Her adoptive parents later changed her name to Becky Babcock. During the time they were together, Diane gave birth to three children, Stephen "Danny" Daniel (born 1979), Cheryl Lynn (born 1976), and Christie Ann (born 1974). Check your inbox to be the first to know the hottest news. It is said that their union was loveless and that Steve was a player who was also quite irresponsible and immature from time to time. By Wayne Bryan On Dec 9, 2022. He was instead a result of an affair Diane had with a married man. Her adulterous activities and the severe financial strain they caused pressured the marriage. Christie was the primary witness in the case against her mother. Danny was the product of an affair Downs had been having with a colleague. STEVE Downs is the ex-husband of "mommy murderess" Diane Downs. Downs says she spends her time exchanging letters with her new fiance, whom she described as a former police officer who saw her on The Oprah Winfrey Show and wrote her because he felt sorry for her. Steve Downs, their father, actually left Diane in 1980 because he thought that Danny was the result of an extramarital affair that she had. It is not clear whether he still resides in Arizona, where he started his relationship with Diane those many years ago. Become TUKO.co.ke ambassador get a branded T-shirt, hoodie or water bottle at our TUKO Shop! She attended the University of Oregon and lives in the town with her husband and children. Within a few weeks, the kids who had survived were placed in protective custody and were no longer in Steve's care. Associated Press. It was somewhere around 1983 when she first made the acquaintance of Robert Knickerbocker. Destiny Odom Age, Family, Bio and Net Worth, Charles Stanley Is Stepping Down After 50 Years As Pastor, LA Millionaire James Khurris Son Sentenced To 9. Christie went on to have a son, and very little information is known about Danny after he was born. Christie Downs Cheryl Downs Diane Downs/Daughters The child was adopted and was later named Rebecca. They are now leading their private lives as adults. Downs briefly attended Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College in Orange, California but was . We empower millions of people the world over to enhance their knowledge about celebrities people life style and net worth with our smart content. Diane Downs was in love with Robert Knickerbocker. Steves children had both endured the same thing. Authorities decided Steve was not a good fit to look after Danny and Christie after what they had been through, with both suffering life-changing physical and mental trauma. At the time Diane had told police that a stranger attempted to carjack her and shot the kids, and that's what her ex husband was told, too. Fourteen year-old Christie Ann was left with speech impairment, and 9-year-old Danny is paralyzed from the waist down. Downs graduated from Moon Valley High School in Phoenix, where she met her husband, Steve Downs. The most exciting thing about Steve is that he never appeared in public despite the immense case against his wife. What you need to know. Diane conceived of a solution to her problems as a result of this, one that would rid her of her obligations and provide her the opportunity to rekindle her feelings for her loved one. In the year 1973, on November 13th, a young lady by the name of Diane ran away from her family in order to marry her boyfriend, Steve Downs. Within a few weeks, a judge had placed the surviving kids, Christie and Danny, in protective custody. Nevertheless, when Diane came back to Arizona, the pair united, and soon, on November 13, 1973, to be exact, the couple tied the knot. "I knew within 30 minutes of talking with that woman that she was guilty": Surgeon who helped save one of Diane Downs' kids in 1983 after she shot her recalls chilling interaction. But Im on track and Im really happy with the way life is.. Steve Downs was under the impression that an affair with one of his coworkers had resulted in the birth of a son also named Stephen. However, when all the details came to be understood by the police, Steve found out what really happened to his kids. Diane was 18 years old at the time and had run away from home to get married. And that is why Diane chose to murder her children to regain his affection. Because she was failing quite miserably at remaining pure and chaste, she was expelled after only a year, and thus, she returned to her parents home in Arizona. Dianes ex-lover, Robert Knickerbocker, also said the same. In 1987, she was first transferred out of the state of Oregon to New Jersey. They married in 1973, before divorcing in 1980. Steve was among the few individuals who saw Elizabeth Diane as a beautiful young lady rather than an outsider. Until her incarceration, Elizabeth Diane Frederickson Downs worked as a postal worker in Springfield, Oregon. However, Danny and Christie's story moved Fred, and he would visit them frequently while they were in the hospital. ", Kiambu Girl Says She Feeds, Washes Clothes of Ailing Dad Bedridden for 5 Months: "He Can't Do Anything", Man Visits His Friend Who Failed to Attend His Wedding Despite Being Part of Bridal Party, Jamal Rohosafi's Pregnant Girlfriend Michelle Flaunts Video of Dad Spoiling Daughter with KSh 1000 Notes, Rachel Ruto Says More Women Should Be Included in Fight Against Climate Change. Glover said he feared Downs would go looking for her kids to potentially harm or kidnap them, and said that the pressure to find her intensified once the escape caught the attention of the governors office and the media. Downs escaped from prison three years after that but was recaptured and transferred to a different confinement facility. I dont believe she has any emotion for her children beyond the fact that theyre her possession and somebody took them away from her.. Therefore, to make their marriage work, they started a family, believing that it would make everything okay. Who are Steve Downs children? Downs was housed in New Jersey before being transferred to California. Another significant development about the children is that Danny is great with computers but is still paralyzed from the bullet that hit his back but is leading a regular life. During the time frame when she was being investigated, Diane Downs suddenly turned up pregnant with daughter Becky Babcock. Danny suffered injuries that left him paralyzed, while Christie, who had dilated pupils and low blood pressure, sustained a stroke that impaired her speech. He has lived a life outside the public eye and hasnt ever come out to give interviews to the media about his ex-wife. Here is everything we know. He told them he knew Downs had a .22 pistol in her possession. The case of Diane Downs and her three children is one of those a horrible tragic case that people still think about 37 years later. Danny and Christie Ann Downs are among Diane Downs' surviving children after Cheryl Lynn died following the tragic shooting. Long-lost ship found at the bottom of Lake Huron, confirming story of tragic collision, TikTok to set default daily time limit of up to 60 minutes for minors, Jaguars, narcos, illegal loggers: One mans battle to save a Guatemalan jungle and Maya ruins, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, TikTok faces bans in a number of countries over security fears. Christie is a married woman and gave birth in 2005. Email us atexclusive@the-sun.comor call212 416 4552. On November 13, 1973, the two secretly wed and eloped. Danny has kept a low profile, and not much about his life like family, marriage, and children are in public. One night in May 1983, Diane drove into the emergency wing of Mckenzie-Willamette Hospital in Springfield. The incident and the trial both brought to light the reality that Steve Downs was not a good choice to be the childrens father, and the children were better off without him. Steves surviving children had endured a horrifying experience performed by someone they loved and cared about. Because of this, there was discord in the marriage, and conventional methods could not remedy the problem. Since he was in possession of a similar gun, he was a suspect as well, but, when the ballistics did not match, Diane Downs quickly became the prime suspect. After each of the kids was shot multiple times on that fateful day in 1983, Steve cooperated with the police completely. pic.twitter.com/HWkkwT86pF. Her atrocities made national news, but one person that everyone has been wondering about is Diane Down's ex-husband. How old is Diane Downs now? Sentenced as: Downs, Elizabeth 1973-1980 Diane Downs/Husband. Asked where Diane Downs is now, Terry Thornton, spokesperson for the California Department of Corrections, told Heavy the following information: The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has been housing Downs for the state of Oregon since Aug. 30, 1993. That inmate was Diane Downs, a woman who had been sentenced three years earlier to prison for life plus 50 years for shooting her three children and killing one of them. According to Oregon Live, Downs was pregnant during her trial with her daughter. 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"The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Danny and Christie Downs made headlines in the 80s when their mother took them to hospital with fatal bullet wounds. She was going to grab a BB gun and just go suicide by cop, but I said, Dont do that, and she put the BB gun down, and she went without a fight. But, we can't help but notice that a few key individuals of her "family," so to speak, didn't give those insightful interviews. He may still reside in Arizona, but there is no proof of the same. 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Danny and Christie Ann Downs are among Diane Downs' surviving children after Cheryl Lynn died following the tragic shooting. Hes genuine.. Diane's lastborn has been vocal about her mother and has appeared on platforms like the Oprah Winfrey Show discussing the same matter. Steve Downs' wife had become ignorant of her children and often left them with her parents or ex-husband. Diane Downs' ex husband, Steve Downs, lost a lot in May 1983 when his ex wife shot their three children, following their divorce in 1980. Also, he has never given television interviews about his family or ex-wife, who is now serving time in prison. However, in 1980, the couple divorced. 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READ ALSO: What happened to Rhema Marvanne? Elizabeth Diane had reached the age of 18 when she wed her husband, John. Diane Downs Now: Her Failed Attempts to Get Parole, Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Seifer said that he knew the police were eventually going to find Downs and that hed get in trouble for it. Wayne Seifer and his wife, an inmate at Oregon Women's Correctional Center, were separated and not on speaking terms, but he says that didnt stop her from sending a fellow inmate to his home one Saturday morning unannounced and on the run from state and local police. to leave his wife and move to Oregon. Steve divorced Diane after she became pregnant with Stephen "Danny" Daniel. And, one of them was her ex-husband, the father of the children that Diane had shot. Heres what you need to know about Diane Downs now: Diane Downs now: Her most recent prison photo from 2018. The prosecutor has kept a low profile, and it is unclear where he is today. Despite the short time apart, the couple was able to pick up where they left off romantically when they both received their high school diplomas. April Beth Pitzer's story: Was the Arkansas native found? The fact that he wasnt his biological child was the final straw for him, and he decided to end the relationship. What happened to Diane Downs children's father? Why are we still having these debates? According to The Cinemaholic, the pair had a brief high school romance before they graduated and were forced to go their separate ways. He has not been in public since his ex-wife was sentenced to life in jail, nor has he given any televised interviews regarding his family. Copyright 2023 Distractify. My husband has written three letters to you and has never been given the decency of a reply. Her older two children have remained out of the public eye. Salem, OR 97301-4047. Following the conclusion of his studies and the dissolution of their fleeting high school relationship, Steve Downs would eventually enlist in the navy. Her extramarital affairs and financial crisis hit the marriage hard. Where are Danny and Christie Downs now? Hair Color: Brown You are already subscribed to our newsletter! After everything that had happened, the authorities considered that Christies father was unsuited for the position because she had been the most important witness in the case. Steve divorced Diane after she became pregnant with Stephen "Danny" Daniel. White also would not identify him. Authorities decided Steve was not a good fit to look after Danny and Christie after what they had been through, with both suffering life-changing physical and mental trauma. An unspeakable act of violence was committed in May of 1983, and as a result, Diane Downs, formerly married to Steve Downs, became known as The Mommy Murderess. The murder investigation stunned the world at the time, and it continues to send shivers down the spines of those who read about it. There used to be two womens prisons in Chowchilla. However, in order to protect herself from her parents disapproval, Elizabeth was forced to flee from the family home. Her three small children, Christie, 8; Cheryl, 7; and Danny, 3 . Attendees are expected to adhere unwaveringly and unquestioningly to the religious institutions inflexible adherence to the laws and principles that underlie those institutions. She was transferred to the Correctional Institution for Women in New Jersey after she escaped in July, 1987, by scaling a fence at the Oregon Womens Correctional Center in Salem. She declines to identify the man except that he is a former Oregon police officer who has since moved to New Jersey. Hugi and his wife did not have children of their own. After her capture, Diane received an additional five-year sentence. . She was wounded by a single bullet in the left arm. I get so frustrated when I hear things like that. Convicted child killer Elizabeth Diane Downs, who describes herself as the most hated woman in America, giggles nervously as she talks of her plans to marry a former police officer from Oregon. Elizabeth Diane would discover that she did not satisfy the criterion, and as a result, she would be kicked out of the institution very soon. It is possible that he still resides in Arizona, but exactly where he is or what he does, we dont know. After Diane was convicted, the two living children were adopted by the prosecutor in the case and his wife, and it was Christie who ultimately pointed to her mother being responsible for the shooting. Diane Downs always wanted to be a mom, she told Inside Edition in its first-ever episode in 1989. Would love your thoughts, please comment. She is currently incarcerated in Chowchilla, California. The story of Steve Downs' children is one of the most shocking to date. Christie was the star witness at trial, pinning the crime on her mother. Wayne Seifer helped Diane Downs hide for over a week after she escaped prison. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Today, the story of the siblings continues to be a worldwide discussion, with many wondering what happened to them after their ordeal. She met Robert "Nick" Knickerbocker and started having a relationship with him earlier. 2023 - Phootoscelebrities All Rights Reserved. In addition, the children were suffering life-changing physical and mental trauma, which would take years to heal. At the time, Diane reported to the authorities that an unknown person attempted to carjack her and shoot her and her children, and her ex-husband was informed of the same thing. You are already subscribed to our newsletter! Its release surely will spark more discussion of the case, but Downs says she doesnt believe her children will suffer if people talk about her case. Christie's first child is a boy. She also had a bullet wound on her forearm. Ive never seen anyone as manipulative as Diane, Rule says, describing her as sociopathic, histrionic and narcissistic., I think she knows what she did, Rule says. Erik Asla, the Tyra Banks Husband, who is he? Im very self-disciplined and I need to have control of my own existence. He has not been in public since his ex-wife was sentenced to life in jail, nor has he given any televised interviews regarding his family. Christie and Cheryl were a product of Diane's marriage to her ex-husband, Stephen (Danny) Downs. When asked why her mother would do that, the nine-year-old replied, ''Maybe she loved Lew more than us.''. Unfortunately, he hasn't been as outspoken as people expected, considering the gruesome details of the crime committed by her ex-wife. Then, 10 days after Diane was sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years, she gave birth to a daughter she named Amy Elizabeth. This map, Glover said, had a line going from top to bottom, which he believed was State Street, the road where the prison was located. In 1983 Downs shot all three children, killing Cheryl and . Their union lasted for seven years, during which time rumours circulated that their third kid was illegitimate and the product of an affair with another man. Despite the fact that the couple had their reservations, they made the decision to remain steadfast in their marriage, and as a consequence, they are now the proud parents of three children. Bill Payne and Billie Jean Hayworth murders: what really happened both herself and on other men two prisons... The relationship they started a family, marriage, many people were confused as to why the couple decided divorce... Their fleeting high school romance before they graduated and were no longer in Steve 's.! 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