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). It was never a slam dunk. I dont know that it could get worse than writing an asinine comment on a restorative justice website that states that only respectful and constructive comments will be posted. On a side note, what do you think of parole of Leslie Van Houton? What man has ever publicly revered a former secret mistress? Not speculative? Her atrocities made national news, but one person that everyone has been wondering about is Diane Down's ex-husband. Diane herself stated Cheryl was asleep on the front floorboard completely covered up with Dianes jacket how the hell did a stranger or a hitman(one of Dianes OTHER stories) KNOW Cheryl was there. When you hear her in interviews she sounds more concerned with herself than her kids. Seeing her giggle and laugh during a videoed reconstruction gave me, as a mother, a sickening feeling. Hed left his first wife to co-habitate with (and later marry) Charlene. The DA that put away their mom is not an appropriate placement choice. 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. In the nurses notes, she is described as in shock and unable to grasp the situation. But before you get too deep into the drug stuff with Van Houten, she chose to take drugs. Your prayers were answered. Diane had consulted a psychologist after the tragedy and after months of consultation, she was never diagnosed as a sociopath. Her father also insisted shetry to help catch the shooter. She was also shot twice andifshe had been sitting up, the seats would have been covered with blood spatter as well as the shooter. What mother takes her kids out at night and then stops for a stranger with her kids in the car? Pay attention: Become TUKO.co.ke ambassador get a branded T-shirt, hoodie or water bottle at our TUKO Shop! After divorcing her wife, Diane Downs, in 1980, Steve was hardly part of their life. I think it posible she brought the kids there to be shot by someone else. It sounds like this was not the case with Dianes children. Just my opinion. It was writtenrepeatedly in the daily notes that the children were happy to see their mom and asked for her. The scene described in Small Sacrifices with little Christie hooked up to a machine and her pulse accelerates because she is terrified ofher mother is doubtful and subject to interpretation. 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. Downs: Oh yeah, I remember the pictures, too. Nobody near to help. Washing soda is your best bet: It includes, among its ingredients, the exceedingly corrosive carbolic acid. Diane, of her own admission, had plenty of affairs while she worked at the Post Office. He still shouldnt have been allowed to adopt them while the appeals process was ongoing, if he had any role in those cases. If you think you would have more influence arguing for better relationships with Mexico at a Donald Trump rally in Mexico, why bother? 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. He said all the police needed was for Diane to bear witness against her ex-husband. None of this is EVIDENCE of anything in regard to the murder trial, and not once did I read that it was. And that is why Diane chose to murder her children to regain his affection. This was very stressful. I point out some obvious facts and discrepancies, and that due process was shoved aside because the state and the media presented a guilty image right from the start. Her attorney, James Jagger, did a poor job for Diane. It was kind of interesting to hear Mossimo Giannullis lawyer pleading to have his client sent home or put in general population because his mental health suffered drastically in solitary confinement because of covid after 56 consecutive days in solitary. They were in their care during the time Diane worked when she moved to Oregon. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. After arriving at the nearest hospital where the nursing staff and doctors attended to the children, the police were called in and her parents arrived promptly. And of course, she added her own brand of paranoia, which is to be expected considering her personality disorder and what she went through. Id have more influence arguing for better relationships with Mexico at a Donald Trump rally in Mexico. People can have a certain vibe and act out of the norms, but it does not make them necessarily guilty. The bushy haired stranger that police had gotten a lead on worked at the country club he was at work at that time and had a sever speech impediment. She attacked her husband and ripped his neck open in a jealous rage (Appendix 81, page 1520), tearing from his neck the gold chain he still wore from his first marriage (a gift from his first wife). I personally dont think she is innocent but that isnt the point. A. more on crime HEARTBREAKING FIND The Office star's sister-in-law found dead 11 days after going missing 'DISGUSTING' 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. There are many cases where investigators jump to conclusions either because in their gut they think they know or pressure to make an arrestand i guess with all the attention this case got they gave their gut and the public what they wanted. When they assess the conduct of an inmate, what counts is mostly how she behaves inside through the years and if she shows violent tendencies. Brewer freely declared that Diane Downs would never have been convicted except that he believed the lie Jim Jagger permitted Fred Hugi to enter into the record. Her lover and former husband testified against her but it did not represent evidence but character assassination. I know several foster parents and social workers. It is said that they didn't go to Steve because he wasn't a fit father or well equipped to take care of children who had gone through such a traumatic experience. What matters to me is that her rights were trampled during her trial. Fitness fanatic, 27, broke her spine lifting weights but didn't realise until she woke up the next morning unable to move - and why her terrifying injury should be a warning to all gym-goers One of the flaws was the relationship between the DA and the children. There were good reasons to look at this mother, but the detective admitted on the stand that they stopped looking at anyone else after two weeks and the stranger on the road became a joke. This case certainly had its share of circumstantial evidence. She managed to jump in the car after getting shot in the arm. then later you ask how diane didnt have any blood splatter on her when she was inside the car when she shot her kids??? At what point during these meetings did she start calling him Dad? 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. Press J to jump to the feed. McPherron: And you had no contact with her . Crime is entertainment and big money so this case will continue to be on the forefront and the same assumptions will be repeated over and over again. She is nowhere near being paroled and if she admitted guilt, I am not even convinced they would release her. You need to have your own voice," she said. So she warns her to stay away. As a suggestion, I would love to see a like or dislike button for each comment. answer the question why didn t steve downs get custody, which will help you get the most accurate answer. Diane had siblings and parents. I hope they have. For all my life I have thought I was not that smart, but now I can tell myself, hey cheer up could be worse. They met for the first time in Moon Valley High School in Phoenix, Arizona. I think she was the only one there that night with her children. The implication was not only cruel, in the light of what Diane was suffering, it was also clear. Pros. I am not saying that Diane was a saint or Ann Rule a demon. Where to begin? I try to bring out the details that were ignored because Down was so unpopular: this blog is clearly one sided. They should have taken their timeto investigatethis case thoroughly and without prejudice. Yep, Downs who was found guilty in 1984, escaped successfully from the Oregon Womens Correctional Center in 1987 and was transferred to Jersey afterwards. why didn't steve downs get custody. How ironic. After graduating high school, Steve went on to join the Navy, and Diane, having a strict religious background, was sent to the Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College. In fact, Knick admits Diane took that gold chain as collateral against a $500 LOAN she made to him. Yes, like many Americans, I think that the US system is barbaric. We make them president. Also on old footage of the trial, as there was no cameras aloud, the drawing of Christie Downs from court artist also complies with the testimony given in the book, as far as her pain and crying. Farrah had trouble with the law because of a passionate love affair with a movie director. We, who watched her parole hearing a few years ago prayed HARD that she wouldnt be set free, know she is guilty. As for how to answer this question,,, seems like he is assuming guilt and because of this my parents or me or my brothers and sister, our uncles and aunts were not considered because of an unproven allegation Does he truly believe this is ok??? Its tiresome. 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. This is a scenario pretty hard to believe, but as they say, reality can sometimes be stranger than fiction. To Lisa Griggs Diane is not a killer or a liar! A. Click 'See First' under 'Follow' Tab to see Tuko.co.ke news on your FB Feed. Click to read The Case of Liysa Northon Who Said True Crime Does not Pay? 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. It is beyond belief that the State of Oregon allowed the prosecutor to adopt those children. There were a few calls and on one occasion,Christie said They just, they knew that, you know, that she did it and I should say that she did it. When asked if she thought her mother did it or someone else did it, she replied, I dont know if she did it or someone else did, cause I dont know. Then Angel says: They told you that was the right thing to do, huh? Christie responds, But like the person, my attorney, and thats who Fred is, that Im living with, hes the guy, he works for me.. I feel compelled to comment on this blog, because having recently read Ann Rules book, I feel exactly as you did. Their haste to go to trial created this mess and lingering doubts. The point is our trials need to be conducted fairly and based on evidence. The kind of TV series that they produce on high profile crimes will make sure to turn public opinion. Charlene would call Diane at all hours of the day and night to threaten violence if Diane continued on with her husband. There were many problems with her trial and that matters. ..maybe it was lack of Internet and cellies *shrug)..years later, my Co worker at burger King (I was 16)told me about the small sacrifices movie she watched the night before. I especially loved reading everyones comments. I still dont buy her story. I do not believe that this type of abuse would occur today. Diane changed her story about the stranger on the road. Foster Carers says either Australia or England to me. As a result, joint legal custody which means parents share in the decision-making 1 is becoming the default decision in many family court systems. 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. Additionally, homicide or assault victims shot by someone else can test positive for GSR.