Danny downs did indeed say a man shot him he also blamed a cartoon character. had to wait for Christie to be able to tell them who did it. BUT like you rightly explain, there was no real evidence of her guilt. Movie scene alleging that Christie was scared. It is said that they didnt go to Steve because he wasnt a fit father or well equipped to take care of children who had gone through such a traumatic experience. I mention in the blog that Dianes mental health is in question so it is obvious that her encounter with her long lost daughter was going to be difficult. Foote denied the motion and declared you have an attorney, use him.. How about dads side of the family? Speculative. All the years in prison probably made her way more disturbed than she ever was. Knick never signed the premarital agreement and Diane never married him. rudy francisco rifle analysis / ford employee profit sharing 2022 / why didn't steve downs get custody. According to her hospital records, every 6 hours she was given 400 milligrams of Dilantin (which is noted for causing confusion). The trial was a whole miscarriage, that seems undeniable. After the trial that convicted Diane Downs, Fred Hugi, the Prosecutor adopted Christie and Danny (they were in foster care for 2 years before he decided to adopt them), the two surviving children. Hey Jace, I was not going to post your insulting comments but I decided to let the last sentence fly so that I could answer it. I feel compelled to comment on this blog, because having recently read Ann Rules book, I feel exactly as you did. It was faulty. Did Danny Downs, Steve Downs' son, remain paralyzed? DNA Test Kits Are Helping Solve Cold Cases Decades Later, After Nearly a Year, There Could Finally be an Investigation Into the Death of Elijah McClain. She has been denied parole 2x and is up again in 2020. Conflicting reports say Downs also acted as a surrogate during her fourth pregnancy, giving birth to a daughter after her trial in 1984. Mission accomplished. Oh my. Not our place to decide. A. I dont recall telling her to get an apartment. For example, the abhorrent decision regarding Keli Lane: https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.whimn.com.au/talk/news/why-i-think-keli-lane-should-not-be-in-prison/news-story/069a09c79589645c48de5bfa91e4ca0f. Christie was born in October of 1974 and Cheryl Lynn in January of 1976. https://t.co/cPfs75obUg pic.twitter.com/uSnlFF2IRw. All Rights Reserved. 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. Go to the hate groups for that. Leaving out a lot of info that should be included and presenting a very one sided take on these things. For the upcoming Halo TV show, original Master Chief voice actor Steve Downes was recast, despite Cortana voice actor Jen Taylor reprising her role from the iconic video game franchise. As her brother mentioned, it would not be that farfetched for his sister to stop for someone considering that she was a person who lacked impulse control and the era. Aint no one gonna tarnish my guys lol. It is not clear whether he still resides in Arizona, where he started his relationship with Diane those many years ago. I have nothing to gain and I am not making up songs and dances about a unicorn. While that makes her technically eligible for parole at some point (in her case 2009) it does not actually mean she has an end date or a release date. Weve become friends. By many accounts, her children adored her. But I will answer the points you raised about the blog. What about the terror of being interrogated by strangers and separated from her family? No conflict of interest from a prosecutor adopting a defendants children 2 years after the fact? 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. All smoke and mirrors to fit a certain scenario. She was more interested in the affection of men, which on that fateful day in 1983 gave her an idea. Most importantly why would anybody shoot 3 children potentially fatally and leave the adult with a wound in her arm. Then feel free to correct the facts and to provide evidence to support them. Andthe DA adopted her other two children. Rule sued the Seattle Weekly after they published the article titled Ann Rules Sloppy Storytelling, but she lost and had to make restitution. Her persona allowed them to build this ironclad narrative when in fact, it was far from definite. I remember when it was in the news. It seems that the Downs were totally ignored. Charlene would call Diane at all hours of the day and night to threaten violence if Diane continued on with her husband. They often argued about their financial issues and fought over infidelities. Modernism mixed with Medieval state of mind. The case was so one sided that it is about time some of us bring up the other side. Go reading US: The American Gulag, 26 Mar 2009 Exploding prison populations in the US serve a basic need of capitalism. But, their marriage was far from what either of them had expected. Just goes to show how difficult it is sometimes to find the truth. Steves surviving children had endured a horrifying experience performed by someone they loved and cared about. I will not remove anything. This is not the reason she is still locked up. And being the mother of three only served to propel Diane in a more manic state. Anne Rule might have inflamed the case with her book Small Sacrifices and her theory of the crime, but in reality, the case of Diane Downs was no small sacrifice. Her family supported her. answer the question why didn t steve downs get custody, which will help you get the most accurate answer. And I care about the lack of evidence. Wrong. Hardly circumstantial or coincidental what are the chances that a bushy haired stranger, masked men, or someone that knew her (take your pick from Dianes ever shifting account) would have the exact same bullets matching to bullets from a gun owned by Diane ? This is an extremely tragic case and her children at the very least deserve justice. Of course I saw movie first, then read the bookI wanted more, sadly early Internet days, there wasnt much out there, as far as info or video, picturesnothing really. This blog is riddled with inconsistencies, suppositions and a lack of the most basic referencing (e.g. Its tiresome. What happened to Diane Downs ex-husband? I had visited Dr. Billings site several times and it is too bad that it was removed. They claimed to have found two lead cartridges in Dianes rifle at home that supposedly matched the ones used during the crime. I am a strong believer that pregnancy can do serious harm to some women. In fact, Diane had consulted a psychologist after the tragedy and after months of consultation, she was never diagnosed as a sociopath. I watched the highlights of her hearing. The courts were divided in the 80s, family court, traffic court, criminal court, juvenile court I dont believe they ran out of judges to preside over them all. That single fact collaborated by a witness, convicts her for me. They should have stayed out of it instead of contributing to her revictimization. But for what it is worth, I believe she tried to kill her 3 kids. Not hard to go there. Since his ex wife was sentenced to life in prison, he has not reappeared in public life nor has he given any television interviews about his family. Then, 10 days after Diane was sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years, she gave birth to a daughter she named Amy Elizabeth. Just state that at the beginning of the blog. She (Diane) managed to jump in the car after getting shot in the arm. I do not care if the bushy haired stranger made no sense or if they could not explain the why of the tragedy, I do not care if she was madly in love with a guy because all that counts is proof and evidence in a court of law, and there was definitely a reasonable doubt. You fail to mention what her daughter actually said about her communication with Diane, like Diane telling her that a very powerful person, a secret man, has been watching her, and that if she loved her son she would move away or else her son will grow up to be a murderer. Conflict of interest on steroids!! Im all for justice, reviewing facts and overturning corrupt decisions. So not addressing the content of the blog and rambling about everything else while asking for a disclaimer is nailing it? She was no mother of the year, I will grant them that, but a trial is supposed to be based on evidence. But Im on track and Im really happy with the way life is.. There is no way that a jury would convict Diane today, based on the clearly coached testimony of Christie. Diane found a full-time job with the U.S. Post Office in 1981, and was stationed in Chandler. I also grew up in as time of the most infamous case in Australias judicial history: Lindy Chamberlain and the dingo stole my baby. Where are Steve Downs children now? Its more boring to tell the truth and the readers might not have flocked to read a fair story without no real heroes and villains. The State had the same gut feeling and made sure she would pay. It was pretty apparent during the course of this saga that the media and the state were willing to give a free pass to anyone willing to badmouth Diane. I am not from USA, never have been there, but my impression is that in USA media are far more powerful than the justice system and rational thinking is crushed by easy emotional moods, stereotypes and a hunger for violence coated in a pompous moral attitude. Ann Rule promotes her books as true crime stories so to this day, viewers believe that the book and the movie titled Small Sacrificesdocument the true story of the Diane Downs case; in fact, it is a mix bag of truth, falsehoods, interpretation and plain fiction. These are no facts its partial truths and conjecture. I lived through the media coverage. She always seems to have not a very close contact with reality. I do have to take issue with this article about Diane Downs. He was instead a result of an affair Diane had with a married man. Kenyans Compare Rachel Ruto, Margaret Kenyatta's Looks in Maasai Outfits, Kim Kardashian Looking for Love Again, Wants to Date Someone Who Isn't Famous, Kind Officers Drop Protesters in Nairobi CBD after Being Released from Central Police Station, Oburu Oginga Hints at Raila Odinga Vying for Presidency in 2027: "He's Not Retired", Naftali Kinuthia Says He Regrets Killing Lover Ivy Wangeci Using Axe: "Too Angry to Think". In her book Heart Full of Lies, Rule took so many liberties with the facts that Liysa Northon sued her. And if you claim your innocence, it obviously creates a vicious circle of not showing contrition. So how she behaved at the time, should not have been a factor influencing the authorities. They were in a difficult situation becausewithout evidence, they could notcharge her for the crime. Her daughter told the media she watched Small Sacrifices several times. 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. She functions best in highly structured environments where she has a sense of control. And if you add the fact that they never found the gun, it doesnt leave much evidenceto back upthe theory that she was the shooter. Seriously. Further: Wonder about Justice in Nation with world wide highest prisoner rate. It always feels like punishment at all costs. Just similar stuff.and that I guess, makes it easy for me to see how that song could of fueled her up.never underestimate the power if a song..what feels intense and exciting to you, may not to another, but shoot, anytime I hear pink floyd run like hell.takes me right back 1991 in the heat of my chase..for me, I got the answers I wanted from 89 when my friend said that about the Duran song and it involved in that case. The whole blog claims the trial was flawed. In a fairly good knot which would have taken time to do one handed and teeth. ), years in solitary confinment Whats wrong with us?! Mainly because she is being kept caged due to her name recognition at this point, not her offense. However, he had no interest in taking care of Dianes children. 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. Gunpowder is one of the toughest stains around, when it comes to removing it from clothes. It is because she is a high profile person. Many individuals associated with the the child welfare system, for one reason or another, choose to adopt children. I agree that the verdict may have been very different. So the hell with no gun, no GSR, no blood and no witnesses except a sick child who denied knowing who shot them until she could not anymore and happened to be adopted by the prosecutor; making it look like she could never change her mind and reveal that she has no memory of the shooting and maybe have the case reversed. The notions of humanity and rehabilitation have been left on the wayside long ago. Maybe I should have elaborated more about this comment. Her children deserved the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Most people described Dianes injury as minor or superficial but in reality, it was a very serious injury. I think it would give the blog more integrity and transparency. This really makes me angry, that prosecuter and judge should be sued along with the writter. The following article hopes to help you make more suitable choices and get more useful information In an earlier comment you stated that Diane had met all of the requirements for parole. It is not a plus, but it is not a crime either. He could then have initiated the licensing process to foster and then adopt the children. The chief prosecutor adopting the children beggars belief! What I explain in the blog is that the fact that Foote is the one who removed the children from Dianes care is exactly why he should NOT have been presiding over her murder trial. She had not fired a gun. It could be argued that he developed a relationship with the children and genuinely wanted them to join his family. Great blog post, thank you. Common sense will tell this Court, when Diane accidently slammed her mangled arm into the steering wheel of Detective Tracys car, it was ANYTHING but a laughing matter. The very suspicious aspect of this ballistic saga is that Hugi said they had the bill of sale and serial number for the first Ruger and it was definitely the murder weapon. From reading the blog and my little understanding of this case, Ms Downs remains in custody as she is considered a dangerous offender. A number of them were clearly . statement regarding the effects of the childrens medications while in hospital should acknowledge where the blogger obtained information about the side effects.). Considering that the daughter she murdered will never get a second chance, it will never be long enough unless its for her entire life. A sick kid who had a stroke and traumatized being pressured for weeks to remember her mother killing her? We will never know what really happened because the authorities acted too hastily and the media was a huge hindrance. It deserved as much attention as a Unicorn, a song or all the other hearsay floating around because at least, they came from real people signing official documents. What matters to me is that her rights were trampled during her trial. By the time the incident had happened, it seems as if the two had parted ways . Everything was in the bag and ready for trial. So there was a transfer, but nothing else was found. Hi Nanette, it is not a matter of being gullible. Just saw the video of Dianes parole hearing. There is also a recording where she says that she had no idea who shot them. It was the story of Diane Downs. If she was such a manipulative person, she would not be in prison for life, would she? And how the letters became so bizarre, paranoid and psychotic that she told Diane to stop writing her. I found nothing. Its a dangerous proposition when a lack of due process becomes acceptable because they know she is guilty. I agree with your comment. The ballistics, gun, speed at which she drove the car, her demeanor, etc. A slightly humorous observation is that you said, and others have, that James Haynes physically resembled the sketch. She was not given one inch of presumption of innocence. Mr. Jagger failed to challenge that competency. Page 40 of Case History.