Diane Downs up for parole soon

[packy]

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20081201/NEWS/812010316&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

December 1, 2008
Diane Downs, who fatally shot one of her children and badly wounded two others in 1983 in one of Oregon's most infamous crimes, comes up for parole consideration for the first time Dec. 9.



In papers submitted to Oregon's parole board, the convicted child killer still maintains that she's innocent.

"Over the years, I have told you and the rest of the world that a man shot me and my children. I have never changed my story," she wrote in her parole application.

Downs, 53, contends that a longtime criminal was the man who shot her and her three children alongside a rural road near Springfield.

Her claims are countered by Lane County District Attorney Douglass Harcleroad, who is urging the parole board to keep Downs locked up.

"The brutality of these crimes remains among the most horrendous in state history," Harcleroad wrote in a recent letter to the board.

(more at link)

Her father has a website and he believes she is innocent. Interesting

http://dianedowns.com/

[Roamer]

I don't see how anyone could think she's innocent. I hope she never gets out.

[packy]

Her daughter testified that her mother shot her and her sister and brother. Someone recently said that her daughter later said her mother did not do it but they had no source for that info. Has anyone heard such as that?

[Roamer]

I remember the daughter saying it, but never heard she recanted.

[packy]

I remember the daughter saying it, but never heard she recanted.

I hadn't heard it either other than the person's comment. Can't believe it's been that long ago.

[TigressPen]

Her daughter testified that her mother shot her and her sister and brother. Someone recently said that her daughter later said her mother did not do it but they had no source for that info. Has anyone heard such as that?



I went to Diane's father website and read some of it. He has links included.

http://dianedowns.com/Dena%20Reinhardt.pdf

I do find it interesting that Diane had no gunshot residue or back spatter on her body and clothing or in her hair. I also find it interesting that the gun they claimed during the trial that she used was tested later and shown not to be the gun used in the crime.

However, when I first heard of these shootings, I truly belived Diane did it and would have to know more than a father's plea to change my mind.

[Trailblazer]

Wow...Interesting...I only remember the movie...Don't know anything other than that...but it sure seemed to be that the daughter testified that her mom shot her...

[rockford2]

Wonder what Ann Rule thinks about all this? :0009:

How old was her daughter when she testified? 10? What motive would she have had to lie like that about her own mother? Nope, sorry, IMO, there is nothing that Diane Downs nor her father could say to make me believe in them...especially when Downs herself accused her own father of abusing her, and then recanted.

IMHO, this woman is mentally ill with all that crap she pulled before the murders occured.

[Nut44x4]

After Christie and Danny were adopted by the prosecuting attorney, Fred Hugi, Dena Reinhardt of Las Vegas, Nevada, made a chance phone call to the Hugi home. In that conversation, Christie, who was attending Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon, said that she really didn't know who shot her. She also said the reason she testified that her mother shot her was because that's what they wanted her to say. That phone call from Ms. Reinhardt resulted in the following affidavit being drafted to discount the phone call: Christie's affidavit pages 1 & 2.pdf >>>>>>>>> READ IT HERE>>>>>>

http://www.dianedowns.com/CHRISTIE%20DOWNS.htm


UPDATE on the 'children' ... now adults
Diane Downs, who turned 50 in August, remains in the Valley Prison for Women in Chowchilla, California. Her first hope of a parole hearing is four years away. Adopted by Lane County Prosecutor Fred Hugi and his wife, Joanne, in 1984, Christie and Danny--who somehow survived their gunshot wounds--, have no contact with Diane. They have both graduated from college. Christie is married and had a baby boy in 2005. Danny, a computer whiz, is still partially paralyzed from the bullet in his back, but he is living a happy and normal life. They have grown up in a very happy home with the Hugis. I heard recently from a young woman who insists she is the daughter Diane gave birth to a month after her 1984 trial, the baby who was adopted soon after. Thus far, she has offered no proof that she is who she claims to be. Danny's biological father, the man Diane selected because she thought he had "good genes," still lives in Arizona and has a family. His youngest son looks just like Danny did at the same age. Diane still insists that she and her children were shot by a "bushy haired stranger." For some reason, a person in Europe has established a website espousing her innocence. The site is full of misinformation, apparently fed to him by Diane herself. Among other things, the site claims that Diane never talked to me in person or wrote to me. That is totally false. Not only did we talk on the Oprah show, but I visited Diane in jail in Eugene, Oregon, and I still have letters she sent me.
http://www.annrules.com/news3.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Diane Downs should have fried in the chair many years ago. IMO.
Useless, waste of oxygen.

[rockford2]

After Christie and Danny were adopted by the prosecuting attorney, Fred Hugi, Dena Reinhardt of Las Vegas, Nevada, made a chance phone call to the Hugi home. In that conversation, Christie, who was attending Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon, said that she really didn't know who shot her. She also said the reason she testified that her mother shot her was because that's what they wanted her to say. That phone call from Ms. Reinhardt resulted in the following affidavit being drafted to discount the phone call: Christie's affidavit pages 1 & 2.pdf >>>>>>>>> READ IT HERE>>>>>>

http://www.dianedowns.com/CHRISTIE%20DOWNS.htm


UPDATE on the 'children' ... now adults
Diane Downs, who turned 50 in August, remains in the Valley Prison for Women in Chowchilla, California. Her first hope of a parole hearing is four years away. Adopted by Lane County Prosecutor Fred Hugi and his wife, Joanne, in 1984, Christie and Danny--who somehow survived their gunshot wounds--, have no contact with Diane. They have both graduated from college. Christie is married and had a baby boy in 2005. Danny, a computer whiz, is still partially paralyzed from the bullet in his back, but he is living a happy and normal life. They have grown up in a very happy home with the Hugis. I heard recently from a young woman who insists she is the daughter Diane gave birth to a month after her 1984 trial, the baby who was adopted soon after. Thus far, she has offered no proof that she is who she claims to be. Danny's biological father, the man Diane selected because she thought he had "good genes," still lives in Arizona and has a family. His youngest son looks just like Danny did at the same age. Diane still insists that she and her children were shot by a "bushy haired stranger." For some reason, a person in Europe has established a website espousing her innocence. The site is full of misinformation, apparently fed to him by Diane herself. Among other things, the site claims that Diane never talked to me in person or wrote to me. That is totally false. Not only did we talk on the Oprah show, but I visited Diane in jail in Eugene, Oregon, and I still have letters she sent me.
http://www.annrules.com/news3.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Diane Downs should have fried in the chair many years ago. IMO.
Useless, waste of oxygen.


Oooh.......I remember reading this! Thanks for posting!!!

[Nut44x4]

Avid true crime readers, as well as those who simply follow the news, will recall the horrific story of Elizabeth Diane Frederickson Downs, a mother of three who was convicted on June 17, 1984 of shooting her three children a little more than a year earlier, on May 19, 1983, purportedly so that she could be free of the children. With the children out of the way, the prosecution contended, she would be free to continue an affair she was having with an Arizona man. The man, according to prosecutors, did not want to be saddled with any children. Cheryl Lynn Downs, 7, died from the shooting, but the other two children, Stephen Daniel Downs, 3, and Christie Ann Downs, 8, survived their injuries, but suffered from paralysis due to having been shot by their mother.

During the intensive investigation, Downs repeatedly told the police that she had been driving on a rural road near Springfield, Oregon, when she was car-jacked by a man, a "bushy-haired stranger," who, she said, had shot her three children as well as Downs herself. Details of her story, however, just did not add up. Police became suspicious of her because of her calm demeanor at the hospital later that night, and witnesses claimed to have seen Downs' car moving at a slow rate of speed as it approached the hospital. The investigators' suspicions intensified when Downs first visited Christie at the hospital — fear was noted in the young girl's eyes, and her heart rate increased dramatically.

Other aspects of Downs' story also did not fit. For example, forensic evidence failed to show the presence of blood on the driver's side of the car where Downs' had supposedly been sitting when she was shot. Evidence of gunpowder residue was also absent from that area of the vehicle. She also lied to the police when she told them that she did not own a .22-caliber handgun, the type used in the shooting. Although the gun was never found, Downs' ex-husband as well as a former boyfriend told police that she did, in fact, own such a weapon. Investigators later learned that she had purchased that type of gun in Arizona.

pg.2
At her trial, Downs' daughter, Christie, testified that her mother shot her and her two siblings after parking their car at the side of the rural road. Afterward, Christie said, Downs shot herself in the arm. Lane County Prosecutor Fred Hugi successfully prosecuted Downs — the jury found her guilty on all charges, and she was sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years. Shortly after her trial, Downs gave birth to a baby girl who was promptly put up for adoption. Hugi and his wife, Joanne, however, adopted Christie and Danny, and the children did not have any contact with their mother as they grew up.

On July 11, 1987, Downs made a daring escape from the Oregon Women's Correctional Center and remained at large for 10 days. She was recaptured in Salem, Oregon on July 21, 1987. Downs' shocking and appalling story became the subject of a book by true crime writer Ann Rule called Small Sacrifices, which was later made into a television movie with Farrah Fawcett portraying Downs. According to Rule (see www.annrules.com), the surviving children had a happy life growing up with the Hugis, and both graduated from college. Christie was married and gave birth to a boy in 2005, and Danny, still partially paralyzed from the bullet fired into his back, has become "a computer whiz."

Meanwhile, Diane Downs' father, former Springfield, Oregon postmaster Wes Frederickson, maintains that his daughter is innocent of shooting her children (see www.dianedowns.com). Frederickson, who maintains the aforementioned Web site, challenges nearly everything in the case, including gunpowder residue tests performed on his daughter's hands the night of the shooting. He also claims to know the identity of the "shaggy-haired stranger," and has posted a photograph of the man on his Web site.

"I thought somebody needed to say something for Diane," Frederickson, 77, said in a May 19, 2008 article that appeared in The Register-Guard, a Eugene, Oregon newspaper. "I'm getting ready to do something. I don't know what it is, but I'm going to blow some of those people out of the water."

Frederickson, in his statement, was apparently alluding to those responsible for prosecuting his daughter and to the detectives who had investigated her case.

On the other hand, Dr. Michael Stone, on his Investigation Discovery television series Most Evil, apparently believes Downs is guilty as sin — he called Downs a "criminal psychopath" in a 2008 episode of his popular show.

According to the Associated Press, Downs has filed 12 appeals since her conviction. Since 1993, after serving time in Washington state and New Jersey prisons as a participant in a prisoner exchange program after her escape from the Oregon Women's Correctional Center, Diane Downs has been serving out her sentence in the Valley State Prison for Women in Chowchilla, California, a maximum-security facility.

http://investigation.discovery.com/investigation/where-now/downs/diane-downs.html

[Nut44x4]

photo1
Diane Downs is recaptured 10 days after escaping from Oregon Women's Correctional Center in Salem in 1987

photo2
recent photo

[packy]

I can't get the pdf, so did her daughter stick with saying her mother didn't do it after she said she had no idea the person named Angel recorded her call?

Thanks for all the additional information, Nut.

[Tracian]

I followed this case, and there is no way in heaven or hell that Diane is innocent. One of the most damning pieces of evidence is the beach towel that she used to wrap her arm, and where she was shot.

I watched Diane Downs on Oprah, with Ann Rule--she talked about the day of the shooting like she was talking about a day at Disneyland.

As long as she maintains she is innocent, she will never get parole.

[protectkidz]

photo1
Diane Downs is recaptured 10 days after escaping from Oregon Women's Correctional Center in Salem in 1987

photo2
recent photo

maybe its my imagination - but to me, her eyes show mental illness.

and I don't believe for a second that she did not commit these crimes.

eta: just went to her father's website and now am scratching my head.

Is it possible that we could all have been wrong?

Could James Haynes really have committed these crimes?

[TigressPen]

I followed this case, and there is no way in heaven or hell that Diane is innocent. One of the most damning pieces of evidence is the beach towel that she used to wrap her arm, and where she was shot.

I watched Diane Downs on Oprah, with Ann Rule--she talked about the day of the shooting like she was talking about a day at Disneyland.

As long as she maintains she is innocent, she will never get parole.




I don't think she would be paroled regardless of her claims. Which, from what I know of the case from back then, is a good thing.

[protectkidz]

I think Diane Downs is crazy as a loon, but go to #3 on this page:

http://www.dianedowns.com/index.htm

and then go here:

http://www.dianedowns.com/JAMES%20HAYNES.htm

and if you look at the ballistics, blood spatter, gun residue tests - what exactly did the jury find that removed reasonable doubt?

Now I'm really wondering. Her dad seems to have a lot of evidence that shows she did not commit these crimes.

[kindee]

I don't see how anyone could think she's innocent. I hope she never gets out.




I didn't realize she COULD ever get parole. This is just horrifying...can't imagine what the "kids" must be thinking at this point!

[Roamer]

I remember when she was on Oprah. First and only time I've ever seen Oprah tell someone she really didn't like them at all.

Diane wanted to get rid of the kids for her boyfriend, who didn't even want her. She's a cold blooded killer, IMO, and I don't care how any website spins it.

[KittyMom]

maybe its my imagination - but to me, her eyes show mental illness.

and I don't believe for a second that she did not commit these crimes.

eta: just went to her father's website and now am scratching my head.

Is it possible that we could all have been wrong?

Could James Haynes really have committed these crimes?


When I look at her eyes I see pure evil. She knew what she was doing.

[kindee]

I remember when she was on Oprah. First and only time I've ever seen Oprah tell someone she really didn't like them at all.

Diane wanted to get rid of the kids for her boyfriend, who didn't even want her. She's a cold blooded killer, IMO, and I don't care how any website spins it.



I have read her dad's website from time to time over the years...he's a typical parent who thinks his evil child is a saint. imo of course

[protectkidz]

I've always thought she was crazy - always thought she killed her kids.

I guess that website threw me for a loop with all of the stuff her dad seems to have.

But I respect the views of posters here - you all have a lot of experience and no doubt you are right and her dad is just thinking wishfully.

Just saw a video of her re-enacting the crime for LE right after her arrest - she was definitely crazy, laughing while re-enacting the shootings.

[protectkidz]

http://www.katu.com/news/local/34125924.html

video re-enactment.

[Roamer]

She sat in court, while on trial for murdering one child and injuring two, bebopping with headphones on to Hungry Like a Wolf. Disgusting, evil woman, IMO.

Let's face it, PK, none of us know what really happened. I read the book, saw the movie, interviews, etc., and these are my own conclusions.

Although I don't agree with her father or anyone else who defends her, I respect their opinions.

[Nut44x4]

Fruitier than a fruitcake, crazy like a fox... not insane... and guilty as Hell .

[TigressPen]

I think Diane Downs is crazy as a loon, but go to #3 on this page:

http://www.dianedowns.com/index.htm

and then go here:

http://www.dianedowns.com/JAMES%20HAYNES.htm

and if you look at the ballistics, blood spatter, gun residue tests - what exactly did the jury find that removed reasonable doubt?

Now I'm really wondering. Her dad seems to have a lot of evidence that shows she did not commit these crimes.



I find what you mentioned here interesting also. Is it possible dad is right and she didn't pull the trigger? Anything is possible. I do find it incredibly interesting that Haynes told so many he did the shooting. And I think if Haynes did shoot those babies, he did it with her full and planned approval. To me, she is looney and comes across as guilty.

[F~M]

I saw the movie, but was a hot tailed teen when it happened, so I didn't follow it.

But - based on the dad's page, if his evidence is true, I wouldn't be able to find her guilty. :serious:

[SaberGal]

I saw the movie, but was a hot tailed teen when it happened, so I didn't follow it.

But - based on the dad's page, if his evidence is true, I wouldn't be able to find her guilty. :serious:

I agree - especially the blood spatter evidence. The info he has on that is very persuasive, if true. The GSR test, the infamous "Ruger", The little boy's statement that it was "that man" that shot them...all very interesting and compelling information if true. Kinda makes ya wonder! It wouldn't be the first time the prosecution got it wrong...

I do have to agree with the majority opinion on Diane - she definitely comes across as a bit crazy.

I too have only seen the movie - one I thought was one of Farah Faucett's best performances.

All just my two cents...

[rockford2]

I saw the movie, but was a hot tailed teen when it happened, so I didn't follow it.

But - based on the dad's page, if his evidence is true, I wouldn't be able to find her guilty. :serious:

Why did this guy say he shot her kids? Because she owed him money, and instead of shooting her, he shoots her kids? Even though this guy has kids himself?

But it just so happens that Downs owned a gun like this at one time in her life. That she knew how to handle a gun. That she was a terrible mother as her neighbors testified about seeing the kids hungry and no place to go a LOT of time. That she was in love with some guy who didn't want kids.

Now. If this had happened to many of us, would cops find us owning the same gun that was used to murder our family members? That we all know how to handle a gun? That we left our kids to fend for themselves....young aged kids, while we worked? That our kids were found numerous times going to our neighbor's homes asking for food? That we had boyfriends that didn't want children?

No, I didn't think so. If anything, Downs might have hired this animal to shoot her kids, but I don't think that was the case. I remember a witness coming forward claiming that he saw Downs' car driving at a low rate of speed AFTER the shootings! Was she waiting for her kids to die, or was she cleaning herself up?

[gabby]

Her daughter testified that her mother shot her and her sister and brother. Someone recently said that her daughter later said her mother did not do it but they had no source for that info. Has anyone heard such as that?

I only heard about the daughter saying she did shoot them. I never heard the recant. Isn't her daughter old enough to speak at her parole hearing?

[gabby]

Wow I didn't think it was that long ago. I was just starting high school when she made the news. I always have thought she killed her child and wounded the other two. I hope she doesn't get paroled. JMO

IMO if her dad is correct there probably would be one of the injustice groups that would take up her case for appeals. I realize there are a few innocent people locked up (Most likely not as many as there are guilty roaming free IMO). I don't think she's among the few that are innocent. She appealed many times, if her dad has all that proof and it can be backed up then one of her appeals should have worked. I think she is guilty. It all happened when I was first starting high school, but I remember even back then I thought she was guilty.

The two things (not counting she looks crazy to me IMO) was her daughter said she done it and although a child was dead and two injured she didn't have very serious injuries, especially in comparison to her children. IMO

[gabby]

I read her that link for her dad's opinions. To me it doesn't make sense. Did I read it right about she didn't have blood splatters etc? It happened in the car if I understand right. She could have had help (maybe the man) but I don't understand the lack of blood splatters. In that small of an area it would seem like everyone involved (victims and shooter) would have splatters on them. Diane should have had a lot of splatters because she was in the front with her daughter. Also one would assume there would be some sort of a struggle (perhaps loud enough to wake up the one sleeping in the floorboard?) And how would a stranger get point blank to each of them considering Diane wasn't injured that badly? That would lead me to think she was probably the last to be shot and should of or would have struggled with the stranger. I don't recall her appearing to be in shock or traumatized by the event either. JMO Of course I'm not a forensic expert and wasn't even much of a biology student, but in my way of thinking IF there was a lot of credible doubt about this case it would appear on tv a lot more. With all of the tv shows that deal in this sort of thing I'd think the dad would be able to get someone to look into it IF it was credible. JMO

I just hope they don't let her loose. JMO

[rockford2]

Do you all remember when Diane was on tv and everyone said the cameras 'loved her?" I think she was described in Ann Rule's book as being very pretty, but I could never understand that. And it certainly looks as though prison life has NOT been good for her. Bummer. :wink:

[Tracian]

maybe its my imagination - but to me, her eyes show mental illness.

and I don't believe for a second that she did not commit these crimes.

eta: just went to her father's website and now am scratching my head.

Is it possible that we could all have been wrong?

Could James Haynes really have committed these crimes?

I don't think it is possible. If you look at all the evidence, not just the cherry picking that her father offers, you will see that Diane and only Diane committed these horrible crimes.

James Haynes would have really had to 'luck out' He would have had to lay in wait, on a lonely rarely traveled road, realize that Diane would have three sleeping childen in her car, (remember, her one daughter was sleeping on the floor board, covered with her postal sweater, according to her own testimony)


James Haynes would have to shoot blindly into a car, hitting three children, that are not even a remote 'threat' and give Diane a wound which amounts to just a bit more than a boo-boo when compared to the injuries of her children.

The towel, that Diane used to wrap her own arm, as folded like a triangle bandage, hardly does that support her story that she quickly grabbed it, and wrapped it around her arm..further, if your children were shot, would you really be that concerned about your injuries?

The car that followed Diane's is also key to this case; Diane claims she drove as fast as she could, yet, a witness that she did not notice followed her, and was annoyed with the slow speed she was going.

The day she did the video for the police, to show what happened she was laughing and joking, while one of her children lay dead and her other two were fighting to live.

She accused her father of sexual abuse, later recanted.

She claims that she and the children were 'sight seeing' in the dark, and that she pulled over in her car, to balance her check book and buget for lunch tickets for the kids....does this even sound reasonable?

Diane Downs and only Diane Downs committed these crimes, she is evil, the only reality is what Diane says it is...her children were nelected and abused, until finally she decided that her life would be better without them.

After all, she could always have more.

:45024:

[lost indie]

I've followed this case from the beginning...and my personal opinion is that Diane is guilty as sin. But some things bother me.

I wouldn't have liked Diane if I'd met her. I know the type. I can "understand" her still enjoying the Hungry Like the Wolf song. I can't understand her being so blase about it in court. That makes me dislike her as a person. The only reason she wanted Lew is because she couldn't have him. That also makes me dislike her. Had I been on the jury it would have been hard for me to make a decision. My dislike for her would have made me want to find her guilty. It would have colored the facts in a light to find her guilty.

One facet of the case that has always bothered me is that the Hugi's were able to adopt the kids. To me that was totally unprofessional of him. Those kids still loved their mom and shouldn't have had to live with the man who put her away. It's just not right. It's not right that they had no contact with their grandparents either. That is hard for me to say because I don't like them either...but they are their blood relatives and they did nothing to them...why should they be punished as well?

Man....Diane sure did age.....

[Tracian]

I've followed this case from the beginning...and my personal opinion is that Diane is guilty as sin. But some things bother me.

I wouldn't have liked Diane if I'd met her. I know the type. I can "understand" her still enjoying the Hungry Like the Wolf song. I can't understand her being so blase about it in court. That makes me dislike her as a person. The only reason she wanted Lew is because she couldn't have him. That also makes me dislike her. Had I been on the jury it would have been hard for me to make a decision. My dislike for her would have made me want to find her guilty. It would have colored the facts in a light to find her guilty.

One facet of the case that has always bothered me is that the Hugi's were able to adopt the kids. To me that was totally unprofessional of him. Those kids still loved their mom and shouldn't have had to live with the man who put her away. It's just not right. It's not right that they had no contact with their grandparents either. That is hard for me to say because I don't like them either...but they are their blood relatives and they did nothing to them...why should they be punished as well?

Man....Diane sure did age.....


I thought it was wonderful that the Hugi's adopted the kids. Those children grew to trust them, Hugi became their voice, their protector, and gave them a safe life which lead both of them to flourish.

If a wife testifies against her husband that murdered one of their children, should she too, not have custody of her living children because she helped put their father away?

As far as the grandparents, remember, Diane accused her father of sexual and physical abuse. She said her father would punish them if they cried, he killed her dog...

Diane blamed her father for her inability to properly show emotions that were reasonable--hence why she could laugh and joke when she did her video tape reenactment of the crime.

The Hugi's gave those children something they never knew, a safe, loving home...God Bless them for that.

[Roenick]

I was really young when this happen but lived about an hour away from Springfield.
I watched the movie and read the Ann Rule book - my grandma met her and they talked about the case.

Seeing evidence now, if it is all true... then I think she was still behind the shooting. She wanted that guy so bad and hung out with shady people it would have been easy to find someone to do the job for her for a few bucks.
I do believe she lied to whoever she hired about what she wanted done though or he started to chicken out and she lost it and had a bigger hand in it without 100% firing the gun.

Her kids were young and half a sleep. If there was commotion and they got shot wouldn't they have passed out a little and may have missed who was there and who was shooting?
She may not be guilty of the 1 murder and the attempted murder but she is guilty of plotting and other acts of illegal activity during the time.

[Roenick]

One facet of the case that has always bothered me is that the Hugi's were able to adopt the kids. To me that was totally unprofessional of him. Those kids still loved their mom and shouldn't have had to live with the man who put her away. It's just not right. It's not right that they had no contact with their grandparents either. That is hard for me to say because I don't like them either...but they are their blood relatives and they did nothing to them...why should they be punished as well?

I thought it was wonderful that the Hugi's adopted the kids. Those children grew to trust them, Hugi became their voice, their protector, and gave them a safe life which lead both of them to flourish.

As far as the grandparents, remember, Diane accused her father of sexual and physical abuse. She said her father would punish them if they cried, he killed her dog...
Diane blamed her father for her inability to properly show emotions that were reasonable--hence why she could laugh and joke when she did her video tape reenactment of the crime.

The Hugi's gave those children something they never knew, a safe, loving home...God Bless them for that.





Didn't they stay with him and his wife during the trial because they had no one else to go with (since Diane said her father was unsafe) and their injuries would be hard on state or foster care??
I also think I heard that Daniel asked if he could be with them... that could be wrong but I think the kids wanted to stay with them.


I believe the Hugi's probably took a lot of thought and care into the adoption before going along with it.

To me, only good came out of that. If they had went anywhere else the parents or family would have wanted to talk or stories would have been whispered about - having the Hugi's adopt them, they already knew the story, the whole story of that night, and it could be put in the past or talked about in facts by ppl who knew what happened.

[Tracian]

I was really young when this happen but lived about an hour away from Springfield.
I watched the movie and read the Ann Rule book - my grandma met her and they talked about the case.

Seeing evidence now, if it is all true... then I think she was still behind the shooting. She wanted that guy so bad and hung out with shady people it would have been easy to find someone to do the job for her for a few bucks.
I do believe she lied to whoever she hired about what she wanted done though or he started to chicken out and she lost it and had a bigger hand in it without 100% firing the gun.

Her kids were young and half a sleep. If there was commotion and they got shot wouldn't they have passed out a little and may have missed who was there and who was shooting?
She may not be guilty of the 1 murder and the attempted murder but she is guilty of plotting and other acts of illegal activity during the time.


Christie saw her mother take the gun out of the trunk...I believe Christie was froze with fear....remember, Diane told them often how bad they were, Christie thought it was because they were bad that their mother shot them.

Diane would have rolled over on an accomplice, IMO, she would have given a detailed description, and perhaps even a name. She changed her story, at one point, she tried to say the BHS, made mention of her rose tattoo, and said something to the effect of 'Try to get out of this Bitch' then held out her arm shooting her...simply nonsense.

[Tracian]

Didn't they stay with him and his wife during the trial because they had no one else to go with (since Diane said her father was unsafe) and their injuries would be hard on state or foster care??
I also think I heard that Daniel asked if he could be with them... that could be wrong but I think the kids wanted to stay with them.


I believe the Hugi's probably took a lot of thought and care into the adoption before going along with it.

To me, only good came out of that. If they had went anywhere else the parents or family would have wanted to talk or stories would have been whispered about - having the Hugi's adopt them, they already knew the story, the whole story of that night, and it could be put in the past or talked about in facts by ppl who knew what happened.


IIRC they were in foster care, with a family that is very well respected for the great work they did with troubled and abused children.

You are correct, that no one wanted them, Steve Downs didn't want the children, (the boy was not 'his' biologically) and IIRC the grandparents never made an attempt to get visitation or custody. The Hugi's did spend a great deal of time with them, because they were so scared, completely traumatized, and after a long journey, they trusted him and his wife.

[Tracian]

Another reason I think that the Grandparents would have been a bad choice is because they are convinced, or at least claim to be convinced of Diane's innocents.

What would that do to Christie as a child, being raised by people that basically are calling her a liar regarding her testimony in the trial--what kind of damage would that have done to her growing up? Would she have to visit the woman that killed her sister, tried to kill her and crippled her brother?

'Blood' is not always the best choice for children.

[gabby]

I think the Hugis done a wonderful thing. As mentioned above they knew the case and helped those children through the trauma. They provided a future that their own mother most likely would never have provided (in fact she had tried to eliminate a future for them completely). They done something even some biological families can't or won't do; they kept the children together. To be separated during something as tragic as that and have to deal with the emotions and memories that their own mother shot them on top of the injuries would have been awful. JMO

[emmeblu]

Diane Downs is guilty as sin and is right where she belongs. Why would some stranger shoot 3 children trying to kill them and then shoot the adult in the arm? Not buying that one. Seems to me if there was another gunman, he would have shot and killed Diane right off the bat or given her something more than a bullet in the arm.

She shot her children and killed one of them. What tells the true story is Christie that was fearful when her mother entered the hospital room. Keep this killer behind bars!

So glad to read the children have had a good life.

JMO

[Texas53]

I don't believe she is innocent. I hope she is denied parole. There was Lifetime movie about the case and Farrah Fawcett played the part of Diane. She was really good in that part.

[packy]

Parole denied. http://www.katu.com/news/35805944.html

[SavannahStar]

Here is a link to a handwritten letter she wrote the Parole Board.

http://media.katu.com/documents/Downsletter1.pdf

That woman is truly WACKED!!! Sheesh.

[Battnt]

Parole denied. http://www.katu.com/news/35805944.html

YAY!!!!.....:basic44:

[Emyo]

Here is a link to a handwritten letter she wrote the Parole Board.

http://media.katu.com/documents/Downsletter1.pdf

That woman is truly WACKED!!! Sheesh.


Wow, is all I have to say. Twelve pages of excuses and more excuses. Quite the rant going on there. Sure made it easy for the parole board, I bet.

[Emyo]

Parole denied. http://www.katu.com/news/35805944.html


And this is part of what they said..

"After a hearing that lasted more than two hours, it took the board less than 30 minutes to make its decision.

"You presented a minimization of responsibility in these crimes, a considerable degree of defensiveness, and were less than honest with us," Candace Wheeler, presiding member of the board, said to Downs."

[Tracian]

Okay, I have to admit, I have to build up the courage to read her letter...sorry, stil having flash backs of her appearance on Oprah...

I am so glad she will be cooling her 'heels' in prison.