THESE are the five most chilling Diane Downs documentary details from the killer mom's bizarre jail letters to a "scary book.". Ara. "Being taken away from [Downs] was the best thing that could have ever happened," she said. But he told Oprah Winfrey last year that he forgives his ex-wife for drowning their children. kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist. I'm not going to spoil that for you here. 95 times out of a hundred it's a male. And so begins a wild tale of murder, sexual abuse, and mental health. A peculiar and disturbing case catches the attention of the police when a young mother and her children, all severely injured, show up in a hospital's emergency room. Her three small children, Christie, 8; Cheryl, 7; and Danny, 3 . But I am going to do great things. "It's been quite a journey. A must-see for crime buffs. She received a five-year additional sentence for the escape. Babcock, the high school dropout, is now a straight-A college student who hopes to go to medical school -- in addition to being a loving mother. Her defense had long claimed she suffered from severe postpartum psychosis and was delusional during the killings and believed Satan had taken over her soul. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. It was scary and I slammed the book shut and I left," Babcock recounted after seeing her mom's photo. Downs isn't imprisoned in Oregon, the state that sentenced her, because shortly after her sentencing, she escaped from Oregon Women's Correctional Center. ", Doug Welch, a former detective for Lane County Sheriff's Office, called Down's demeanor "surreal.". For Knickerbocker, who was married, Diane Downs children were the equivalent of too many strings attached. This documentary relates the tales of four female killers, one you might have heard of. Diane Downs shot her three children, killing her seven-year-old daughter Cheryl and wounding her other two children.An in-depth look at the lives and crimes . You know, she just asked, How is she doing? Not one emotional reaction. Babcock recalled being "irresponsible, partying too much, and jumping from man to man" in her teens revealing she felt "it was difficult to accept my genetic makeup.". See production, box office & company info. But the verdict was overturned, and in 2006, Yates was found not guilty by reason of insanity and has since been committed to mental hospitals. In 1989 SMALL SACRIFICES was made into the popular TV movie of the same name starring Farrah Fawcett, which earned her an Emmy nomination. The Babcocks knew the child they were to adopt was Diane Downs'. She found brief solace in a new lover until he left her because of her children. "I was about 8 years old when I started probing my mother for information," said Babcock, whose story appears in this month's Glamour magazine. When Diane brings a pizza over to her mailman friend Matt Jensen's house, she asks him if he likes mushrooms on his pizza while holding the pizza out to him. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Diane Downs, born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1955, is a convicted murderer who is serving life in prison. Oregonian. Diane often left Steven and went back to her parents, but they would always reconcile. A driver told police it couldnt have been more than about five mph. Diane Downs is one of the scariest types of killer, because she's smart, attractive and incapable of understanding the feelings of others. "Never," she said. "The precautions that we took were to let people know that were coming in contact with Becky, her daycare person, her babysitter for Becky's own safety.". Dr. Steven Wilhite had just gotten home when his beeper went off. The Babcocks were determined to keep Becky's parentage a secret from her. Related content. Inside The Chilling Crimes Of John Joubert, The Eagle Scout Who Became A Serial Killer, Why The Story Of John And Lorena Bobbitt Is More Complex Than Just Castration, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. Diane Downs biography. But as . Or fastest delivery Tue, Feb 7 . A young woman rushed out of the driver side, shouting for help: Someone killed my kids!. On July 11, 1987, a Saturday morning, Downs escaped a woman's prison by climbing a 12- to 15-foot-high chain-link fence around the detention center. Farrah Fawcett is riveting as a murder suspect in this story about a sensational case that unfolded in Oregon in 1983. Born on Aug. 7, 1955, in Phoenix, Arizona, Elizabeth Diane Downs (ne Frederickson) appeared to have a normal childhood. I got blood all over the back of it. "I wish you'd taken me with you," she wrote in one post in April 2017. "My adopted parents. When her son, Christian, was 3 years old, Becky got pregnant again. diane giacalone biojennifer nicholson mark norfleet 27 februari, 2023 . "I wrote her a letter," Babcock said. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Downs, Joseph. Includes an interview with daughter, Becky. Downs, who again comes up for parole next year, was denied parole previously, in 2008 and 2010. She has a brilliant mind with no conscience to guide it. She was the typical little perfect baby.". The court hopes the defendant will never again be free; I've come as close to that as possible. According to the ABC press release, the new 20/20 interview with Babcock will include comments about learning the truth about her mother, letters from her mother in prison and life now, including raising her teenage son.. . True crime documentary series following the disappearance of 14-year-old Charlene Downes. Her fourth baby, Amy Elizabeth, was adopted and given the name BeckyBabcock. After both her husband, Mark, and son, Shaun, died untimely deaths in 2012, and her then-24-year-old daughter, Sarah, was hospitalized for organ failure, Diane Staudte was charged with murdering Mark and trying to kill Sarah. On July 11, 1987, a Saturday morning, Downs escaped a woman's prison by climbing a 12- to 15-foot-high chain-link fence around the detention center. She then ran away from home and married husband, Steven Downs, in 1973, with whom she had . The witness who saw her drive slowly after the shooting only furthered suspicions. Within two years, she would attempt to murder her kids in the hopeful pursuit of regaining his affection. Video. Downs briefly attended Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College in Orange, California but was forced to leave after just one year for "promiscuous behaviour". Flasher once dubbed the Naked Carpenter loses court appeal over walking through town in see-through trousers, Inside Bob Proctor's love story with wife before death as The Secret contributor's touching quotes on romance revealed, Fan of shop dummies amasses the worlds creepiest collection of 40,000 mannequins, I was overseas when I found out my son, 18, had a cardiac arrest - we rushed home but he died days later, NYC school's vegan meals slammed as girl is served burrito with CHEESE, serving a life sentence for horrific crimes. It was scary and I slammed the book shut and I left," Babcock recounted after seeing her mom's photo. When 19-year-old Sarah Stern's car is mysteriously found on a New Jersey bridge, a former classmate comes forward with information that helps authorities discover what happened. . The case received even more attention when the late true-crime author Ann Rule wrote a book about Downs life and the trial, called Small Sacrifices. The book was adapted for a TV-movie starring Farrah Fawcett, that aired in 1989. Alabama 4-year-old Zadie Wren Cooper died on July 7, 2016. Diane Downs was sentenced to life plus 50 years and is currently incarcerated at Central California Women's Facility. A staff writer for All Thats Interesting, Marco Margaritoff has also published work at outlets including People, VICE, and Complex, covering everything from film to finance to technology. They also found a diary in which she expressed a desire to be with a married man, and . Yates' then-husband, Rusty, filed for divorce a few years after the killings. Each time I thought "Oh right, this is how its going to go, " I was brought up short by a, well, unexpected plot twist. Downs was recaptured in Salem, Oregon, on July 21. Becky Babcock's biological mom is Diane Downs Credit: ABC NEws. She's a psycho. She said that after "being a teenager" following the birth of her first son, she made the "hardest decision" to put her second child up for adoption. In fact she seems never to have gone after them. Diane Downs was born August 7, 1955 in Phoenix, Arizona. As Diane Downs comes up for parole next year, her daughter speaks out. Pure T After finding the book, she said: "I opened it and I looked at a picture of Diane Downs sitting at a table. psaume de protection contre la sorcellerie. Then, she killed herself. 1987). To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Paperback. But I was born of a child killer. $37.75 8 Used from $37.75. The documentary comes as Downs who gave birth to four children is serving a life sentence for horrific crimes she committed against her own kids. She said we all write our own stories, despite our past. Small Sacrifices: With Farrah Fawcett, Gordon Clapp, Ryan O'Neal, John Shea. The couple was in the midst of a bitter divorce and custody battle. "I wish I was born of my real parents," she said. May 14, 2010 — -- On June 17, 1984, Diane Downs was found guilty of shooting her three children, killing one. They had another sibling, born in the middle, in 1976, Cheryl Lynn, but she didn't survive the shooting. A peculiar and disturbing case catches the attention of the police when a young mother and her children, all severely injured, show up in a hospital's emergency room. "She saw the kids as a burden," as one of the interview subjects in the "20/20" documentary says. Even Becky's closest friend, Kaylee Hammond, worried that nature was winning over nurture. "In some sense I've never really blamed her, because I've always blamed her illness.". The couple watched their new daughter for signs of emotional disturbance, they said. Diane ran away from home and the two were married. Cops found her ten days later living with another inmate's husband. Dr. Joseph Sonnier met his girlfriend Richelle Shetina at a dance class, and the two traveled to Paris together, just weeks before the unthinkable happened. "Forgiveness kind of implies that I have ever really blamed her," Rusty said then. The baby girl was whisked away hours after delivery. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. After learning about Diane Downs, read about Marianne Bachmeier, Germanys Revenge Mother who shot her childs killer. "Disgust, sadness," Babcock said. The medical examiner was unable to determine the girl's cause of death. The two surviving kids are also stand-outs, especially the small daughter who must choose whether or not to testify against the monstrously narcissistic Downs. Now, as Diane Downs comes up for parole next year, her daughter speaks out new interviews and staggering details. On May 19, 1983, Diane Downs pulled over to the side of a rural road in Springfield, Oregon, and shot . Authorities searched the home and found additional bodies placed in plastic bags and contained in a separate cardboard box. Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheSunUSand follow us from our main Twitter account at@TheSunUS, Harry and Meghan evicted from Frogmore Cottage by King Charles after Spare memoir, Emmerdale's Amy Nuttall caught cheating hubby after sexy lingerie slip-up, Constance Marten and lover arrested over manslaughter, Woman found murdered is missing mum who had not been seen since before Xmas, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Farrah Fawcett is exceptional as Diane Downs, the woman who manages to kill one out of three kids. Then, learn about Gypsy Rose Blanchard, the sick child who killed her mother. She was interviewed by 20/20 in 2010, among other outlets. May 13, 2010, 7:54 AM. Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. Her 7-year old daughter Cheryl died but her 3-year old son Danny and her 8-year old daughter Christie survived. She also sent photographs of herself. '", The exchange of letters left Babcock shaken. denied, 738 P.2d 199 (Or. And to my complete surprise, Diane was not emotional not a tear in her eye. The 20/20 special includes an interview with Becky Babcock, the child with whom Downs was pregnant during the trial. It was a childhood straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. People judge me for that.". The movie also stars Ryan O'Neal, Gordon Clapp, John Shea, Gary Chalk, and Maxine Miller. I love you forever, sugar bear.". "It just makes my skin crawl, just to hear her voice and see her. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? I got blood all over the back of it. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Late one May night in 1983, Diane Downs sped into an emergency room dropoff in Springfield, Ore., with a horrifying story to tell. When asked who shot her, the girl replied simply, My mom. Diane Downs had tried to murder her own kids and driven slowly to the hospital in hopes they would bleed out. Jessie Buckley goes full Hollywood glam in a glitzy floor length dress . Downs would routinely leave Christie in charge of her other two kids when the girl was only six years old. The couple regularly argued about financial issues and fought over alleged infidelities. "It appears they [the kids] were shot in their sleep, and there would not have been any struggle, as pathetic as a comfort that that is," Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman said afterward. As for why she didn't shoot Jason, Nehls says, "She wanted him to suffer.". And to be born of a monster is not something I'm proud of.". Her first letter was welcoming and warm. She was married to her high school sweetheart, worked part-time at a local thrift store, and had three children, Christie Ann, Cheryl Lynn, and Stephen Daniel. And to my complete surprise, Diane was not emotional not a tear in her eye. The letters eventually led her to realize her mom was crazy. Downs escaped, was captured 10 or so days later a short distance from prison in Salem, making no attempt to flee the state. Pasztor pleaded guilty but mentally ill for the murders and received a total of 130 years in prison 65 years for each child. She reveals alleged misconduct by arresting authorities and gives detailed accounts from court transcripts to . Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). He rushed back for the emergency and recalled thinking Christie was dead. Downs was ultimately convicted of one count of murder and two counts each ofattempted murderandcriminal assault in 1984. Diane Downs. Diane Downs laughs while reenacting shooting of 3 children: Part 2. She was given a life sentence plus 50 years. And so, on June 17, 1984, Diane Downs was convicted of all charges against her and was sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years. ", Former Lane County District Attorney Pat Horton explained: "Her demeanor at the hospital did not conform to a traditional grieving mother whose children had just been shot, one murdered, the other two seriously clinging to life. In 1981, however, she met Robert Nick Knickerbocker and embarked on an affair that waived her troubles away. Previously, Diane was housed in a maximum-security prison for women in Clinton, N.J. As for why she wasn't in Oregon where the crimes took place, " [prison] officials said they . With Jane Edwina Seymour, Janis Amatuzio, John Stark Bellamy II, Michael Bennett. Smith like Downs, also pursued a man who didn't want to be with her because she had children. With seven-year-old Cheryl dead, three-year-old Danny paralyzed from the waist down at three years of age, and eight-year-old Christie suffering a stroke that impaired her speech, authorities initially believed Downs. Within three weeks, Diane had lost custody of her remaining wounded children and had become the number one . See production, box office & company info. ", Former Lane County District Attorney Pat Horton explained: "Her demeanor at the hospital did not conform to a traditional grieving mother whose children had just been shot, one murdered, the other two seriously clinging to life. The shocking and disturbing truth was, Smith confessed that she had purposely pushed the car into the river drowning the children in hopes of winning her boyfriend back. She was sentenced to life plus 50 years for the crimes. Downs was recaptured in Salem, Oregon, on July 21. Diane Downs is shown being led into the Lane County Courthouse on the first day of her trial, after being accused of shooting her three children, one fatally. After finding the book, she said: "I opened it and I looked at a picture of Diane Downs sitting at a table. Wilhite later added: "When I was finished taking care of Christie, then I sought out her mother. She was convicted of murdering them and sentenced to life in prison. "I asked the babysitter and I made it sound as if I knew," Babcock said. S41 E27 - Deadly Dance in Texas Dr. Joseph Sonnier met his girlfriend Richelle Shetina at a dance class, and the two traveled to Paris together, just. She said that opening up her mom's letter in October 2006 was like "pandora's box" as she "chose" to allowed her mom into her life. "We didn't know what [Downs] would do," she said. Diane Downs a 28 year old mother shot her 3 kids point blank killing one, paralysing another, and leaving the third with life long injuries. Utah mom Megan Huntsman admitted in 2014 to killing six of her newborn babies soon after giving birth between 1996 and 2006. Wilhite later added: "When I was finished taking care of Christie, then I sought out her mother. "It was a face to what I had been looking for and it wasn't a face that I wanted to see. Babcock said the letters "progressively got more and more insane" something she noticed after asking about her biological father. A troubled woman uses poison to get her way, a mother's infatuation turns deadly for her children and passion twists two teens into cold-hearted killers. But in April 2017, Smith walked into the police station and confessed to smothering her daughter with a pillow, saying she had mental issues and that she'd been off her medication. The baby girl was whisked away hours after delivery. Centering on the romantic ups and downs of a group of friends as they attend the events listed in the title, the movie was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Screenplay. Mothers are put on this earth to take care of their children. But when she was still in preschool, the unthinkable happened. By the time Danny was born, arguments over infidelities had become so intense that Steve became convinced that Danny wasnt his biological son at all but the product of an affair. Learn about Diane Downs' daughter now. Maria McFadden Maffucci. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1945. . Just days after her conviction, Diane gave birth to a daughter. 3.5M views, 9.1K likes, 134 loves, 6.7K comments, 7.7K shares, Facebook Watch Videos from ABC 20/20: She's been called "evil" and "the devil." A mother of three, In love with a married man, who did. ', "I've never seen a reaction like that at all. 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Letters eventually led her to realize her mom 's photo, as Diane Downs was born of real.