(For more information visit https://www.findlegaladvice.org to read more about personal injury cases.). When then-prosecutor Fred Hugi asked Christie if she remembered who shot her, Christie Downs replied, "My mom.". I get so frustrated when I hear things like that. Multiple accounts of what happened in May 1983 suggest an ironclad case was made against Diane when she was convicted in 1984 of killing her youngest daughter and attempting to murder her two other children. Her first three children with her husband Steve are Stephen "Danny" Daniel (born 1979), Cheryl Lynn (born 1976), and Christie Ann (born 1974). She remained at large for 10 days until she was found with a group of men less than a mile from the prison. Ive been married before and I said I never would do it again. The side of Old Mohawk Road outside Springfield, Oregon. She also said the reason she testified that her mother shot her was because that's what they wanted her to say Friends from Kennedy Elementary School said Christie showed them a picture she drew of the \"man\" who shot them. Christie and Cheryl were a product of Diane's marriage to her ex-husband, Stephen (Danny) Downs. The FBI lists the 'Free Souls' as an outlaw motorcycle gang. I had a great family, a great life. By the time Wilhite arrived, Downs had driven her blood-soaked car to the emergency room. Tim: Right. Wes: Oregon has a way of rewarding people. HELDD. View our online Press Pack. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. That was the start and it has been a long trail since then. Medical records show that while Christie was in State custody, she was given high doses of Dilantin, which is a drug that causes a hypnotic state. Heuksapa Incident True Story, Read also No trace metal. The truth is that all people do not react as expected in every case or situation. No blood splatter, not any sign. At least, that's the story Diane Downs told police. James Hanes had a nickname of 'Animal' and he proved it many times. Downs told investigators that she and her children had been shot in a carjacking, but police found a secret diary detailing her obsession with a. Danny, a computer whiz, is still partially paralyzed from the bullet in his back, but he is living a happy and normal life. Her first three children with her husband Steve are Stephen "Danny" Daniel (born 1979), Cheryl Lynn (born 1976), and Christie Ann (born 1974). Tim: If attorneys who are watching this have any great thoughts, can they email you? He is my ex-wife's cousin. From Fran Werta, there have been one after another that have come forward. Diane Downs children then began to suffer neglect as their mother started going out in hopes of finding a new partner. Three ladies formed a pact to try and get Diane free. As a matter of fact, the governor, two different times, sent letters so she could file clemency, but she says 'I won't do it, I won't confess to something I didn't do, she says 'I'll rot in prison'. State officials accepted that Christie and Danny faced significant danger if Diane escaped again. He and his wife, Joanne, legally adopted the children in 1986. Christie Downs survived the shooting with injuries. The media even refers to it as a minor injury. It was a fairly serious injury wasn't it? With James Hanes, you have a number of people that knew him who have said they believe he is the killer. 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. I was very stern with her.". What happened the night of the shooting was so horrendous, so unexpected, so unbelievable, Downs said in a recent jailhouse interview. Then in April, Diane whisked Christie and the rest of her family away to Springfield, Oregon. Christie is now in her forties, according to Tuko, and the accident left her with a speech handicap. A 27-year-old divorced postal service worker, Downs claimed a bushy-haired stranger had shot them and maintains her innocence to this day. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. stream The lead prosecutor in the case, Lane County Assistant Dist. On Feb. 28, 1984, nine months after the shootings, Downs was arrested and charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder. The bottom line remains: the person who shot the children of Diane Downs would have had several types of evidence on their hands and body that, if discovered, would have conclusively allowed prosecutors to pursue an honest case. 7w7WNe bLvA]=F:yAPcirO. The girl's testimony convicted Downs even though ballistics tests proved she had not fired a gun. "They have grown up in a very happy home with the Hugis.. According to witnesses, she then drove at a pace of between 5-7 mph to the local hospital, where she then claimed to hospital staff she had been car-jacked by a stranger who shot herself and her children. Select this result to view Christie Ann Whitney's phone number, address, and more. Fourteen year-old Christie Ann was left with speech impairment, and 9-year-old Danny is paralyzed from the waist down. The 33-year-old former mail carrier, one of Oregon's most notorious criminals of modern times, also smiles a lot when she talks of a new book, due out this spring, about her trial. w !1AQaq"2B #3Rbr She has never done anything to indicate that she was involved in that crime. See Photos. Christie is now in her forties, according to Tuko, and the accident left her with a speech handicap. Echinus Partners Letter, Christie is related to James Philip Whitney and Frederick A Hugi as well as 2 additional people. She then shot herself in the forearm and drove to the hospital at five miles per hour, hoping they would bleed out before she arrived. Anybody who would want to be involved with the most hated woman in America must be a nut, Downs says. They abide by the ancient Egyptian religion as signified by the Egyptian Ankh on their emblem. Phones & Addresses; I don't know, I get the feeling when I read over this that there is hope still, because it is a ridiculous case. An often cited lack of visual remorse was a big part of what led to her conviction. /SM 0.02 He worked quickly and eventually was able to revive Christie. /ca 1.0 OPRAH IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF HARPO, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2023 HARPO PRODUCTIONS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Wes: He survived the accident but he was in bad shape. Theyre part of my body that broke away, she says. Black Mouth Cur Lab Mix, >> Lizards That Run On Two Legs In Florida, _________________________________________. At 20 years old, Becky found herself broke, homeless and pregnant for a second time. How convenient. Tim: Was there anything suspicious about his death that you knew of? A staff writer for All Thats Interesting, Marco Margaritoff has also published work at outlets including People, VICE, and Complex, covering everything from film to finance to technology. Pelis 24 Hs, "Excellent article?" Orson Salazar Net Worth, For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Diane Downs with her three children Stephen, Christie and Cheryl, Diane Downs is serving a life sentence for the attack on her children, Downs gave birth to a fourth child after her trial in 1984, Christie testified against her mother, pictured, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). The coronavirus puts those hard-won gains at risk.Commercials have driven Hollywoods production restart in wake of pandemic, but some crews and unions say safety enforcement still falls shortTwo were dead, and one was injured after shootings amid protests in Kenosha, Wis. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, was arrested on homicide charges. Becky says she always knew she was adopted, but when she turned 8, she started asking questions about her biological mother. Rosie Revere Engineer Text Pdf, Downs was found guilty on all charges on June 17, 1984, and was . Tim: And the prosecution obviously implied that Diane's gunshot injury was self-inflicted. I just reached a point of not knowing what was real and what wasnt.. In his final days, Jimmy Carter on cusp of a humanitarian goal: Eradicating a parasitic worm, Civilians flee embattled town of Bakhmut as Ukrainian pullout looms. /SA true 8 . I mean, she is so close to death, it's unbelievable.. "She was white, she was not breathing. Los Angeles, Calmes: Heres what we should do about Marjorie Taylor Greene, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids, Video shows Memphis jailers beating Black inmate before his death, Skin lesion removed from President Bidens chest last month was cancerous, doctor says, CPAC shows the GOP has deep divisions heading into 2024, Abortion clinics crossing state borders not always welcome, Black Vietnam veteran awarded Medal of Honor after decades-long wait. Diane Downs gave birth to a girl named Amy Elizabeth on June 27 that same year. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Critics said she deliberately became pregnant in order to garner sympathy from the jury. /Creator ( w k h t m l t o p d f 0 . They actually contacted Diane. They both were Karate buddies, that is how they met. As for Christie and Stephen Danny Downs today, according to Heavy, Fred Hugi himself adopted the siblings, giving them a happy home and loving mother away from the spotlight. The fact that there was no residue on her hands later does not "prove" she didn't fire a gun. The District Attorney, Fred Hugi, convicted Downs and adopted her remaining children. Log In. Hes genuine.. I've never been so hyped in my life.. Well that is the one that has always stood out in my mind, and I know, I've read about the trial, I wasn't there but my friend Eric was there and he's gone over it with me in great detail. Not evidence, not scientific proof. You know, she just asked, How is she doing? Not one emotional reaction, he said. Christie testified in court, \"My mom shot Cheryl then Danny then me.\" The State had been preparing Christie for over a year and she was \"the\" key witness. So, on May 19, 1983, Diane Downs responded by attempting to kill her own children. James Frederickson, brother of Diane Downs, participates in a special radio program Thursday, details below or visit this page. Christie A Hugi . When I looked at Christie I thought she was dead, he said. It was honestly picture perfect. Isaiah Chapter 41 Verses 10-13 . Prior to being sentenced, Downs gave birth to a girl she named Amy Elizabeth. Prison authorities believe she has less chance of escaping in New Jersey because she doesnt know anybody here and would have no place to run. They wear the 1% patch which means that they are the 1% of motorcycle gangs who operate outside of the law. When I hear about three children being shot, I thought, How am I going take care of three people? Because I wasn't afraid of what I needed to do. When Christie Downs regained her ability to speak, the authorities asked who shot her. Their mother pulled over, grabbed her gun, and fired one .22-caliber round into each of her kids. 5) Tim: And this is the prosecutor who, after the case was over, went to work for the same people he had been convicting, or not convicting. 1. Tim: And Jagger didn't use these tools, so to speak? Inside The Horrific Death Toll Of The Soviet Dictator, How Carroll Shelby Built America's Most Iconic Muscle Car And Became A Racing Legend, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. Wilhite said he was immediately directed to start working to save Christie while another surgeon took Danny. Christie Whitney was born on 02/09/1964 and is 58 years old. In Downs' view those escape attempts are evidence of her "healthy attitude about society" and that she is ready for parole. Therefore immediate release from prison decision is past due. He was 'Free Souls' member James Clair Haynes, and he started telling people that he was the gunman (the so-called 'bushy-haired stranger'). %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz Wes: No question abut it, no question about it. Winter Weather Continues Over Oregon's Mountain Passes, Stop Fueling Hate Among Innocent Citizens in Sri Lanka. Apparently Oregon legislators figured the Department of Corrections would be a failed entity if it couldn't rehabilitate its dangerous offenders within 30 years. I hope that she never gets out. Wes: We should have hope, I'm beginning to lose confidence though. See Photos. Diy Pvc Greenhouse Plans Pdf, She was asleep on the back seat like her mother said. She would eventually testify that her father, a local postal worker, had sexually abused her before she became a teenager. Wes: (Chuckles) Yes, unfortunately yes, and I am very suspicious. - Tim King Salem-News.com, Dec-10-2008: Diane Downs Denied by Oregon Parole Board - Salem-News.com. In that letter you requested that the Governor consider your plea that her conviction was a miscarriage of justice.Your daughter has the right to request executive clemency from the Governor. As a reporter I have covered many stories about Oregon's legal system that show how flawed it can be, and how corrupt it can be. Show all locations and family . They have both graduated from college. But Diane and her family insist that the accounts are at best theories reinforced in part by false evidence as well as Dianes calm demeanor and seeming lack of grief due to mental and emotional disorders. I mean, she is so close to death, its unbelievable.. . Types Of Building Structures Ppt, This whole thing is hogwash & those of you that buy it are pathetic. Say what you want about how people handle tragidies differently, because of different "coping mechanisms", but I personally have NEVER seen a parent who loses a child, "cope" like that. However, according to her interviews and Facebook page, Becky today appears to have forged a successful life. Tim: And I don't mean to sound rude but the car was a mess. Tim: After the shooting happened, I understand he was driving a brand new vehicle all of a sudden and that lent weight to the theory that he had been given a pretty big payment to commit the act against Diane and your grandchildren? She says things to me like, Boy, this has really spoiled my vacation, and she also says, That really ruined my new car. Then, at the trial, Diane's surviving daughter, Christie, took the witness stand and testified that her mother was the shooter. Ghost Crayfish For Sale, Dena Reinhardt of Las Vegas, Nevada called Christie when she was in high school. Tim: And this is where your grandchildren fall into the story again with the prosecutor adopting the grandchildren, have you ever heard a story like that? She declines to identify the man except that he is a former Oregon police officer who has since moved to New Jersey. In 1983, horror stuck in Oregon as a mother took it upon herself to end the life of her own children. They have maintained private lives since and have never spoken publically about their birth mother. "They have both graduated from college. /Length 7 0 R With an alleged promise that Knickerbocker would follow when his divorce was finalized, Downs was happy to be near her parents and even accepted a job at the U.S. You don't drive them to the hospital as fast as you can. The eldest of Diane Downs' children, she was joined by Cheryl Downs on Jan. 10, 1976, and Stephen Daniel "Danny" Downs on Dec. 29, 1979. Shes not crazy though.. Crime author Ann Rule wrote on her website: "Christie and Danny who somehow survived their gunshot wounds have no contact with Diane. Before moving to Joanne's current city of Springfield, OR, Joanne lived in Walterville OR. Of course, being married, she has also changed her last name. Amy, who was adopted and given the name BeckyBabcock, went public about her mother in 2010 and has also met her in a bid to find out about her roots. The logic that convicting Downs, centering around her facial expressions, is not logical at all. Tim: Well she's the one who would know if it's not working because she's Wes: So we write her letters instead, we keep waiting every day, we hope to her (from) her - we even got a second telephone, to try another phone, a second telephone Tim: Well I said earlier that I think every person should be able to relate to this. Abaddon Hotel Tragedy True Story, Tim: Yeah there was pressure on him for the drugs having disappeared. Christie, now in her mid-40s, still lives in Oregon, in Springfield, and has a big, loving family. The truth is buried so deep that she doesnt have to think about it. Danny Downs survived but was paralyzed. Hugi Daniel. Arguments over money punctuated their days, while Steves accusations of Diane being unfaithful comprised their nights. Please sign my BOTH Petitions and share it with as many people as possible. Downs, who earned an associates degree in general studies while imprisoned in Oregon, has also completed a book, Best-Kept Secrets, scheduled for release this month by Danmark Publishing, of Springfield, Ore. About 75% of the 350-page book will be direct quotes from the trial transcript, Downs said. And Diane just "happens" to see the DA involved in illegal activity? Famed true-crime author, Ann Rule, provided an update on them by writing on her now defunct website: Christie and Dannywho somehow survived their gunshot woundshave no contact with Diane. The District Attorney, Fred Hugi, convicted Downs and adopted her remaining children. They have both graduated from college. Who Will Himawari Marry, To the shock of journalists and jurors alike, she was visibly pregnant. Wes: Oh I think they perhaps were fair, they reported what they knew but I didn't mean to say that. Thank you all for sharing your stories with me and reminding me why I came forward. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Hong Kong court convicts activists behind Tiananmen vigil, Election conspiracies fuel dispute over voter fraud system, Arizona governor wont proceed with execution set by court, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, Californias snowpack is approaching an all-time record, with more on the way, Latinx Files: In praise of Jenna Ortega, Aubrey Plaza and moody, deadpan Latinas. Christie Whitney lives in Springfield, OR; previous city include Modesto CA. -~#iCV[v/5vP k@|t6/8S@K` /8% ( drxq`H- @wc ~m2L`]'.cV#cJ&7sn{Qbo? While police never found the murder weapon, they found bullet casings in her house and arrested her on Feb. 28, 1984. Tim: Fran Werta is the mother-in-law of James Hanes. Her latest parole hearing in 2021 was denied. They have also lived in Modesto, CA and Hickman, CA. She provides an update on Christie and Danny today, Unlike her siblings, Becky Babcock has been very public about her mother, granting interviews over the years. The writers were doing the best with what they had to work with, but I don't think the courts were fair. But Downs denies her guilt and says the bonds between her and her children remain. /SMask /None>> And he didn't ask any questions in regard to that did he? In a previous article I cited a US soldier who smiled while talking about the loss of his friends in Afghanistan. Pruning Fiddle Leaf Fig Bush Into Tree, Spongebob Trap Remix Loud, After months of physical and mental therapy, Christie Downs was able to take the stand and tell what happened to her that horrible night. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Diane Downs was convicted because she didn't appear "sorry enough" during her TV appearances. Often neglected and abused by Diane Downs, the children were dealt yet another indignity by their mother. Fred Hugi, adopted the children. When then-prosecutor Fred Hugi asked Christie if she remembered who shot her, Christie Downs replied, "My mom." After Downs' trial, Christie and Danny were adopted by Hugi and his wife. Phone Number: (541) 968-**** Arrest Records & Driving Infractions Christie Hugi View Arrests It is possible that the young girl, who the prosecutor, Fred Hugi, wanted to adopt, was well-coached, if not blatantly coerced. Christie and Danny are now in their 30s and have chosen to live private lives. Looking for Whitney Christie online? Tim: But at any rate, he ceased to exist at that point. I'm glad Christie and Danny are doing very well. Christie Ann Hugi, age 47, Springfield, OR Background Check Locations: Springfield OR, Modesto CA Possible Relatives: Daniel Stephen Hugi, Elizabeth A Hugi Christie A Hugi, age 47 View Full Report Address:***** 66th St, Springfield, OR. It's very seldom that does my body tingle like that, he added. Christie Downs survived the shooting with injuries. A copy of that booklet was sent to Diane's new attorney in Salem, Oregon. Christie indicates in that interview that she isn't sure about Downs' involvement in the crime. Seven-year-old Cheryl Downs died at the hospital. They never followed up. << Get the day's top news with our Today's Headlines newsletter, sent every weekday morning. The truth is buried so deep that she doesnt have to think about it. I can't help but have the feeling that the murderer confessed to me, and I was in a considerable amount of danger having crossed paths with him.Detective Welch's case has fallen apart.\"After (Diane Downs' children) Christie and Danny were adopted by the prosecuting attorney(! Hugi lived 66 miles from the prison, and during the ten days Diane escaped, he feared she would try to contact her children. She lives and is from Bend, Oregon, and is single. Jul-15-2013: Midnight Meditations: A Visit with the Frederickson Family - Dr. Thomas Arthur Billings, May-20-2013: EXCLUSIVE: Diane Downs Never Held a Weapon, How Could She Have Shot Her Kids? Daniel Hugi. Tim: Right, and she drove straight to the hospital, which is not the act of one who is trying to take life away. Tom Clancy Movies In Order, She had been shot in the left forearm, though her wound was not life-threatening. Salem-News.com is an Independent Online Newsgroup in the United States, setting the standard for the future of News. Associated Press. At the time, they were the biggest drug dealers in the Eugene/Springfield area.The gunman who they chose was Springfield native Mark Koch, who was a big-time meth cook (manufacturer) closely associated with the 'Free Souls' gang, and maybe a 'Free Souls' member, himself.Pat Horton and the Free Souls were so afraid that they would get caught that they coerced world-famous crime author Ann Rule to write a book that told their story. I went and met with them and she gave me the first affidavit that Diane didn't shoot her children but her son-in-law did. She often enlisted Christie Downs to watch over the younger siblings or left them at their fathers house so she could find a new partner. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. On May 19, 1983, Diane shot the children Cheryl, 7, Christie, 8, and Danny, 3 multiple times at a close range.