The poor jury went along and Jagger did not put much ofa defense anyway. The board said that her mental or emotional disorder makes her a danger to society. In 1999, a Board Certified Psychiatrist practicing in Oakland, California wrote a letter to the parole board on behalf of Diane Downs to explain how things had changed since 1984 when she was diagnosed with a severe personality disorder. He did not consider her a risk factor at all and believed she would do well if released into society, because she had no prior history of violence and never had a problem with violence or bad behavior while incarcerated. The most exciting thing about Steve is that he never appeared in public despite the immense case against his wife. Now Diane Downs did not say any of this, but told a hard to believe story, and then changed it from one to two masked guys, etc. The rest of the family? Is Diane really a threat anymore? A trial should be based on facts and solid direct or circumstantial evidence. Shes where she belongs. The Diane Downs' Case Was no Small Sacrifice - Crime Website They are still part of their birth family. ..it is quite possible if she was tried in todays world, with the evidence they hadquite possible it would of went differentlywe been living in a society that pretty much demand 100% pure forensic evidence provenprobably over 10 years or longer, people expect trials to be that of a law and order TV show..I cant say thats a bad thing, or makes what happened in the 80s on back bad. Christie was the primary witness in the case against her mother. I have researched the case and pointed out discrepancies and the fact that it was not the slam dunk that they were portraying. Robert was a married man in Arizona with whom Diane had been having an affair, back when she was still living there. 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. She s. Guilt or innocence no longer need to be debated in this case. Surprisingly, he accepted the new child and learned to love him dearly. Her children deserved the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Someone can have an evil vibe and not be guilty of a crime. You cant possibly shake off all the gun powder residue and avoid all the blood. She wanted a lawyer to defend her vigorously but the judge stopped her from getting good representation. 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. And once again, considering that she was diagnosed as bipolar, did not help her cause. I try to bring out the details that were ignored because Down was so unpopular. Christie Downs was eight-years old when she was injured and nine-years old when she testified. Diane had siblings and parents. The Pros and Cons of Getting Sole Legal Custody - Verywell Family The unreliability of childrens testimony has been documented by cognitive psychologists such as Elizabeth Loftus of the University of Cornell and others. It's not even known if he still resides in Arizona, where he used to live with Diane and their three kids. #corrupt. Too bad she did not interview Diane or her family. Brewer stood ready to testify in June 1991, that it was because of Prosecutor Hugis lie that he changed his mind to convict and that he alone was responsible for silencing the dissenting votes of two other jurors (Appendix 97). I asked her brother James an answer to your question. Every time, she said she did not know, they told her to think again and made suggestions. I do not have to put any statement advising people that I am about to present the neglected aspects of the trial. According to The Cinemaholic, Steve was found to not be a good fit to care for his kids who would need specialized care and had been through a very traumatic event. What Happened to Diane Downs' Husband Following Her Sentencing? Mind you, it is before the trial. You hit the nail right on the head. I stuck to what came out at trial and not the fantasy factory coming from the state, the media and Rule. Maybe I should have elaborated more about this comment. 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. She never mentioned that before, and she doesnt mention the FBI agents name. But saying that you are not very smart is useless. If she was such a manipulative person, she would not be in prison for life, would she? She is a monster and belongs in prison for the rest of her life. It wasnt until Prosecutor Hugi said Dr. Jamison had labeled Diane a deviant sociopath that Mr. She had not fired a gun. The details about the gun missing, the daughters testimony and the fact that she had no blood or gun residues are facts. I mention in my blog that when her adoptive dad said that she was coerced and thats why she said she did not know who shot them, that of course she was because this is what she does when under pressure. But you told Diane Downs to go ahead and get an apartment? I will talk to Dianes brother. 4. Thats food for thought. I personally disagree with that practice but it is common. What was the justification? Her persona allowed them to build this ironclad narrative when in fact, it was far from definite. I also grew up in as time of the most infamous case in Australias judicial history: Lindy Chamberlain and the dingo stole my baby. I am a strong believer that pregnancy can do serious harm to some women. Devoting ur life to taking down a dead author is a waste of ur talents. (Feature Image Credit: ABC News / 20/20). Surprisingly, Fred Hugi actually looks quite different. Everything I outlined should be public knowledge. Lise lasalle you mention THIS When she (Diane) resisted, he shot her kids and struggled with her. Dianes parents had high hopes for her future, a future that didnt involve Steve, so they disapproved of their relationship. But you are right to say that it is my site. Diane asked for proof that her ex husband was behind the shooting. When they recaptured her, she was very docile. In fact, Diane had consulted a psychologist after the tragedy and after months of consultation, she was never diagnosed as a sociopath. He was very irresponsible and probably could not handle them financially and emotionally. Her father also insisted shetry to help catch the shooter. The kind of TV series that they produce on high profile crimes will make sure to turn public opinion. 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. It appears that you have to be a perfect mother with no lovers and not afflicted with any mental illness to be considered innocent until proven guilty in America. We make them president. But, we cant help but notice that a few key individuals of her family, so to speak, didnt give those insightful interviews. Yeah, Ive noticed a lot of people thing Jim Jagger is Fred Hugi. Would you know at what speed you are going if you were shot and driving with wounded children in the car? I have simply bothered researching the evidence and in some instances, the lack of it. 2. it also isnt right that the rules get to keep being changed after the fact as far as how often one may apply for parole. I dont know the woman. Farrah had trouble with the law because of a passionate love affair with a movie director. Accused of her side of the story what the state says how would it be possible for her to do what they presumed. I have no idea how the social workers and county attorneys justified doing their due diligence in preserving the family (mandated by law) when they were in court. 5. Her ex-husband has been of great interest, considering his absence from the media despite the case getting significant attention. So I start with that bit of history in mind. The best policy for Diane Downs would have been to remain silent, but she fought back and smiled at the wrong time and according to them, enjoyed the attention. Christie was it though. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. She could not have been shot twice in the back while sitting up and have the bullet pierce her body to end up under the floorboard of the passenger side. 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. So if we started judging people harshly for their flaws, it would never end. To this day, his record is mixed; his law license was suspended for 6 months in 2011, and there was also talk of a suspension in 2015. If you read the blog, you will see examples of his lack of dedication. Dianes story does not contradict that. 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. It is beyond belief that the State of Oregon allowed the prosecutor to adopt those children. If you had, you would clearly know that I do not claim her guilt or innocence. Distractify is a registered trademark. You are telling me to take my smugness elsewhere because it is tiresome. You can believe what you like. The children had a father. And I care about the lack of evidence. Golden State Killer: Where Is the Prolific Rapist and Murderer Today? Until the end of the trial. Oh 1 more thing I see a lot of comments on pro Diane web sights that say well she drove them to the hospital. I agree about pregnancy and childbirth affecting women differently, and even having different effects for the same woman with different pregnancies. Right after the shooting, little Danny would ask the nurses, , Even Ann Rule in her book, keeps mentioning that, Every time, she said she did not know, they told her to think again and made suggestions. Id like to challenge some of the bloggers claims. It has nothing to do with the facts of the case. She goes on to say that she has deep regret and mourns the loss and death of her children. In high school, she met handsome Steven Downs who saw her for the great beauty she had become. She is currently in prison, serving her life sentence for the murder of one of her kids and attempted murder for the other two. Did Anyone Watch 20/20 Last Night? - Page 3 - Blogs & Forums - QVC She (Diane) managed to jump in the car after getting shot in the arm. Within a few weeks, the kids who had survived were placed in protective custody and were no longer in Steve's care. And, one of them was her ex-husband, the father of the children that Diane had shot. No matter how horrible people think she is. It does not get any bigger than this. It was a dark and rural road. She says she was outside the car n watched the man shoot her children n then the only adult n person who could tell police about him only gets a shot in the arm n takes time to bandage her arm. And Im really not on the fence the little girl was coachedI believe the ex husband , his freinds, and her lovers were invalid either way. It was far fetched, unfoundedand convenientlyrelayedby Rule to boost the sales of her book. Washing soda is your best bet: It includes, among its ingredients, the exceedingly corrosive carbolic acid. Steve was the one who left Diane because he believed that Stephen Daniel, known as Danny, was the result of an extramarital affair that Diane had. You have that part absolutely right, so why was this protocol ignored? A conviction founded on lies is no conviction at all. Page 50 of Case History It does not contradict what I said, but what they said. 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. is this a reason??? And other inmates were released with worst backgrounds. John Shea who played Fred in the TV movie Small Sacrifices even looks like him. Or that they are not even curious about it. Her daughter told the media she watched Small Sacrifices several times. Steve Downs was the husband of the infamous child killer, Diane Downs. The blog tries to bring balance and more objectivity to a case that was TOTALLY one sided and still is. I must humbly admit that I had not questioned the facts of the case before readily accepting this image of Diane as a cold blooded killer. It opened a huge can of worms regarding the real identity of the heart full of lies in this case. Not meaning to sound disrespectful, but you seem to be doing what you accuse Ann Rule of doing. It is not a plus, but it is not a crime either. If you had commented on one of the elements contained in the blog, it might have been enlightening. I would like to raise the numerous issues with this blog. So I did not post your comment about his answer to your inquiry. You are right. Christie NEVER said she didnt know who did it she was just unwilling or afraid to tell on her mother. Evidence from a ballistics expert. It was positive only on a small portion of her upper hand where she said the gun touched her when she wrestled with the attacker (a detail she had mentioned before they did the test). ..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. 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 that Ann Rule took advantage of the situation to sell her book. The two kids who had survived the attack were placed for adoption and Steve was no able to care for them. She was the prosecutions only hope. According to her hospital records, every 6 hours she was given 400 milligrams of Dilantin (which is noted for causing confusion). Reasonable doubt is most certainly lacking. I was a patient of the doctor who worked so hard to save her childrens lives that night. Christie could not speak but after some rehab, she said repeatedly that she did not know who shot them. You seem to believe everyone is innocent. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. 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. Mainly because she is being kept caged due to her name recognition at this point, not her offense. The ballistics, gun, speed at which she drove the car, her demeanor, etc. I base a lot on what I see and hear from her in her own words in footage of a 28 yr old woman. After all, many cases of domestic abuse and even neglect do stem from alcoholism or drug abuse. What about the facts of the case? He then left !his second wife, Charlene, to cohabitate with (and propose marriage to) Diane. The prosecutor would gently shake his head and the good judge would follow with a ruling. Do you remember probably about four or five days after Its a dangerous proposition when a lack of due process becomes acceptable because they know she is guilty. Its as if they cant control it. The blogger continues, I am not one sided. Now if the shooter was this James Haynes guy, someone who apparently Diane Downs knew from buying drugs, then that would explain why she stopped in the middle of that road. Maybe someone needs to read Part two in Dr. Billings in-depth review of the Diane Downs Murder Case in Oregon. What about the affidavits of the guy who confessed to several people? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Foote refused 30 to 50 reports by detectives of sightings or leads about the shooter but admitted reports from people in Arizona willing to badmouth Diane. The tape of Christie and her adoption by the prosecutor are facts. He was one of the few people who saw Diane, not as the outsider, but as a beautiful woman who was anxious to assert her independence. If they could not find the gun or any trace of a shooting on Diane, and you think shes guilty, it would mean she had an accomplice. What about the son saying that man and nurses noting that. I wasnt there and the records will never be brought to light as far as the child welfare case. Diane downs. Im glad you continued to look for more information as time went on. And their plan worked. It was a fairly new science at the time so thats all it took to find him not guilty. It became more about despising Diane Downs than investigating fairly. Mission accomplished: Relevance? she chose to stay with Manson and his misfits. Read More: Where Is Robert Knickerbocker Now? Most get through it fine, maybe some complications or pain, maybe even some post pardum. Guilty or not, the case was handled with prejudice and many errors occurred. Are you looking for more information about Ryan Eggold? 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. The blog tries to bring balance and more objectivity to a case that was TOTALLY one sided and still is. According to Rule and the court, the unicorn was a memorial to her children that she purchased after premeditating their murder. Caught in the act, Hugi declared that Christie only said that because she was pressed for an answer. But Im on track and Im really happy with the way life is.. I agree. If, as Proctor said, it was exchanged right away, and the other Ruger was subsequently stolen by Steven, how was it remotely possible for him to have this info? He has lived a life outside the public eye and hasnt ever come out to give interviews to the media about his ex-wife. Many attribute the conviction of Downs to the arrival of author Ann Rule at Downs' trial. No way. 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. I actually do not know what really happened. The way this investigation and the trial were conducted only left me with doubts. And in fact this would have been about the time that Charlene broke a bottle of liquor that you had. It was half baked escape plans that were more in her head than anything and that the media enjoyed blowing out of proportions. Downs was constantly provoked by inmates because of the nature of her situation, and she never once attacked or defended herself in a violent manner. They rarely are, especially in the US. To have separated Christie from her brother and the rest of the family to be able to get her mom was unconscionable. The police DID fingerprint the car, from grill to trunk and in between. What they did to her daughter is unconscionable. Do not take this so personally. Who is Steve Downs? The story of Diane Downs' ex-husband One of the more bizarre scenes in this farce of an investigation was about to unfold. I like to believe the best about people too but there are certain things that absolutely cant be ignored. What matters to me is that her rights were trampled during her trial. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Kenyas #1 news app. This blogger apparently believes anything she hears to support her inaccurate theory that Diane Downs was falsely accused and convicted. They rarely get a break. So imagine when you are troubled to begin with. In this Battle of Cutthroats, Who has lost their head? The cops admitted that they never investigated the tips about a bushy haired stranger. The story of Steve Downs' children is one of the most shocking to date. Instead of talking about her being locked up for so long, answer some very legitimate questions regarding this case. So there was a transfer, but nothing else was found. So, why didn't Steve Downs get custody? I am so tired of the victims being forgotten. 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. Instead, the person accused of attacking them and wanting them out of her life, fought for them. What?? I hope they have. 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. In her book, Ann Rule made sure to mention that running water was heard by a dispatcher when Diane was at the hospital; insinuating that she was washing her hands and getting rid of evidence. There is a court sketch artists rendering of him in this video. Page 35 of Case History. The case was so one sided that it is about time some of us bring up the other side. In Rules book, Diane is portrayed as a horrible selfish mother but her family and friends saw another version; she lovedher childrendearly and worked hard to be a good provider. 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. 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.. You left and you and Diane Downs spent an evening at a motel? Their first child, Christie Ann, was born in 1974. She keeps her emotions under tight control, presenting only socially acceptable feelings and burying other contradictory feelings.. They made her out to be a monster, but in Beckys case, it becomes redeemable. Mr. Downs must have had a bad feeling about Jagger because before trial, he tried to retain defense attorney Melvin Belli who had the reputation of fighting for his clients and to win all his cases. And it is not like these two were white as snow. A. According to Oregon law, this would have to be supported by a psychiatrists report or a Wardens letter and Diane provided both. I removed the dumb and crass part of your comment. Dianes injury had to be quite painful and shewas in shockwhile driving to the hospital and accompanying the detectives to the crime scene. why didn't steve downs get custody. Whether it tugs at your heartstrings or angers you to the core, these stories could have happened years ago, and they still take up space in your memories. That she had no blood or gun powder anywhere when she allegedly shot at close range? Diane was pregnant during the trial so if found not guilty, how would she have regained the love of her life? The proverbial expression It takes two to tango applies here. Mr. Jagger read the report and said, you were right. What about the judge stopping a defendant from getting a new attorney? Click here to read the complaint. May be the guy who says he did it. The gun problem or the absence of blood and powder residues are not make believe. So appropriate! There was never a real motive for the crime even if the State insisted that Diane wanted to be free to pursue her love interest; using her journals to support theirclaim. I followed the trial. The circumstances surrounding the crimes against these innocent children demand to be used as evidence.. My comment to you Lise is about your reply to a previous comment where you say Diane should have been released by now regardless of her statements. No other shooter involved in her case. The grandparents were babysitting the children often and had several children who were well adjusted.
why didn't steve downs get custody