Christie Downs was eight-years old when she was injured and nine-years old when she testified. He knows as he was in court and must have photos. The first two children were Diane's kids with her ex husband Steve Downs. It was one of the most disturbing stories I've watched. He was very irresponsible and probably could not handle them financially and emotionally. 2. The endorsement was so strong, in fact, that some interpreted it as a roundabout trade request. But the fact that the prosecutor called her a deviant sociopath in court without any assessment became another nail in her coffin. My opposition to movies about true crime stories is unshakable. This video of Jagger absolutely looks like the photo that you find on search engines for Fred Hugi. They should have taken their timeto investigatethis case thoroughly and without prejudice. Nearly every point you make here was addressed and disproved or not even allowed into evidence. Dianes brother, James, sat in court one day andnoticed Foote looking at Hugi before ruling on an objection. Lets not forget that she was presumed to have fired a gun 6 times at close range within the confines of a small car. Basically then at that This happened in 1983, not 1893. The gun problem or the absence of blood and powder residues are not make believe. I cannot be more transparent than that and integrity was one of the missing pieces of the entire case. As usual, Diane had resorted to the soothing comfort of a pregnancy to pretend life would get better; she would create a nest around her, come hell or high water. After asking her to have an affair, he kept vacillating between his wife and her. 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. And the interrogations were not tapedand barelydocumented. The person who shot the kids was leaning inside the car because they were shot at close range. I agree that the phone call from Angel was totally inappropriate. Re Diane Downs I invite reading Synopsis quite similar to above: OREGONs Juridical Small Sacrifices Once again, Diane said a lot of things. Her character was also too much on the forefront. Brewer changed his mind. (Yes, speculative). Why arent you debating the faulty ballistics, and the fact that the gun they affirmed was used in the commission of the crime was not the right one? The prescribed normal dosage for a full grown man is 30 milligrams per day. The blog I read is all about the improprieties and flat out misconduct in Dianes trial (and the way Ann Rule profited off of it with fiction). It is not, nor should be, a Conflict of Interest for a caring adult to Foster one or more siblings. For all you readers of this blogger, I lived through the Diane Downs case. Regina, I love your comment! Steve made some piss poor choices when he had visitation with the kids after the shooting; he permitted them to go off alone with Dianne, when she was not supposed to have had any contact at all with the children. The judge who took away her children presided over her criminal trial. But I know that there were major problems with this case. It is not a hatefest and I do not wish death or life without parole on anyone. Years later, Christie was heard saying by classmates that she did not know who shot her. Even if the nurses notes indicated countless times that the children asked for their mother and enjoyed her visits, they cut them off from the only family they knew and loved; supposedly for their own protection. And if the fact that cops lied about the gun to close the deal did not bother you, it bothered me because this is not due process. So when Dr. George Suckow from the Oregon State Hospital in Salem was called as a States rebuttal witness and he made a professional diagnosis of Diane as histrionics, antisocial and narcissistic, he openly said in court that he interviewed Diane for 1 hour and read evidence presented by the state to make his diagnosis. Hugi got the evidence needed to convict after numerous meetings with Christie. 2 years in foster care waiting to be legally free for adoption is not that uncommon even today. Moreover, he apparently told her that he did not want children and this statement alone would seal Dianes fate. Have you actually read the transcript of the trial?? Everywhere, EXCEPT the door through which Diane reported to police, the male stranger had passed. Page 37 of Case History. She was not in the car when her children were shot. Some cases are so one sided that you feel like exposing or at least, discussing the other side. I appreciate this whole blog just want to give you a heads up. And in fact this would have been about the time that Charlene broke a bottle of liquor that you had. But as usual, it was slanted in the worst possible way. If you listen to the recording, Christie clearly says I dont know who did it. She was asleep, thats why. I lived through the media coverage. Ive not seen the movie or read the book. She was no mother of the year and in the car when the kids got shot. I just tried to find a video or article about Hugi and I only get the one or two that I already have. Something that would never stand in court now. answer the question why didn't steve downs get custody, which will help you get the most accurate answer. I never found a photo of James C. Jagger online. If you want to defend Diane Downs, more power to you. These women did not show emotions and did not fold when asked to. What they did to her daughter is unconscionable. This is an extremely tragic case and her children at the very least deserve justice. Interesting that the article has one of the same elements that Diane perpetrated when she drove to the hospital the night of the murders she made more of a fuss about her arm injury than she did about one of her kids dying and two of them being gravely and permanently wounded. You were not there and one thing I have learned about high profile cases, is that you cannot always believe what the media, biased detectives and Ann Rule have to say. Her case was too public and they are afraid of public backlash. Substituting reasonable inference and evidence for tarot cards? Leslie Van Houten is an example of a woman who probably will never see the light of day because of her high profile status. The kind of TV series that they produce on high profile crimes will make sure to turn public opinion. They both would fall in love and decide they want to marry each other. 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. Ur not showing facts that Ann Rule lied n misled n ruined lives with. I was also stunned that she took the reports of all of Dianes ( mostly married) ex lovers as absolute truth and never once questioned that they might have been lying and retrospectively minimising their feelings for Diane to protect themselves. I still remember my mother picking up the paper and seeing the headline. Of course, because this is what she does when people put her on the spot and ask questions concerning her mother and the shooting. Whats wrong with the system is whats wrong with us. Christie was born in October of 1974 and Cheryl Lynn in January of 1976. She functions best in highly structured environments where she has a sense of control. In her case it seems to be more a matter of punishment. 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. This does not make her innocent. Yet in their mind, she was already guilty. The State had the same gut feeling and made sure she would pay. Washing soda is your best bet: It includes, among its ingredients, the exceedingly corrosive carbolic acid. It can safely be presumed, other children told their parents, and that some of those parents reported the disturbing revelation to states Attorney, Prosecutor Fred Hugi. GSR can easily fall off just by brushing your hand against a surface. The lack of balance and objectivity. Only the people who present ongoing threats to the safety of the public in general are the ones this sentence is reserved for. The two mental disorders that cause excessive talking are Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia. The photo of Hugi I used is the one you find when you do a search online for Fred Hugi who prosecuted Diane Downs. Is it just to continue to punish her so long after she is obviously no longer a danger in any way to anyone? I wish she could get a new look. During his travels, he visited prisons and spoke against this type of barbarism because his father was imprisoned for a debt of 40 pounds and 10 shillings when he was twelve years. Whatever mental illness she has, has gotten worse with each hearing. It was the story of two troubled young souls trying to survive without a safety net. I would like to believe this is the truth. She claimed she . Christie was only eight, had suffered gunshot wounds and was in shock. He could not during the marriage so he walked away. I hope she is granted parole. It opened a huge can of worms regarding the real identity of the heart full of lies in this case. The grandparents were babysitting the children often and had several children who were well adjusted. Cathleen was murdered in Feb. 1982 in her home in Brighton. Almost from day one, Diane was perceived as a cancer they had to remove. Are you still taking comments by email? 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. The way Christie was coached did not correspond to the reality of the direct evidence. Where to begin? Her release was recommended by a warden and a psychiatrist. I see that Downs had a parole hearing in late 2020 but I cant see the outcome. Thanks for posting for readers. Its a rather large part of the story. A fair trial is a right in this country, not a judicial suggestion. I would like to raise the numerous issues with this blog. Q. You hit the nail right on the head. Plus, you do not let a newly appointed judge to criminal cases, preside over a high profile murder case when he has no experience whatsoever and has already prejudged the defendant dangerous to her children. 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. Mr. He freely admitted HE decided to ask for a divorce on his birthday without consulting Diane, who was out of town By the way, this not a Diane Downs is innocent blog. It is a lets examine the facts of the case with hindsight and try to explain some of the inconsistencies and the role of the media and crime writers. And lets wonder why the US think that letting people die in prison is the answer when most civilized countries have reached other conclusions. Rule made up stories to sell books and the rights to a movie. But there were discrepancies; the tool marks did not matchand the detective lied on the stand about it. The ballistics, gun, speed at which she drove the car, her demeanor, etc. And after Diane left Arizona she didnt call Knick to inquire about his love, but rather about when he would repay the $500 (Appendix 81, pages 1479-1480). why didn't steve downs get custody. In 2008, a psych evaluation by L. Williams, Ph.D., Chief of Mental Health at Valley State Prison for Women, explained Dianes lack of emotions and its relationship to her case. Conflicting reports say Downs also acted as a surrogate during her fourth pregnancy, giving birth to a daughter after her trial in 1984. Not meaning to sound disrespectful, but you seem to be doing what you accuse Ann Rule of doing. Children imitate their parents every move. In fact, Knick admits Diane took that gold chain as collateral against a $500 LOAN she made to him. Spending 35 years incarcerated with time in isolation and often as a target is not going to improve mental health. 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. View theaffidavits. I am publishing your comment because once in a while, I need to post the pitiful representation of true crime readers who made Anne Rule a rich author. 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. No conflict of interest from a prosecutor adopting a defendants children 2 years after the fact? ..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. What about the judge stopping a defendant from getting a new attorney? They removed them and proceeded to interrogate the poor girl until she gave them what they needed. Anything less is a conflict of interest. Just state that at the beginning of the blog. Why would anyone think Christie could remember the night of the shooting anyway?? He needed, now more than ever, to vacate the area asap. Its a dangerous proposition when a lack of due process becomes acceptable because they know she is guilty. I agree in both cases they were high profile cases. Growing up, Diane had felt like an outsider and kids had been cruel towards her because of her real or imagined ugly duckling looks and demeanor. Her persona allowed them to build this ironclad narrative when in fact, it was far from definite. My website is in the process of being migrated so it has no photos. Celebrity Author Covers Case Ann Rule wrote 'Small Sacrifices,' later released as a movie. The american system often reminds me of what Charles Dickens talked about in his novels. According to the State, ballistics evidence proved that Diane Downs was guilty. The hell with doubts, ballistics and pesky details about the shooting, we cannot disagree becausethere is hunting and fishing to do and friendships to uphold. Late one May night in 1983, Diane Downs sped into an emergency room dropoff in Springfield, Ore., with a horrifying story to tell. 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). The states own witness, Dr. George Suckow and Dr. Polly Jamison denounced Prosecutor Hugis practice as improper and unethical (Appendix 101 and 104). The lovely Farrah Fawcett who played in the movie Small Sacrifices was known for her epic battles with lover Ryan ONeil. I feel sorry for Diane too. 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 saw footage of Diane herself laughing during the re-enactment of the crime. It surely was not due process. 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