DIANE Downs is serving a life sentence for horrific crimes she committed against her own children. She sees a camera and her whole world brightens, says Ann Rule, a Seattle-based author whose book, Small Sacrifices, about the Downs case rode the best-seller list of the New York Times for 25 weeks last year. It was a fairly serious injury wasn't it? 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. His real 'crime' was blowing the whistle on racist hate crimes while employed at the state prison. Where are Danny and Christie Downs now? All the latest details Then, learn about Susan Smith, the woman who drowned her children in a lake. Christie Whitney is 48 years old today because Christie's birthday is on 10/07/1974. Then in April, Diane whisked Christie and the rest of her family away to Springfield, Oregon. How could the truth hurt the kids? Downs says. See Photos. Prosecutors charged that the children were shot because Downs believed they interfered in her relationship with a boyfriend who did not want to be a father. Hospital employees determined that then-7-year-old Cheryl was already dead and that then-8-year-old Christie and then-3-year-old Danny were clinging to life. She told me the same story a few years earlier.Diane is still in prison.Links:http://www.dianedowns.com/CHRISTIE%20DOWNS.htmhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/isdianedownsinnocenthttps://www.facebook.com/groups/DianeDowns She would eventually testify that her father, a local postal worker, had sexually abused her before she became a teenager. Daniel Hugi. 4 Piece Sectional With Cuddler, I think his intention was to get out of it as easy as he could. She replied simply, My mom. The trial of Diane Downs began in Lane County on May 8, 1984. Facebook gives people the. See Photos. You had quite a dazzling career with the Postal Service didn't you? Christie grew up in a family with her mom and dad and two siblings, Cheryl and Danny, and it appeared that they never had an issue. The truth is buried so deep that she doesnt have to think about it. See Photos. The City And The Pillar, Google Gravity Underwater, Karl Logan Wife, On May 19, 1983, Diane shot the children Cheryl, 7, Christie, 8, and Danny, 3 multiple times at a close range. Even though Rule never interviewed Downs, she wrote a book and signed a subsequent movie deal, casting her as guilty. POST-TRIAL EVIDENCE IN THE 1983 CASE OF DIANE DOWNS:Many years after Diane Down's trial, additional evidence surfaced. When Stephen was born, his father wasnt even sure the boy was his. View our online Press Pack. And I said to her, We don't know that. Danny is said to be going about his daily routine, but specifics regarding his personal life, such as his spouse and children, have remained a mystery, according to Tuko. A copy of that booklet was sent to Diane's new attorney in Salem, Oregon. The State had been preparing Christie for over a year and she was "the" key witness. christie hugi whitney - Leading Edge Flying Club Wes: (Chuckles) Yes, unfortunately yes, and I am very suspicious. OPRAH IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF HARPO, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2023 HARPO PRODUCTIONS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. "They have both graduated from college. 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. I don't think you can wash off those residues. It consisted of Vicki, Sally and Dena. Conflicting reports say Downs also acted as a surrogate during her fourth pregnancy, giving birth to a daughter after her trial in 1984. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. They keep people who should be free, release people who should be jailed. Because she seemed "aloof". Daniel Hugi. %PDF-1.4 Login. The Watsons Go To Birmingham Chapter 14 Summary, I was afraid of how am I going to handle all this? he added. About. Tim: That seems like it should bring a trial by itself, a new trial, right? She remained at large for 10 days until she was found with a group of men less than a mile from the prison. In this sense it is the ultimate expression of being convicted in the media and because it involved the violent death of a child, the official story outrages those exposed to it, and so little was done for Downs by the media, the courts, or even her own attorney. According to ABC, Wilhite recalled knowing within 30 minutes of speaking to their mother that the 28-year-old was guilty. See Photos. [Oregon]. Login about (866) 961-3665. Christie is married and had a baby boy in 2005. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. How Did The Evangelical Churches Spread Their Religion To Unsettled Areas, Wes: No. We had people in several cities that would have taken them, that were family members. How can the truth hurt anybody unless theyre a liar?. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. All comments and messages are approved by people and self promotional links or unacceptable comments are denied. They just choose to ignore it, and that way with nothing said they don't have to do anything about it. After Downs trial, Christie and Danny were adopted by Hugi and his wife. They actually contacted Diane. Tim: Well the newspaper, the Eugene Register Guard, they covered parts of the story that showed they were trying to be fair, do you agree with that? 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. Christie is now in her forties, according to Tuko, and the accident left her with a speech handicap. She had been shot in the left forearm, though her wound was not life-threatening. Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheSunUSand follow us from our main Twitter account at@TheSunUS, I saved myself from Royal life, Harry says & insists 'sharing's an act of service', Love Island's Olivia Hawkins breaks silence as she returns to the UK, Loose Women star lined up to be Strictly's first contestant in wheelchair, Coronation Street fans horrified as Amy Barlow is raped in disturbing scenes, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Tim: So that is Fran Werta, the mother-in-law, his partner that you just mentioned. Danielle Peterson/Statesman Journal via AP, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Nov 02, 2008 #1. The District Attorney, Fred Hugi, convicted Downs and adopted her remaining children. It was honestly picture perfect. Isaiah Chapter 41 Verses 10-13 . endobj Tim: Let's talk about Oregon for just a moment. %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz While police never found the murder weapon, they found bullet casings in her house and arrested her on Feb. 28, 1984. Therefore immediate release from prison decision is past due. Join Facebook to connect with Christie Whitney and others you may know. Human beings possess different personal mechanisms for dealing with trauma and pain. Unfortunately for the trio of toddlers, their parents Steve and Diane Downs were already verging on a bitter divorce. -~#iCV[v/5vP k@|t6/8S@K` /8% ( drxq`H- @wc ~m2L`]'.cV#cJ&7sn{Qbo? One died; two survived but had serious injuries. Ffxiv The Stewards Of Note, Rule has written a number of extremely successful books that trace the crimes of famous serial killers, men like Ted Bundy, who had been a personal friend of Ann Rule's years prior to her work involving Downs. 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? I wonder how those reporters would feel if they had a bullet through their arm. Salem-News.com is an Independent Online Newsgroup in the United States, setting the standard for the future of News. And he didn't ask any questions in regard to that did he? And Christie knew that.. Tim: So how often do you hear from Diane? Diane Downs' Daughter Christie Speaks Out and More Post-Trial - YouTube Christie, now in her mid-40s, still lives in Oregon, in Springfield, and has a big, loving family. 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'. Diane Downs' Children Now: Christie, Danny & Becky Today 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. I believe that Mr. Harcleroad lied to Ms. Wes: Yeah, I wish there was some way around it. Wes Frederickson, father of convicted murderer, Diane Downs. The book by Rule, titled 'Small Sacrifices,' was later made into a movie starring Farah Fawcett. 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. 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. The Barber Of Seville Lyrics, Sometimes Joanne goes by various nickname including Joanne R Hugi. Wes: I think that he had several opportunities just like that and he just 'No further questions'. Downs repeated the process in February 1983, however, and spent three days at a fertility clinic in Louisville, Kentucky. Read More on The US Sun The best result we found for your search is Christie Ann Whitney age 40s in Springfield, OR. The baby was taken by the state and delivered to adoptive parents. UNLOCK PROFILE. Arguments over money punctuated their days, while Steves accusations of Diane being unfaithful comprised their nights. 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. Tim: Yup, and then Horton went on to no longer be a prosecutor but to be a representative of the very people he had been Wes: Yeah, I think he had to leave, because the pressure was on. 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. Find your friends on Facebook. Danny, a computer whiz, is still partially paralyzed from the bullet in his back, but he is living a happy and normal life. christie hugi whitney 2020; The Diane Downs' Case Was no Small Sacrifice - Crime Website; Christie, Danny & Becky Today (Jan 26, 2021) Learn about Christi (Hugi), Stephen (Danny), and Becky today. Despite the correctional facility introducing security upgrades, Hugi lobbied for Diane's transfer to another state. Wilhite said he was immediately directed to start working to save Christie while another surgeon took Danny. _________________________________________. Her adoptive parents called her Rebecca Becky Babcock. See Photos. /Producer ( Q t 4 . Wes: Three hundred and sixty three I think it was pages. Gao Weiguang And Dilraba Dilmurat Drama, 1. Summary: Joanne Hugi is 77 years old and was born on 03/26/1943. Hes genuine.. However in discussions with Downs' brother James Frederickson, it became clear that the girl very likely did see her mother outside of the car, as Downs testified that she was standing adjacent to the car's window. They wear the 1% patch which means that they are the 1% of motorcycle gangs who operate outside of the law. After months of physical and mental therapy, Christie Downs was able to take the stand and tell what happened to her that horrible night. << When Wilhite went to go update Downs on her daughters condition, he said he was surprised by her reaction. But what happened to her kids, Christie Ann and Stephen "Danny" Daniel? Select this result to view Christie Ann Whitney's phone number, address, and more. Where is Diane Downs now? Her life in prison - TheNetline David King Donald Edwin King, Boggled that all of these facts and evidence were over looked and boggled that I have seen how corrupt the court system is first hand. Tim: I think anyone who has watched this story knows that you've stood by her from the beginning of this whole thing, and you're still standing by her today, still hoping. Of course, being married, she has also changed her last name. Convinced it was because of her children, Diane Downs shot Christie Downs and her siblings six weeks later during a seemingly ordinary drive on Old Mohawk Road on May 19, 1983. As for Danny, he has kept his life private. The defense, meanwhile, relied on the idea that a bushy-haired stranger was to blame. Her first three children with her husband Steve are Stephen "Danny" Daniel (born 1979), Cheryl Lynn (born 1976), and Christie Ann (born 1974). 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. Despite her difficult start, Becky was adopted and says she had a good childhood. James Hanes had a nickname of 'Animal' and he proved it many times. Epstein And Clinton, 105 Followers, 77 Following, 20 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Christie Whitney (@christiewhit18) No mention of the gang was ever mentioned in any court proceedings.The 'Free Souls' is a Scottish Rite Freemasonic motorcycle gang that was established in Eugene, Oregon (near Eugene) in 1968. They have also lived in Modesto, CA and Hickman, CA. And I've called and they say 'no it's not blocked' but she keeps telling me it is blocked. 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. Diane Downs children, Christie Downs (standing), Stephen Danny Downs (left), and Cheryl Downs (right). Feng Shui House On Curved Road, With James Hanes, you have a number of people that knew him who have said they believe he is the killer. "I made the hardest decision I've ever had to make," she says. When I looked at Christie I thought she was dead, he said. During the trial, the state brought out their star witness, Downs' 8-year old daughter Christie. Will Dominion-Fox News lawsuit be different? Tim: In your mind they knew just what they were going to do before the trial even started that they were going to have their conviction? Parrot Security Vs Kde Edition, In the past, Christie has also been known as Christie A Hugi and Christie A Whitney. Mother of Diane Downs Asks Oregon Governor to Review Case and 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. Wes: They didn't have him testify in court, but in the hospital he asked 'why that man shot me, why that man shot me?'. Wes: If she had been sitting behind the driver's seat as she said, the trajectory would have been downward and there would have been spray all over, blood spray all over the seat, and it was not. Log In. After being in state custody for several months, the girl testified that her mother shot her and the other two children. However, according to her interviews and Facebook page, Becky today appears to have forged a successful life. Christie Ann Downs was born on Oct. 7, 1974, in Phoenix, Arizona. 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). (DALLAS, Texas) - 30 years have passed, but the parents of Diane Downs, Wes and Willadene Frederickson, still remain hopeful that their daughter can find justice in Oregon's courts for a wrongful conviction and life sentence. When Downs went on trial in May of that year, she was pregnant again. The couple happily reunited in Phoenix and eloped on Nov. 13, 1973, determined to start a family. Christie is related to James Philip Whitney and Frederick A Hugi as well as 2 additional people. After months of physical and mental therapy, Christie Downs was able to take the stand and tell what happened to her that horrible night. There is a facebook discussion group on the case I created quite recently here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DianeDowns/ Excellent article Tim. The Week in Photos: California exits pandemic emergency amid a winter landscape, Column: Did the DOJ just say Donald Trump can be held accountable for Jan. 6? Shes not crazy though.But Downs denies her guilt and says the bonds between her and her children remain.Theyre part of my body that broke away, she says. w !1AQaq"2B #3Rbr Becky says she always knew she was adopted, but when she turned 8, she started asking questions about her biological mother. Wes: Oh I think they perhaps were fair, they reported what they knew but I didn't mean to say that. By the time she arrived at the hospital, Cheryl, seven, was already dead and the other two children had suffered devastating injuries. Christie A Hugi . By the time Wilhite arrived, Downs had driven her blood-soaked car to the emergency room. Diane Downs was 25 years old and seriously neglectful of her children. 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. My Daughter is the most precious gem in the world to me, and I would take a bullet for HER!!! Echinus Partners Letter, 8 . Wilhite, a general surgeon, checked the page -- in those days you didn't have cell phones, he said -- and was instantly filled with dread and adrenaline. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. "Excellent article?" Christie Whitney Profiles | Facebook Her pupils were dilated. "My mom told me that she was in prison, that there was a book about her and when I was old enough, she would tell me more," Becky says. The writers were doing the best with what they had to work with, but I don't think the courts were fair. You know he was shaking his head as a young reporter throughout the whole thing. James Frederickson, brother of Diane Downs, participates in a special radio program Thursday, details below or visit this page. Christie and Danny are now in their 30s and have chosen to live private lives. My daughter is very strange that way, she is curious to find out what she shouldn't find out. 100 Easy Things To Draw When Your Bored, Tim: I understand it broke the bones, (in her forearm) not one but both, both bones. We found 38 with the name Christie Whitney in 167 cities. In a recorded telephone interview, h. << 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. /Type /XObject All independent from everything else we are talking about. They never followed up. Wes: He was in a motorcycle accident out near his place, in the country in Springfield, actually Junction City. I mean, she is so close to death, it's unbelievable.. Tim: And his wife became a judge right after this? Christie Downs, The Girl Who Survived Being Shot By Her Own Mother Daniel Hugi. (Featured Image Credit: ABC News / 20/20). "I decided to put [my son] up for adoption.". They told me that he was picked up by the police near the crime scene, and he was released that same night. The gun at the trial was proven to not be the murder weapon when it showed up in a drug bust years later. If youre here because youre curious to know where the surviving children are now, youve come to the right place. I dont believe she has any emotion for her children beyond the fact that theyre her possession and somebody took them away from her.. "Danny, a computer whiz, is still partially paralyzed from the bullet in his back, but he is living a happy and normal life. In fact, Downs would have already been released if she admitted to the crime, but she refuses, she will spend the rest of her life in prison before making that claim, she says. But hes not a wacko. Another is the former prison guard, William Coleman, who faced 40 years on false charges at one point, but was found not guilty of Oregon's charges by a unanimous jury verdict. Wilhite said he and the hospital staff who worked on the Downs kids on that horrific May night were not surprised by the outcome of the case. 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? 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. Get the day's top news with our Today's Headlines newsletter, sent every weekday morning. (For more information visit https://www.findlegaladvice.org to read more about personal injury cases.). Dena Reinhardt of Las Vegas, Nevada called Christie when she was in high school. Daniel Hugi. Wes: Yes, Fred Hugi was prosecutor, and the state awarded him the children. The girl's testimony convicted Downs even though ballistics tests proved she had not fired a gun. I have read through this several times now and my mind is just boggled. Heuksapa Incident True Story, How Many People Did Stalin Kill? Looking for Whitney Christie online? Christie Hugi in Springfield, OR | PeekYou Diane Downs was convicted because she didn't appear "sorry enough" during her TV appearances. Mark also told me that he and his brother, Mike Koch were well-known meth cooks (manufacturers of methamphetamine) during that time period (1983). Grapes Of Wrath Chapter 29 Quotes, Following the crimes, she told police that a \"bushy-haired stranger\" had flagged her down, attempted to carjack her, shot the children, and herself, and then she drove directly to the hospital in Springfield. In May of that year, Downs shot her three children in her car at a remote roadside in Springfield, Oregon, before shooting herself in the forearm, cops said. Christie Downs: The 8-Year-Old Who Survived Being Shot By Her Mom Sign Up. Types Of Building Structures Ppt, But what do you say to the average person who is sitting there watching this going, 'But you know, this is a court, this is a it is corrupt isn't it? Her pupils were dilated. It is possible that the young girl, who the prosecutor, Fred Hugi, wanted to adopt, was well-coached, if not blatantly coerced. "She was white, she was not breathing. Father of Diane Downs Remains Vigilant After 30 Years (VIDEO) Wes: Well she was actually followed from the site back there by someone, I don't remember the name now, it is in the record as she made her way to town, so they verified that she came that route. Lead prosecutor Fred Hugi argued she shot her kids to revive the affair with Knickerbocker. You know, she just asked, How is she doing? Not one emotional reaction, he said. Watch the full story on "20/20" THIS FRIDAY, March 22 at 9 p.m. He is my ex-wife's cousin. On page 32 of that (transcribed) conversation, Dena Reinhardt continues her very long conversation with Christie \"Or do you think she really, you think she really didn't do it, huh? She went to the University of Oregon and now lives with her husband and children in the town. She then told police that a bushy-haired stranger had shot them during a failed carjacking. He was protected by the 'Free Souls' until the day that he died.In about 2011, Mark Koch confessed to me that he was the 'bushy-haired' stranger. Email Address: c XEWU @yahoo.com +8 emails. In 2005, she gave birth to her first child, a boy, and later gave birth to a daughter who she named Cheryl after her sister. Wes: Look at the circumstances, the report was from the court, not what the judge said, but what the investigators found. See Photos. Wes: We should have hope, I'm beginning to lose confidence though. Frederickson says evidence clearly proves his daughter could not have shot her children. They both were Karate buddies, that is how they met. Before moving to Joanne's current city of Springfield, OR, Joanne lived in Walterville OR. Wes: One of the things they had in there was, an employee at the Westside Post Office says he knows who shot Diane and the kids. Beeper goes off, said, Get in here. She not only married her high school sweetheart but had three healthy children: Christie Downs, Cheryl Lynn Downs, and Stephen Danny Downs. The Middle Season 9 Dailymotion, Bmw N62 Engine Problems, They have both graduated from college. . Eventually, the man she found, Robert Knickerbocker, had no interest in being a daddy and broke things off. People named Daniel Hugi. In prison, Elizabeth Diane Downs' imagination runs free We've got three children who have been shot, Wilhite told 20/20. And my whole body just tingled. Pruning Fiddle Leaf Fig Bush Into Tree, The DA, Fred Hugi, adopted both of Downs' surviving children, and though it seemed an odd move, reporters made little of that massive conflict of interest. Modesto, CA Hickman, CA The lead prosecutor in the case, Lane County Assistant Dist. Tim: Right. Tim: And Jagger didn't use these tools, so to speak? There's very few cases quite like this one, he said. Wilhite said he also noticed that when Downs went to visit Christie in the recovery room, her stats would spike. She's doing well. Sellers correcting some of the . Wes: We didn't receive any consideration. At least, that's the story Diane Downs told police. However, she was ultimately expelled for promiscuity within a year, according to The Sun. 4 0 obj Tom Clancy Movies In Order, 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. My parents wanted us to prosper, to learn and to grow, she told ABC. And she's not. Frederick has many family members and associates who include Christie Whitney, Elizabeth Hugi, Daniel Hugi and Joanne Hugi. Christie is now in her forties, according to Tuko, and the accident left her with a speech handicap. Tim: It is completely amazing that that was not allowed in court, that would have Wes: The nurse wrote it down in the hospital records. Folded in such a way that suggested that she put down a towel . So now they blame some guy that's dead & can't defend himself? White also would not identify him.She said the couple are in the preliminary stages of applying for permission to marry. White also would not identify him.She said the couple are in the preliminary stages of applying for permission to marry.

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