danny was not his biological child and left Downs. Diane may very well be guilty, but YIKES this investigation and trial seemed so butchered and tilted in the prosecutions favour. Spending 35 years incarcerated with time in isolation and often as a target is not going to improve mental health. I state that it is not my place to judge innocence or guilt. In this Battle of Cutthroats, Who has lost their head? And thats fair enough. One could argue that this blog does not stick to what came out at trial. But you told Diane Downs to go ahead and get an apartment? And because of this, they formed a profound connection that matured into a relationship. After six weeks in Oregon where the children were happily spending time with their grandparents while Diane worked her postal route, the incident happened on a dark road that led to Diane being accused of murder and attempted murder. Like I said, the 2 years make it a bit more of a gray area. I found your blog to be very well written, informative and interesting. In the spring of 1986, Christie confided to school mates that shed been coerced to lie in court, to implicate her mother (Appendix 1-2). Yes, Christie said she did not know who did it. We cant. Downs: Oh yeah, I remember the pictures, too. Mr. Downs must have had a bad feeling about Jagger because before trial: speculation but later you claim Diane was inside the car and shot the kids in the car and that that BECAUSE she was inside the car she should have had blood splatter on herso WHICH IS IT, I dont know which it is Libby. In 1984, Diane was convicted of the death and injuries of her children, and she was sentenced to life in prison. But you sure did comment like a true asshole, huh? You left and you and Diane Downs spent an evening at a motel? I was also stunned that she took the reports of all of Dianes ( mostly married) ex lovers as absolute truth and never once questioned that they might have been lying and retrospectively minimising their feelings for Diane to protect themselves. To have separated Christie from her brother and the rest of the family to be able to get her mom was unconscionable. I try to remain objective in spite of the media storm depicting the case in a certain way, which is not accurate in every aspect. In fact, with her continuing to deny committing the crime or expressing remorse, she may never get out. Its too late for me to call myself a murderer (when I am not) just to purchase my freedom. 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. No forensic evidence pointing to her, just conjecture based on how mothers should act. This is what Mrs Downs had to say about the situation. This blogger apparently believes anything she hears to support her inaccurate theory that Diane Downs was falsely accused and convicted. PAY ATTENTION: Click 'See First' under 'Follow' Tab to see Tuko.co.ke news on your FB Feed, Get the news that matters from one of the leading news sites in Kenya, Kenyans Share Hilarious Memes, Frustrations as KPLC Announces Nationwide Power Blackout, Xtian Dela's Mum Cries Bitterly As She Begs Son to Come Home, Says She's Not Seen Him in 4 Years, Linet Toto's Dowry: 7 Delectable Photos from MP's Negotiation Ceremony, Couple Lose KSh 3.4m on Their Wedding After Guests Don't Show Up: "So Heartbroken", Little Girl Begs Man on the Road for Money, Video Surprises Many, David and Rebecca Muir wedding, relationship, and family, Who is Lil Meech's mom? She had one arm totally out of commission. Press J to jump to the feed. A demonstration in court strongly suggested that the shooter had to be left-handed to have been able to shoot in the car at the right angle. He should have let someone else handle the case or let someone else adopt the kids. Blood spatter is not an exact science, and is interpreted differently by experts. Q. Moreover, he apparently told her that he did not want children and this statement alone would seal Dianes fate. She should of been sentenced to death. , The lovely Farrah Fawcett who played in the movie, Anne Rule might have inflamed the case with her book, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), The Diane Downs Case Was no Small Sacrifice. So there was a transfer, but nothing else was found. Diane ran away from her husband many times between 1976 and 1977, but with nowhere to go except her parents house, she would come back. Seriously. Below this letter see links to Salem-News.com articles about the questionable conviction of Diane Downs. This is especially if it comes with a history of erratic behavior following the use of these substances. One of the important pieces of evidence was the absence of all but a trace of gunshot residue. 20 female celebrities with black hair to follow in 2023, 10 most famous QVC hosts who were fired or left the channel. I am publishing your comment because once in a while, I need to post the pitiful representation of true crime readers who made Anne Rule a rich author. People tend to forget that the group of young women hanging out with Manson were deeply engaged in serious drug use and totally out of their mind at the time. Downs went on trial on Jan. 12 for a rape and murder that happened in 1993, when he . 20 Celeb Parents Who've Lost Custody Of Their Children - BabyGaga In 1999, a Board Certified Psychiatrist practicing in Oakland, California wrote a letter to the parole board on behalf of Diane Downs to explain how things had changed since 1984 when she was diagnosed with a severe personality disorder. He did not consider her a risk factor at all and believed she would do well if released into society, because she had no prior history of violence and never had a problem with violence or bad behavior while incarcerated. Susan, I dont know if there ever was a lawsuit against Ann Rule from the Fredericksons family. I am not from USA, never have been there, but my impression is that in USA media are far more powerful than the justice system and rational thinking is crushed by easy emotional moods, stereotypes and a hunger for violence coated in a pompous moral attitude. I am also engaged in other wrongful convictions that have taken place within the US. As she is incarcerated, her fate is already sealed, servicing her life sentence in prison. She was still trying to extricate herself from a bad relationship with Steve Downs and was in no hurry to repeat the mistake. It is not a hatefest and I do not wish death or life without parole on anyone. By the way, Dianes parents mourn the loss of their grandchildren to this day. Sad situation. It turned out to be a mistake because he was married to a County Circuit Court Judge who would become a colleague of Foote and he had no intention of defending Diane vigorously. Like in their movies. I followed the trial. Search within r/halo . Foote refused 30 to 50 reports by detectives of sightings or leads about the shooter but admitted reports from people in Arizona willing to badmouth Diane. She did diagnose her as suffering from cyclothymic disorder and treated her accordingly. Steven and Diane married on November 13, 1973. Great question. Unfortunately, he hasn't been as outspoken as people expected, considering the gruesome details of the crime committed by her ex-wife. What mother takes her kids out at night and then stops for a stranger with her kids in the car? 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.