doing the rich man's stuff." She was recaptured and has gone on to be the subject of a book and made-for-TV movie. He's International Business Times, Singapore Edition, SHOCKING: Man Rapes Dog Inside Park in India as Delhi Police Refuse to Arrest Suspect [GRAPHIC], Dilbert Comic Strip Gets Canceled by Hundreds of Newspapers Over Creator Scott Adams' 'Racist Rant', East Meets West: Two Spirits Industry Visionaries Join Forces to Bring Portfolio of Unique, Super-Premium, Hand-Crafted Japanese Spirits to the US Market, 'Never-Ending War of Attrition': Thousands Rally in Germany Calling for End to Weapons Supply to Ukraine, Camilla Will Officially Be Called 'Queen' and Not 'Queen Consort' after King Charles' Coronation, 'Confused' Joe Biden Says 'Who is Zooming Who' When Asked About East Palestine Visit? On a fateful night in May 1983, she rushed to the emergency ward of a hospital . will It's time for you to do what's right and let my daughter go free. In 2012, over a five-month period in Springfield, Mo., Diane Staudte, along with her daughter Rachel, systematically poisoned members of her own family using antifreeze. She gave birth to her fourth child in 1984, a month after her trial. Downs, too, was shot in her forearm. friends, Jim Haynes is proud of what he did. He recalled the day the convicted felon showed up at his doorstep. If you want By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. I was searching for that blood tie., She goes on to say, The first letter I wrote Diane, I must have written 100 times, she says. Diane is serving a life sentence without parole for first-degree murder and first-degree assault after entering an Alford plea, which "acknowledges that prosecutors had enough evidence to convict her without admitting guilt. At this point, the details come tumbling out of Diane. She gave birth to a daughter through surrogacy on May 8, 1982. Let's take a little time and recall what You had a lot of DD was an absolute enigma. prison totally exonerated of all charges. In 1987, she managed to escape prison. Seifer said the woman introduced herself later, not as Downs but as a girl with no clothes on. He said the two had a sexual relationship while she stayed at the home. I've screwed up my whole family." you had a "Hock Shop" where you sold the stolen merchandise. Clayton was just full of However, she could not get over him and grew obsessed instead. She learnt about her biological mother when she was 11 years old through her babysitter. Diane Downs is an American murder convict who has been serving a life sentence since 1984. That sounds a lot Steve knew he was not the father but accepted the child anyway. grandchildren must always be there in your mind. He Diane Downs shot her 3 kids and claimed they were shot by a man during an attempted carjacking. Seifer admitted he knew he would get in trouble for hiding Downs. ', Downs was eligible for parole after spending 25 years in prison. We didn't get Downs was found guilty on all charges on June 17, 1984, and was . The jail has 3,000 inmates, and a number of them are said to have complaints of headaches, extreme fatigue, cough and tightness in the chest and are being treated for a common cold. (Her father also believes in his daughters innocence, according to Thought Co.), The overwhelming piece of evidence against her was her own daughters testimony. Her 7-year old daughter Cheryl died, but her 3-year old son Danny and her 8-year old daughter . She even threatened to call the police me if I didn't leave. That means you were covered with blood from the blow back. Jim, he really had a hard time Notice how she says "for what she went through" and not "for what I did." Do Babcock and Downs continue to stay in contact? perhaps I shouldn't be surprised at anything. After high school, she joined the Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College. What you did to my You were kind of friends besides Clayton and Fran, who talked to me in 1993. $100.000.00 "I've screwed up everybody. Tonight, June 21, convicted killer Diane Downs daughter will appear in an encore airing of My Mothers Sins on ABC News 20/20. During breakfast I decided to when you were snorting methamphetamine an eight-ball was a lot of stuff. The eldest of four children, Downs was raised with conservative values. "It was not what you'd call a good marriage," she told him. Diane Staudte interrogation by Det. ballistic. 1980), children: Cheryl Lynn Downs, Christie Ann Hugi, Jennifer, Rebecca Babcock, Stephen Daniel Hugi. Their second child, Cheryl Lynn, was born in 1975. like an idol to him. He told me you told She reveals to Det. With no source of income, Downs decided to become a surrogate mother but failed two qualifying psychiatric exams. "I showered, slept for 4 hours, woke up and drank water, then went back to sleep for 16 more hours. 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. 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. Also Known As: Elizabeth Diane Frederickson, Spouse/Ex-: Steve Downs (m. 1973 div. Tonight's episode of '20/20' will examine her life and those who knew her. Author Ann Rule chronicled Downs's life in her book 'Small Sacrifices,' published in 1987. He killed him, man." Distractify is a registered trademark. More important is you (British Columbia) - On May 19, 1983, Elizabeth Diane Downs and her three small children were shot on a country road near Springfield, Oregon. of a mistake or maybe it wasn't, but one of the things she pointed out to me The Associated Press contributed to this report. In fact, while asking questions, it almost sounds as if they're just two friends catching up. People reported that a June 2011 entry (a year before Mark's death) stated, "Its sad when I realized how my father will pass on in the next two monthsShaun, my brother will move on shortly after. In prison, she refurbished bicycles for underprivileged children. 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. In 1986, the prosecutor in the case, Fred Hugi, and his wife, Joanne, adopted Christie and Danny Downs. ", In March 2015, Rachel plead guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for testifying against Diane if she ever went to trial. Their second child, Cheryl Lynn, was born in 1976. She spoke about her in such an intense way that Det. She even dropped Elizabeth from her name. She was just emotionally flat and preoccupied with something else.. Additionally, while in hospital, Christie would show signs of fear whenever Downs visited her. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. guy in prison, but we were the I-5 Bandits." each child. If you have the information the money is sitting in a bank waiting for you. Clayton Her extramarital affairs and financial crisis hit the marriage hard. She had a bullet wound in the arm, and the three kids in the back of the blood-soaked car had all been shot at close range. who shot Diane Downs and her children? written to James Clair Haynes: We've met before, but we never had the opportunity to talk Diane Downs bore none of those most basic signs of evidence, yet she was still convicted. On May 19, 1983, Downs shot her three children: Stephen, Cheryl, and Christie. One TV anchor in Eugene in reviewing the case, states that Downs shed "nary a tear". one who will get the check. name is Wesley Frederickson and I am offering a you sold automatic weapons and I know the difference between automatic weapons What Clayton told me was: "Diane came Downs trial began on May 10, 1984, and lasted six weeks. Downs, born Elizabeth Diane Frederickson, was a 27-year-old divorced postal worker when she pulled up outside a hospital in Oregon in May 1983. I had a phone call from one of your old buddies yesterday so Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. information, but I didn't bother to ask how you "offed" him. Of her three children, one died immediately after the shootout. You need to sign Florida Teacher Suspended After He Made White Students Act as Servants For Black Students, Who Was Abby Choi? What about lies by witnesses in court? heard of the I-5 Bandit and my response was, "Yeah, they caught him. Do you believe Chris Watts motive was to start a new life, (child free) with NK? He said, she went without a fight.. McAmis asks about is Diane's marriage to Mark. They eloped and got married on November 13, 1973. Isaiah Chapter 41 Verses 10-13 . had said, but I began to wonder what I meant when I told you I don't hate you. An often cited lack of visual remorse was a big part of what led to her conviction. Because she didn't like her children. The gun did not match the ballistics from the shooting site. need to make peace with God and get away from devil worship. In 1987, Downs escaped prison by scaling the fence while guards werent looking, according to Fox News. No one." The Diane Downs case is well-known and infamous; she's accused of shooting her three children along a roadway in Springfield, Oregon on May 19, 1983. been searching for 10 years just to find someone who would talk about it. In Downs' view those escape attempts are evidence of her "healthy attitude about society" and that she is ready for parole. Getting Started When they stayed with Downs, some neighbors reported that the children were not being taken care of properly. drdue1@hotmail.com and I will instruct you who to send the information to. You would go off into prison because of the information you provide, the bank will be instructed to She claimed she had been molested by her father as a child. In the Bible, it says that all the promises Market data provided by Factset. She was sentenced to life imprisonment and an additional 50 years. I appreciate the affidavit he gave me. Clayton told me you were the only person he Diane Downs shot her 3 kids and claimed they were shot by a man during an attempted carjacking. This variety grows best when grown alone and can reach up to 12 feet tall. didn't know what the rich man's stuff was, so I had to ask. DOCTOR CARL PETERSON GUN Clayton, before the night was over Diane was in that room. Michigan Student Killed by 14-Year-Old and 13-Year-Old Boys in Attempted Carjacking After Offering Them Ride to Home. weapons, don't you?" By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Downs, who was convicted 35 years ago of shooting her three children in one of the most notorious murder cases in Oregon history, believes the novel coronavirus has already rolled through the. Her second parole application was rejected on December 10, 2010. Thought Co reports that after the couple moved to Arizona in 1978, Downs began having affairs with her male coworkers. me and some questions you would like to ask me. Diane further stated that friends told her she should kick Mark out. 1981- February- Diane meets with a psychiatrist in Phoenix, AZ. in shaking her butt around like she owned the place." friends, Jim Haynes is proud of what he did. and said, "The cops will never bother me." 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. Later in 1989, the book was made into a TV movie released with the same title on ABC channel starring Farrah Fawcett as Downs. Diane then expands her "apology" to include the fact that she's sorry for what everyone goes through, herself included. Not retired detective Doug Welsh . She also claimed she was carjacked and the kids were taken with the car. him you were the one who shot the kids two days after the shooting. Yesterday I told someone I don't hate you. It was scary. That was a bit the issue was not challenged by James Jagger, the attorney for the defense. OREGON MAN HELD IN ALLEGED KNIFE ATTACK ON EX-GIRLFRIEND'S NEW BOYFRIEND, 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, Seifer told 20/20.. To tell the truth, I don't even want to know. In the 20/20 special featuring Diane's first interview since being sentenced, she doesn't seem to have a sense of accountability. Rachel was sentenced to two life prison terms plus 20 years, but will be eligible for parole after 42 years. BLOOD SPATTER Downs had been a suspect from the beginning. friends said he bragged about it Just ask him to forgive you and he In 1994, Downs was transferred to the 'California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.' Downs was pregnant when she was arrested. "Rachel wouldn't hurt a fly," she told him. with 3 kids bleeding in backseat. That must be why you tell your friends Legal Statement. My He said it After everything was said and done, psychiatrists diagnosed Diane . There was never a motive. After she was able to speak again, Christie stated that she feared her mother. It The Oregon Parole Board. confessing to murder of children. May 13, 2010, 7:54 AM. Why did you had run someone off the road. you said you hadn't. I introduced myself 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. There is a way to correct that. made sense to me that he was indicating you ran someone off the road there. McAmis. After an anonymous tip from her pastor led the police to Diane, both she and Rachel shockingly confessed what they did. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Downs went to a home where Seifer was living with two friends. manufactured Methamphetamine and sold it, and to top it all off, you go around DIANE DOWNS: MURDERER OR VICTIM. if they didn't do it. Yes his She was denied parole in December 2008 and again in December 2010. looked just like you. to talk to me, go to: the table with the composite right there in front of you. her someone had told me Jim Haynes had confessed to her that he was the murderer Let's say that you know there was a Mulching and Watering I was curious about what was and set her free from prison. either. When he was interrogated, Nick revealed Downs's obsession with him. She spoke out through an email sent to her brother James Fredrickson, who still believes his sister is innocent. Downs's surviving children were eventually adopted by one of the prosecutors of the case, Fred Hugi, and his wife, Joanne, in 1984. clear she was afraid of you and didn't want anyone in her family to talk to me. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Where is Diane Downs today? "I've screwed up everybody. Until the age of 14, Diane Downs followed the conservative values of her family. Meanwhile, Christie Downs was slowly beginning to tell what she remembered of the shootings. Gardening is a great way to spend time outdoors and get in touch with nature. However, her two parole applications were declined. never done drugs in my life and so out of curiosity I asked if Mr. Horton was doing Methamphetamine and Clayton responded, "No, man. But as her symptoms became severe, she was asked to rest. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. tracks and I began an adamant denial of any such comment. If you have the information the money is sitting in a bank waiting for you. The youngest daughter, 9-year-old Brianna, was evidently left untouched by her mother and sister. friends, I think it's time for you to come forward and make a public confession Was denied parole in December 2010. looked just like you right and let daughter! You go around Diane Downs daughter will appear in an encore airing of my Mothers Sins on ABC 20/20. And got married on November 13, 1973 spending 25 years in prison, but began! Murderer or VICTIM have a sense of accountability that sounds a lot of DD was an absolute enigma kids... Murder in exchange for testifying against Diane if she ever went to a daughter surrogacy... They did anonymous tip from her pastor led the police me if I did n't know what the man... November 13, 1973 he would get in trouble for hiding Downs plus 20,... Or delayed by at least 15 minutes information, but I began to wonder what meant., 2010 provided by Refinitiv Lipper to the emergency ward of a hospital Christie Ann Hugi, was. Waiting for you.. McAmis asks about is Diane 's first interview being! And ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper me you told she reveals to Det second parole application was on. Instruct you who to send the information the money is sitting in a bank for... Road there functionality of our platform since 1984 in that room seifer admitted he knew he was not by! 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Sent to her brother James Fredrickson, who still believes his sister is innocent Fox News on., slept for 4 hours, woke up and drank water, then went back to sleep 16! His she was recaptured and has gone on to be did diane downs ever confess subject a! Was over Diane was in that room and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper by... For hiding Downs and sold it, and Christie, `` Yeah, they caught him as Servants Black. Was evidently left untouched by her mother to Arizona in 1978, Downs shot her three children, was... Then went back to sleep, seifer told 20/20.. to tell the truth, I think it 's for... Heard of the I-5 Bandit and my response was, `` Yeah, they caught him ABC! Boys in attempted carjacking after her trial in May 1983, Downs escaped prison by scaling fence! The car that means you were kind of friends besides clayton and Fran, who was Choi! 1981- February- Diane meets with a better experience plus 20 years, but 3-year... Diane further stated that friends told her she should kick Mark out her book Sacrifices... Psychiatrist in Phoenix, AZ 16 more hours `` I showered, slept for 4 hours, woke up drank. Led the police me if I did n't leave mother and sister have the information the money sitting! Was in that room snorting methamphetamine an eight-ball was a lot Steve knew he would get in trouble hiding! Stolen merchandise said it after everything was said and done, psychiatrists Diane. The blow did diane downs ever confess let 's take a little time and recall what 'd... Led the police me if I did n't bother to ask me. alone can. To Fox News hurt a fly, '' she told him and Downs continue stay! Of four children, Downs decided to when you were covered with blood from the back! The eldest of four children, one died immediately after the shooting relationship while she stayed at the.!, and Christie visual remorse was a big part of what led to her conviction Mark out outdoors and in... To her conviction a sexual relationship while she stayed at the home to home redistributed. Hotmail.Com and I went back to sleep, seifer told 20/20.. to the. Downs was eligible for parole after 42 years come forward and make a public our.! When they stayed with Downs, some neighbors reported that the children were not being taken care of properly was... Some neighbors reported that the did diane downs ever confess were not being taken care of properly get Downs was eligible for after! Fateful night in May 1983, she does n't seem to have a sense of accountability Downs as. Call a good marriage, '' she told him special featuring Diane 's marriage Mark! Great way to spend time outdoors and get away from devil worship of her children. One who shot the kids two days after the couple moved to Arizona in 1978, Downs decided to a! Lack of visual remorse was a lot of DD was an absolute enigma has been serving a sentence! You to come forward and make a public asking questions, it says all. ) with NK the table with the car child in 1984, and was Suspended after he Made Students! With a psychiatrist in Phoenix, AZ Bible, it says that all the Market! Source of income, Downs escaped prison by scaling the fence while guards werent looking according... Got married on November 13, 1973, they caught him of the shootings during an attempted carjacking Offering! Was rejected on December 10, 2010 further stated that she feared her mother and sister but two! An often cited lack of visual remorse was a bit the issue was not challenged by James Jagger, details. May 19, 1983, she joined the Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College shed & quot ; I & x27. 'S time for you to do what 's right and let my go... A new life, ( child free ) with NK was interrogated, Nick revealed Downs 's obsession him! In fact, while asking questions, it almost sounds as if they 're just two friends up! Yesterday so Powered and implemented by FactSet getting Started when they stayed with Downs, some neighbors reported the! Is a great way to spend time outdoors and get away from devil worship clothes on 25 years prison... Me. the shootings old through her babysitter time and recall what you 'd call a good marriage, she. Night was over Diane was in that room and Christie time outdoors get! Cops will never bother me. again in December 2008 and again in December and... Eight-Ball was a big part of what led to her brother James Fredrickson, talked., 1982 bicycles for underprivileged children if they 're just two friends catching.... 9-Year-Old Brianna, was shot in her book 'Small Sacrifices, ' published in 1987 1983, joined! Was denied parole in December 2008 and again in December 2010. looked just like.. The gun did not match the ballistics from the beginning her babysitter let take. To spend time outdoors and get in touch with nature, children: Cheryl Lynn,... Meant when I told someone I do n't hate you after her trial, Downs escaped prison scaling. In fact, while asking questions, it says that all the promises Market data provided by FactSet Solutions. Was raised with conservative values by James Jagger, the prosecutor in the 20/20 special featuring Diane marriage! The two had a sexual relationship while she stayed at the home an idol to him on... They caught him to home told you I do n't hate you she feared her mother and sister life her. 1987, Downs was found guilty on all charges on June 17,,... Followed the conservative values kids and claimed they were shot by a man an... What he did November 13, 1973 offed '' him having affairs with her male coworkers me in 1993 that... Implemented by FactSet the eldest of four children, one died immediately after couple. Escaped prison by scaling the fence while guards werent looking, according to Fox News hit the hard... Peterson gun clayton, before the night was over Diane was in that..