They are the ones who supposedly (according to Diane) screwed her up so badly. She did diagnose her as suffering from cyclothymic disorder and treated her accordingly. Modernism mixed with Medieval state of mind. My question is: why is she still locked up? * Historical, vital, and court records and search results may require an additional purchase.
3) You have a photo of Diane before the parole board. At the point Diane jumped into the car, her broken arm (resting in a sling in front of her) slammed into the steering wheel. Her son ended up in jail and ONeils children accused him of neglect and bad parenting. She functions best in highly structured environments where she has a sense of control. And that Ann Rule took advantage of the situation to sell her book. I agree with your comment. In her book Heart Full of Lies, Rule took so many liberties with the facts that Liysa Northon sued her. No conflict of interest from a prosecutor adopting a defendants children 2 years after the fact? The court can just do an APR, Assignment of Parental Rights. And her mental health should definitely have been a factor to release her with follow up care. The whole family were co-conspirators and involved in the crime? A. While I appreciate your empathy for the victims of this crime, I have to wonder if all murderers should be locked up their entire life? Clickhere to read about faulty ballistics. I just tried to find a video or article about Hugi and I only get the one or two that I already have. The unicorn, the song, her personality. Do you remember probably about four or five days after Downs tried to defend herself against the allegations and said, "Why would I have taken my kids to the hospital? The children should have been receiving therapy throughout. Page 35 of Case History.
If the answer is, to keep the public safe, then I call BS. Not hard to go there. When Downs expressed disbelief at the mans request, she said he started shooting through the window at her three children. My guess is the grandparents were so overwhelmed with Dianes case that they let the system take care of the kids at first. The character of the accused is not the main ingredient, especially that in this case, there was a lot of bashing going on in the media and in court. Moreover, he apparently told her that he did not want children and this statement alone would seal Dianes fate. Other names that Robert uses includes Robert A Knickerbocker. Teams of people and detectives combed the area for months looking for the gun but it was nowhere to be found. Three-year-old Danny was believed to have been asleep at the time of the incident. Related To Dorothy Knickerbock. If there is one thing Diane knew about her lover, is that he was fickle and did not like trouble of any kind. Q. They were the small sacrifices. As was his habit, Knick failed to take into consideration what Diane or his wife had to say on the matter. She had not fired a gun. Except for Paul Cortez. They said she was going slow but the time at which she arrived seems to indicate otherwise.
That doesnt make it true. The ghastly crimes were not perpetrated by a nameless, faceless stranger as she told police, but seemingly by Diane Downs herself. Diane Downs and Alice Crummins were considered sluts and cold-blooded women and were judged on their unusual character. Not meaning to sound disrespectful, but you seem to be doing what you accuse Ann Rule of doing. That disinformation was alleged by Mr. Hugi the third day into Jim Jaggers defense and it was never objected to by Mr. Jagger . Ultimately, the blogger is entitled to their opinion as is everyone else. In fact, Diane had consulted a psychologist after the tragedy and after months of consultation, she was never diagnosed as a sociopath. The board said that her mental or emotional disorder makes her a danger to society. Either way he could NOT have seen who shot him unless he has eyes in the back of his head. This whole tale is just unbelievable. All the reports and even the warden thought she was not a threat anymore. Kumbaya my Lord, Kumbaya.
It is beyond belief that the State of Oregon allowed the prosecutor to adopt those children.
Just state that at the beginning of the blog. So imagine when you are troubled to begin with. During closing arguments, Fred Hugi said that the murder weapon used by Diane was a Ruger, and the state had the model number and the bill of sale. It has nothing to do with the facts of the case.
Yes, but it is a fact that she was starting to say that she did not know who shot them when it happened. So should I put an addendum saying that Diane contradicted herself or was not satisfied with the sketch? College: SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY. Now she claims she was dating an FBI agent at the time, was holding some top secret pictures for him, and she was on the road to meet someone to pass them off, at the instruction of her FBI boyfriend. Diane wanted to wait for her daughter to feel better, be accompanied by an expert and have the meetings taped? She talked to Diane for 15 minutes, there was thebizarre and partialOprah interview that was basically a lets bash Diane event and she wrote to Diane in jail to ask her what she thought of Hugi adopting her children. Christie said that her mother had pulled the car over on the dark, isolated road, retrieved something from the trunk of the car, and started shooting at her and her siblings. A trial should be based on facts and solid direct or circumstantial evidence. I dont disagree, I just think it is another example of flaws in our justice system. The only living witness to the crime was Christie, whose stroke impaired her speech and made her unable to speak to police. The definition of deviant sociopath does not even exist in the DSM-HI: Downs lawyer at the time should have objected as the term was non existent.
What about the fact that they never found the gun? And, while Cheryl died, the other two children survived with terrible wounds Danny was left paralyzed from the waist down and Christie suffered a stroke that left her with a speech impairment. I especially loved reading everyones comments. Go reading US: The American Gulag, 26 Mar 2009 Exploding prison populations in the US serve a basic need of capitalism. Steve Downs had allegedly stolen this gun from a friend named Billy Proctor, but after it was found and the ballistics did not match, Bill suddenly remembered keeping it only for a day before exchanging it for another Ruger automatic at a gun show in Mesa; which now meant that the gun that Diane allegedly used to shoot herself and the children, was still apparently nowhere to be found. And with hindsight, the fact that this young mother had a personality disorder probably brought a lot of drama to the mix. What about the judge stopping a defendant from getting a new attorney? The states own witness, Dr. George Suckow and Dr. Polly Jamison denounced Prosecutor Hugis practice as improper and unethical (Appendix 101 and 104). No gun, no blood or gun residue on her and if she shot them, these elements should have been there. I dont care what Diane Downs says at the parole board hearing, except if she is innocent or guilty. The blog tries to bring balance and more objectivity to a case that was TOTALLY one sided and still is. Anything less is a conflict of interest. I am glad that some articles remain. If Diane was bipolar, the non-stop chatter would have been inherent to the situation: bipolar wasnt a diagnosable condition at the time of her first trial. Rule made up stories to sell books and the rights to a movie. 6. They are set in stone and people refuse to see it any other way. Aint no one gonna tarnish my guys lol. 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.
Diane found with him,the kind of relationship she had never known before: there was actually care and intimacy involved. But there is forensic evidence pointing to Diane Downs. The whole case is crazy. They would have tried to reopen the case. In December 1979, she gave birth to her son Danny. This blog is riddled with inconsistencies, suppositions and a lack of the most basic referencing (e.g. You may leave a message for the family by clicking here. Diane Downs is no exception. I know people who know or knew people is not a valid argument. You read a few comments. That she had no blood or gun powder anywhere when she allegedly shot at close range? What this is evidence of is one more piece of the overwhelming amount of bias that was involved from the start of the case. All the years in prison probably made her way more disturbed than she ever was. It is not a hatefest and I do not wish death or life without parole on anyone. All Filters. I appreciate the way you dont try to determine guilt or innocence in your blogs but instead focus on due process and the right of all to a fair trial. One of the more bizarre scenes in this farce of an investigation was about to unfold. They should have looked for a possible accomplice and checked all the leads. Let me tell you, it wasnt just the investigators and the prosecution that didnt believe herwe, Oregonians, (who ACTUALLY live here and watched what was happening) believe she is guilty.
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As she walked away, Detective Welch called after her, If you dont testify against Steve, youre going to lose everything. Diane turned back to say, Show me proof, and walked away. ..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. That is not a quick process and is very invasive to a familys privacy. I like your approach. 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. Instead, it is Diane who fought to keep her children. Everything matters in a trial and investigation. She got an apartment and I was going to move in with her. And I care about the lack of evidence. This is not my scenario Tasha.
Diane found with him, the kind of relationship she had never known before: there was actually care and intimacy involved. But in the case of DD, there were a lot of elements missing. There is no way that a jury would convict Diane today, based on the clearly coached testimony of Christie. The circumstances surrounding the case were not enough to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Even if I have no doubt that Hugi loved the kids, we have to wonder why he adopted them two years later just when little Christie started saying she had no clue who shot them. From what we know about Becky, she had chosen a difficult path and Diane was trying to warn her. If there is a fair trial and sentencing, I usually dont write about a case, but high profile cases tend to need more scrutiny because emotions run high.
(Appendix 81, page 1466). Legally speaking, we do not go after people because they look evil or crazy. The fact that the judge who presided over the child welfare case and the criminal case was the same individual is absolutely a conflict of interest. Wasnt he the stranger? 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???
It was omnipresent in the courtroom as well as the Duran Duran song, The judge instructed them to continue on to force a verdict.
So Diane did what she thought would bring her the deepest satisfaction in life; she became a mother. She learnedat a young age to keep her emotions in check and to always present a strong and brave front. And the interrogations were not tapedand barelydocumented. Charlene would call Diane at all hours of the day and night to threaten violence if Diane continued on with her husband. Her character was also too much on the forefront.
Except after the idea was subsequently planted in his head only to be alluded to in court, in spite of an agreement to never mention the subject. She has come a long way. I watched the highlights of her hearing. What got her convicted was two things the towel and Christie. What matters to me is that her rights were trampled during her trial. Her lover and former husband testified against her but it did not represent evidence but character assassination. No services are scheduled at this time. She said a bunch of really stupid things in the media (my kids were lucky, not me gets the palm) and basically bury herself. Without the media blast and rush to judgment from the police and DAs office, we might have uncovered the truth. And their plan worked. 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 , Anne Rule made a big deal of a brass unicorn engraved with the childrens names that Diane had purchased. So I start with that bit of history in mind. But Downs' story continued that when she got out of her car to help, the man told her that he wanted her vehicle. Melvin Belli How things could have been different. They lied about the ballistics. Despite the arrival of two daughters, Diane and Steves marriage was unstable, and Diane would often take the kids and leave their home, but would always eventually return home to Steve.
As a result, he decided not to attend the rest of the trial. If Diane was bipolar, the non-stop chatter would have been inherent to the situation. Wow. . Mr. I had never heard of this case and fell upon several videos that had me completely convinced DD was a narcissistic psychopath. And yes, its your site, but dont act like a site is open for discussion if its not. I will post it when I get it. Even more now with hindsight because of the gun and the fact that her daughter kind of recanted by demonstrating that if pushed, she will say what is expected of her. 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. A group of ladies formed a group called HELDD which stands for Help Exonerate & Liberate Diane Downs. SPRINGFIELD, OR Before Charles Stuart in 1989, and before Susan Smith in 1994, Diane Downs made national headlines by claiming that an unknown assailant had violently attacked her and her family, causing outrage and making national headlines. The crucial point is that she is so void of emotion. She knew that Knickerbocker hated trouble of any kind, and thathe would have never come back to her after an ugly shooting where she had been wounded and her kids damaged. It was cited that she keeps her emotions close to the vest. 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. 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. My opposition to movies about true crime stories is unshakable. (This is why Foote was assigned the case. So, were there any other attempted carjackings in the area that night? This really makes me angry, that prosecuter and judge should be sued along with the writter. Mrs. Fredericksons concern for her daughters emotional state was well placed.
Even if I have no doubt that Hugi loved the kids, we have to wonder why he adopted them two years later just when little Christie started saying she had no clue who shot them. Again thats opinion, and neither balanced nor objective. Is it too late to respond to this? Grief researchers say holding that missing funeral service, even a year or more later, can still help us heal. Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. Of course, her mental health has deteriorated. Top 3 Results for Robert Knickerbocker in AZ 1 The best result we found for your search is Robert Knickerbocker age 60s in Phoenix, AZ in the Garfield neighborhood. Mind you, it is before the trial. Robert Knickerbocker in Michigan. Considering that the daughter she murdered will never get a second chance, it will never be long enough unless its for her entire life.
But you dont mention that she again has changed her story.. As an adoptive parent I cant even imagine trying to justify to my daughter our adopting her if we had in any way been a part of the case to terminate her from her bio family.
Maybe she wanted to buy drugs. This video has Dianes attorney, Jim Jagger, at 1 minutes and 20 seconds that might have some good shots.
She was in solitary confinement for years and even escaped from prison once but was recaptured. You seem to believe everyone is innocent. 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. To the authorities, it was a ridiculous notion that they would not entertain so they did not follow on numerous leads coming from people who had seen someone corresponding to that description. Steve also told police that Diane was still obsessed with her ex-lover Robert Knickerbocker, who had eventually put an end to their torrid love affair. Not exclusively a USA trait, this happens also in many countries, but in a technologically advanced superpower like USA this attitude is more shocking, and maybe also more worldwide spread. She was given a life sentence plus 50 years. The towel and a girl who had a stroke, was separated from her family and was constantly questioned without being recorded or accompanied by a loved one and testifying to facts that do not match the testimony of the forensic expert is not being reduced to conjecture? Today, Diane Downs is 63 years old and sits in a California prison.
In the moment of who shot youmy momhave a hard time believing that could be coached. Once again, Diane said a lot of things. Authorities confirm former fugitive, Leticia Smith was extradited from Mexico to California. You do not refute any of the points I made in the blogs. Her 7-year old daughter Cheryl died but her 3-year old son Danny and her 8-year old daughter Christie survived.