This is a fascinating and informative article that has answered some questions I had, and prompted others: 1. And Steven would hunt her down anyway and charm his way back into her life. I think she was the only one there that night with her children. She was harshly judged because of her demeanor. Makes major decisions easier because only one parent is legally responsible. I think it would give the blog more integrity and transparency. I watched the highlights of her hearing. Knick never signed the premarital agreement and Diane never married him. The poor jury went along and Jagger did not put much ofa defense anyway. A slightly humorous observation is that you said, and others have, that James Haynes physically resembled the sketch.. I dont know how familiar she was with the area, but I do not think that it matters anyway. We dont know. A. I believe Charlene and I had a big blowout around Thanksgiving and I left, called Diane. The BBC weather presenter, 60 . she chose to stay with Manson and his misfits. One of them named Angel, called 15-year-old Christie on the phone. In the nurses notes, she is described as in shock and unable to grasp the situation. Mr. Downs must have had a bad feeling about Jagger because before trial: speculation She should of been sentenced to death. I go fishing with a jurors husband. Washing soda is your best bet: It includes, among its ingredients, the exceedingly corrosive carbolic acid. He was very irresponsible and probably could not handle them financially and emotionally. She claimed she . Halo 4. Yes, I had filed for divorce and then I canceled it. "We are obviously disappointed at the verdict. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPLkIcSzftE&ab_channel=DianeDownsArchives. why didn't steve downs get custody. In reply to Nick. Libby, I quoted what Diane said. I was being sarcastic. But the guy who said to several people that he was the shooter happens to resemble the sketch they came up with at the time for a reason. Phenobarbital was administered alongside the Dilantin. As you might know, Dianes father passed away after many years of anguish over the fate of his daughter. The authorities wanted to see them mourn and fall apart. I never read the Ann Rule book, but saw Small Sacrifices as a kid and have had an interest in this case ever since. 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. They believed the testimony of her former boyfriends who were far from stellar individuals. Master Chief actor Pablo Schreiber has said he won't do an impression on the Halo TV show, suggesting he won't try to . On May 30, 1983, the McKenzie-Willamette Hospital Chaplain told Dianes father to hire an attorney because the State was going to take his grandchildren away. They brought cakes and cookies and became friends so they were not going to fight over this. But Diane was not the one dragging Knick out of Charlenes bed every morning intent on making or breaking his relationship with another woman. 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. I appreciate the way you dont try to determine guilt or innocence in your blogs but instead focus on due process and the right of all to a fair trial. Why did CK shoot the kids multiple times and DD once? I read the letter they sent to the Downs when they were fighting to see their grandchildren. I lived in Eugene, Oregon for years. It was the story of two troubled young souls trying to survive without a safety net. Leaving out a lot of info that should be included and presenting a very one sided take on these things. So appropriate! Maybe she didnt want to admit she was there for drugs, but you need a really tiny brain to worry about that in such a situation. Or maybe an upvote/downvote arrow for each. Your prayers were answered. So Diane did what she thought would bring her the deepest satisfaction in life; she became a mother. They are the ones who considered Dianes children as Small Sacrifices. You read a few comments. Therefore, those jagged bones were floating in a cloth wrap, merely resting in a cloth sling. This does not make her innocent. She is supposed to be locked up for murder, etc. So the prosecutor adopted the kids? Diane had moved to Oregon only 6 weeks before the tragedy to work in the area and have her parents spend time with the kids. How asinine. So it looks and sounds like she is getting special treatment because of her notoriety. Do you remember a couple of days after that, December Her attorney, James Jagger, did a poor job for Diane. I agree on many points with your comment. And she would have been under supervision. One of the important pieces of evidence was the absence of all but a trace of gunshot residue. Surprisingly, Fred Hugi actually looks quite different. Someone can have an evil vibe and not be guilty of a crime. If you had commented on one of the elements contained in the blog, it might have been enlightening. What about the son saying that man and nurses noting that. I am all for reviewing facts and getting a decision overturned in cases of corrupt decisions, and many people are on your side and find these cases totally worth their time. 2.Diane herself has stated that the shooter was outside the car and shot THROUGH the window, no blood spatter. 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. I write about cases where due process is in question and important aspects were ignored or twisted. The lovely Farrah Fawcett who played in the movie Small Sacrifices was known for her epic battles with lover Ryan ONeil. Did CK shoot at car when DD drove away? The fact that the judge who presided over the child welfare case and the criminal case was the same individual is absolutely a conflict of interest. The GSR? rudy francisco rifle analysis / ford employee profit sharing 2022 / why didn't steve downs get custody. Diane wanted to wait for her daughter to feel better, be accompanied by an expert and have the meetings taped? please express them and I will print them. People can have a certain vibe and act out of the norms, but it does not make them necessarily guilty. (LOL!! Thanks for posting for readers. They should have stayed out of it instead of contributing to her revictimization. Whatever mental illness she has, has gotten worse with each hearing. And by the way, I wrote the blogs about Rule way before she passed. She had the right to a fair trial as much as anyone else out there. It was never a slam dunk. Problem with that is Diane has said during an interview with detectives that the sketch looks nothing like what she described. One of the jurors finally declared we started as a group and finished as a group., He also said we dont want to put pressure on the group, we dont want to end up bickering. Diane said that Cheryl was laying down on the front floorboard with the passenger seat pushed back. He failed. I also wish that Dianes children have a great life. Mrs. Fredericksons concern for her daughters emotional state was well placed. Ive not seen the movie or read the book. They are the ones who considered Dianes children as, To this day, his record is mixed; his law license was suspended for, Belli filed a motion for a 2-week extension to familiarize himself with the case because he had to be in Italy, and declared Diane innocent in a press conference, but Foote denied the motion and declared . Diane was in the hospital for a bone graft from June 2nd until June 6th, 1983. The Diane Downs' Case Was no Small Sacrifice On May 19, 1983, Elizabeth Diane Downs and her three small children were shot on a country road near Springfield, Oregon. The detectives and the state failed to act properly and it should not be an accepted practice. Diane didnt ask Knick to leave his wife. Andthe DA adopted her other two children. If Oregonians were not all convinced at first, the media and the crown made sure they would be. She was fighting back and they did not like it. If I included the ones I dont post, it would need more than a like or dislike button. The harm done to families by unscrupulous district attorneys who bully children into falsely testifying against their parents has been recorded in a documentary called Witch Hunt by Sean Penn about Kern County (CA) District Attorney Ed Jagels. Mission accomplished. But you sure did comment like a true asshole, huh? 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. And with hindsight, the fact that this young mother had a personality disorder probably brought a lot of drama to the mix. Many individuals associated with the the child welfare system, for one reason or another, choose to adopt children. And Robert Knickerbocker became one of her lovers. It was half baked escape plans that were more in her head than anything and that the media enjoyed blowing out of proportions. What?? They already had made up their mind that Diane was the perpetrator so they laughed off the idea of the bushy haired stranger. The problem was that they could not find the gun anywhere and they had nothing on Diane. All smoke and mirrors to fit a certain scenario. Diane then replied, so, put her back on the stand and make her tell the truth. He said he would when it was his turn, but never did. Diane Downs changed her story so many times, even at her parole hearing. I have nothing to gain and I am not making up songs and dances about a unicorn. Downs is a worthless as the day is long.. Maybe you should read the blog before commenting. It was one of the most disturbing stories I've watched. 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. Justice is all that is left. So she warns her to stay away. I had never heard of this case and fell upon several videos that had me completely convinced DD was a narcissistic psychopath. They checked her shoes and they were clean. But there is forensic evidence pointing to Diane Downs. The circumstances surrounding the case were not enough to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Even put in different hospitals. Then, they accused her of shooting her kids at close range. Why didnt they mention that he said a bad man and whatever else in his condition when they knew it was not possible? She was interrogated without a representative from the defense and was not taped for the most part. It was such a high profile case and she was found guilty by the media and the court so people are afraid to touch this one. She keeps her emotions under tight control, presenting only socially acceptable feelings and burying other contradictory feelings.. Accused of her side of the story what the state says how would it be possible for her to do what they presumed. She entertained the idea of opening a surrogacy agency but the project never really took off. The popular TV movie Small Sacrifices was based on Ann Rules book and it painted a horrid picture of the mother accused of shooting her children on Old Mohawk Road. They now have social media arenas reminiscent of the Romans cheering at the sight of a thumb down meaning there will be a bloodshed. I research cases that in my opinion, were poorly tried. They now throw people in prison in the US for debts. Mr. Jagger read the report and said, you were right. And if you claim your innocence, it obviously creates a vicious circle of not showing contrition. Standards of conduct are defined by state law, but they generally require a judge to avoid appearances of impropriety, such as avoiding deciding a dispute in which the judge is personally involved in the issue at stake or has a relationship to one of the parties.. I think you may be right that she is likely still locked up due to her diagnoses of antisocial, histrionic and narcissistic, but again, no one would care and this crappy diagnosis wouldnt have been bought and paid for if not the high profile nature of the case. This is basically the book best kept secrets in condensed form full of outlandish theories. Hed left his first wife to co-habitate with (and later marry) Charlene. Being interested in a subject without bringing emotions to the table is always the most important step. He knows as he was in court and must have photos. 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. By the way, that interview with Christie by a biased advocate named Angel borders on abusive. Steve Bannon won't be detained before trial on charges of contempt of Congress after he failed to comply with subpoenas from the House committee investigating January 6. Diane recanted the stories about her dad who vehemently denied them. I agree about pregnancy and childbirth affecting women differently, and even having different effects for the same woman with different pregnancies. It was not unlike brainwashing. If she was such a manipulative person, she would not be in prison for life, would she? I know that most people think she is guilty. that you told Diane to tell steve that she was Knicks Anything less is a conflict of interest. Completely unethical, and not in the best interest of those children. Someone found guilty of a crime should have a sentence that can be served and not one that is contingent on the remorse shown. The police DID fingerprint the car, from grill to trunk and in between. Our legal system is not perfect. They would have tried to reopen the case. I was always really bothered by that. Hysteria. If there is one thing Diane knew about her lover, is that he was fickle and did not like trouble of any kind. Not even the gun. Hi Nanette, it is not a matter of being gullible. The kind of TV series that they produce on high profile crimes will make sure to turn public opinion. In fact, watching that was the first time I heard her voice and saw her presence, it was a year or so later that old interviews showed up on YouTube. I think that she has done enough time and should be released. Yes, dad relinquished his rights but he knew that they loved their grandparents and had allowed Diane to take them for a visit without telling the authorities. What followed was a tragedy subject to many interpretations. When I hear some people say that they would have liked to smack that smirk off Dianes face when she interacted with the cops or the media, I sayreadthis to understand accounts of people laughing at the wrong time and how it is related to their personality disorder. She even became a surrogate mother to make money and provide two parents the opportunity to have a child. She was not given one inch of presumption of innocence. It was faulty. Why was no one in the family given the right to adopt them. Seems like former husband, Steve Downs, should've been the custodial parent after the divorce. What was the rationale behind this? I think that looked at through a more objective lens, many aspects of the Downs case are highly questionable. Do you remember probably about four or five days after Her 7-year old daughter Cheryl died but her 3-year old son Danny and her 8-year old daughter Christie survived. In fact, if someone was Hungry like the Wolf in this courtroom, it was a certain crime author who could already smell and taste the fortune coming her way after the publication of this juicy story. It is not, as the blogger frequently refers to, evidence. time it was the situation was down. But in the case of DD, there were a lot of elements missing. In case you did not read the blog: During Dianes examination at trial, Fred Hugi said in front of the jury, in the form of a question, that she had been diagnosed as a deviant sociopath. Then they just got shut out. Not in this case. Thats food for thought. Ann Rule did not leave a great legacy as far as honest reporting goes, and she is not the only one to have commercialized a criminal case for personal gain. The notes taken daily by the nurses became a point of contention at trial. The powers that be knew they had nothing on Diane so Christie became their sacrificial lamb. 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. Plus according to an expert at trial, her testimony did not match the blood spatter analysis in the car. He could not during the marriage so he walked away. The states own witness, Dr. George Suckow and Dr. Polly Jamison denounced Prosecutor Hugis practice as improper and unethical (Appendix 101 and 104). ..a little over year before the shooting had a surrogate babypregnancy and giving the baby awayumits donnoits the gal already had a fragile mentality.may not have been the best idea. He needed, now more than ever, to vacate the area asap. You left and you and Diane Downs spent an evening at a motel? Fred Hugi was pretty upset when Ann Rule went Hollywood with his case. Knicks habit of turning on and turning off their relationship was known to Diane long before he admitted it in court a year later (Appendix 81, page 1520, line 21): Q. What I believe doesnt matter at all. As soon as Diane was found guilty, Hugi demanded that Diane be evaluated by a psychiatrist before sentencing so they could declare her a dangerous offender and give her a stiffer sentence. TIL On May 19, 1983, Diane Downs shot her three children and drove them at 5-7 mph to the hospital. That says it all. Diane had spent three days in the hospital ingesting massive doses of Morphine, Demerol, Percodan, and visterol. Click here to read the complaint. Everything I outlined should be public knowledge. Seems to me that if that part of the story were true, and she really wanted to find her childrens shooter, she would have provided that information. Problem was that they produce on high profile crimes will make sure to turn opinion! The stand and make her tell the truth hospital for a bone graft June. About pregnancy and childbirth affecting women differently, and prompted others:.... 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