Diane Downs
Diane Downs is an American woman convicted in 1984 of murdering one of her three children and attempting to murder the other two in Springfield, Oregon.
Diane Downs is an American woman convicted in 1984 of murdering one of her three children and attempting to murder the other two in Springfield, Oregon. She is known for claiming that a stranger shot the children before investigators concluded that she was responsible. Downs has remained in prison for decades and has repeatedly been denied parole.
Early life
Diane Downs was born Elizabeth Diane Downs on August 7, 1955, in Phoenix, Arizona. Public sources identify her as an American mother who later lived in Oregon.
1983 shooting of her children
On May 19, 1983, Downs brought her three children to a hospital in Springfield, Oregon, after all three had been shot. One child died and the other two were seriously injured.
Trial and conviction
Police and prosecutors argued that Downs fabricated the stranger-shooter story. She was convicted in 1984 of murder, attempted murder, and assault and received a life sentence plus 50 years.
Prison and parole
Downs has remained in prison for decades and has faced repeated parole denials. Recent reporting indicates she continued to assert her innocence at parole hearings.
Key facts
- On May 19, 1983, Downs shot her three children and drove them to McKenzie-Willamette Hospital in Springfield, Oregon.
- Her daughter Cheryl was killed; Christie and Danny survived the attack.
- Downs initially claimed a stranger shot the children, but investigators rejected that account.
- She was convicted on June 17, 1984, and sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years.
- Downs has remained incarcerated and has been denied parole multiple times, including in recent years.
The case has limited direct Canadian relevance, but it is widely covered in North American crime reporting and is often discussed in the context of notorious filicide cases.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Diane Downs?
What happened in the 1983 case?
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References
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diane_DownsSupports: Birth date, 1983 shooting, arrest, conviction, sentence, and case overview.
- ABC News — https://abcnews.com/2020/diane-downs-mother-shoots-children/story?id=10615736Supports: Overview of the 1983 shooting, hospital arrival, and false stranger-shooter claim.
- Psychology Today — https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/crime-she-writes/202512/child-killer-denied-parole-for-fourth-timeSupports: Recent parole denial and continued incarceration.
- Yahoo News — https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/did-not-shoot-children-diane-002951439.htmlSupports: Recent parole hearing and continued assertion of innocence.
- Justia — https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/232/1031/514946/Supports: Federal appellate case summary confirming conviction for murder, attempted murder, and assault.
- The Seattle Times — https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/convicted-child-killer-diane-downs-denied-parole/Supports: Parole denial, sentence, and long-term incarceration.