Diane Downs is a name that still haunts many.

In 1983, she was convicted of the attempted murder of her three children in Oregon, and sentenced to life in prison.

Despite the public outcry and her own claims of innocence, she remains incarcerated today. This article takes a look at Diane’s life now, including her current legal appeals and how she spends her time in prison.

Who is Diane Downs?

Diane Downs is a notorious criminal who was convicted of the attempted murder of her three young children in 1983. She is currently serving a life sentence in Oregon, and has maintained her innocence throughout her imprisonment. Prior to committing the crime, Diane was married and had three children: Christie, Cheryl, and Stephen.

On May 19th, 1983 she drove up to McKenzie-Willamette Hospital, where she dropped off her three children with gunshot wounds. Christie and Cheryl both died as a result of their injuries, but Stephen survived despite being shot in the head.

In 1983, Diane Downs was convicted of the attempted murder of her three children. According to prosecutors at the time, Diane had shot each of her children in cold blood as she drove them to a hospital in Oregon.

Witnesses testified that Diane had been attempting to kill her children in order to pursue a relationship with an old flame. Despite maintaining her innocence throughout the trial, Diane was ultimately found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.

Background

Diane’s childhood and family

Diane Downs was born on August 7th, 1955 in Phoenix, Arizona. She was raised by her father Jack and mother Wilma, who were both strict disciplinarians. Despite this rigid upbringing, Diane had a fairly normal childhood and excelled academically. After graduating high school she attended the University of Oregon where she studied psychology.

Early years of adulthood

In 1977, Diane graduated from the University of Oregon and soon after met her future husband, Steve Forrest. Together they had three children: Christie, Cheryl, and Stephen. Although the couple had a strained marriage, Diane was a devoted mother to her children. In 1983, when she was 27 years old, she drove them to McKenzie-Willamette Hospital in Oregon and left them there with gunshot wounds.

The Murders

Description of the night of the crime

On the night of May 19th, 1983, Diane Downs drove her three children to McKenzie-Willamette Hospital in Oregon. Witnesses at the scene described a woman frantically running out of a car with her three injured children in tow. It was soon discovered that each of them had suffered gunshot wounds and that Diane was their assailant. According to authorities, Diane had shot each of them while they were in her car, as she drove them to the hospital.

The victims

The three victims of Diane Downs’ attempted murder were her own children: Christie, Cheryl, and Stephen. Christie was eight years old at the time and her sister Cheryl was seven. The youngest child, Stephen, was only three years old when he suffered a gunshot wound to the head. Despite being rushed to the hospital for medical attention, Christie and Cheryl did not survive their injuries. Stephen, however, miraculously recovered and was able to provide details of the shooting to authorities.

Evidence against Diane

The evidence against Diane was strong. Witnesses at the scene testified that they had seen her running from the car with her injured children in tow. Ballistic tests of the bullets retrieved from the crime scene matched a gun found in Diane’s home, and further investigation revealed that she had recently purchased a gun. Additionally, investigators discovered that Diane had been having an affair with an old flame before the crime, and that she may have been trying to kill her children in order to pursue the relationship.

Trial and Conviction

Court proceedings

The trial of Diane Downs began in August of 1983, with Diane maintaining her innocence throughout. The prosecution argued that Diane had shot her three children in cold blood in order to pursue a relationship with an old flame. In addition to witness testimonies, the prosecution presented ballistic evidence linking a gun found at Diane’s house to the bullets retrieved from the crime scene. After a week-long trial , Diane was ultimately found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.

Diane’s defense

Diane’s defense argued that she had not shot her children, but rather that a stranger had attacked them and then fled the scene. To support this claim, Diane’s defense team attempted to introduce testimony from an alleged eye witness who claimed to have seen a man running away from the car shortly after the shooting. However, this witness was deemed unreliable by the court and her statement was not accepted as evidence.

Jury’s verdict

The jury’s verdict in the Diane Downs trial was unanimous: guilty of three counts of attempted murder. After hearing all evidence presented by both the prosecution and defense, the jury determined beyond a reasonable doubt that Diane had shot her own children in an attempt to free herself from motherhood and pursue a romantic relationship. The guilty verdict resulted in a life sentence for Diane, with no possibility of parole.

Life in Prison

Sentencing

Diane was sentenced to life in prison with no hope of parole. In addition to her life sentence, she also had to pay a fine of $13,500 and serve five years on probation. Despite her conviction, Diane consistently denied having committed any wrong-doing and maintained her innocence throughout her sentence. Over the years she has filed multiple appeals in an attempt to get her case overturned, all of which have been unsuccessful.

Diane’s prison experience

Diane’s experience in prison has been filled with hardships. During her time in jail, she has faced numerous physical and psychological challenges as she adjusts to life behind bars. In addition to the boredom of daily confinement, Diane also struggles with depression and isolation from the outside world. She is only allowed occasional visitation from family members and close friends. Despite these difficulties, however, Diane remains resilient and continues to fight for her freedom.

Attempts at appeal

Despite her conviction, Diane has maintained her innocence and has attempted to appeal her case multiple times over the years. In 1994, Diane filed an appeal which argued that the prosecution’s evidence had been insufficient to prove her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This appeal was ultimately rejected due to lack of new or compelling evidence. In addition, Diane also submitted a writ of habe as corpus, which was denied by the court. While Diane’s attempts to appeal have been unsuccessful thus far, she remains hopeful that her case will eventually be overturned and she will be released from prison.

Aftermath

Media attention

The Diane Downs case has received a great deal of media attention since her conviction in 1983. From news specials to books and interviews, the trial and aftermath of Diane’s crime have been highly publicized. This media attention has created an image of Diane as a cold-hearted criminal, which is often used to sensationalize the story for ratings or book sales. Her story has also been adapted into multiple films and television shows, further perpetuating the idea of Diane Downs as a villain.

Impact on the community

The impact of the Diane Downs case on the local community was immense. Many within the Eugene, Oregon area were shocked and horrified by her crime, and many struggled to come to terms with the fact that a mother could commit such an act. This tragedy also had far-reaching implications for how parents viewed their role in protecting their children. It was a stark reminder of how crucial it is for their children’s.

Diane’s legacy

Diane’s legacy is one of tragedy and sorrow. Her crime left a deep scar on the local community, and it also had far-reaching implications for how parents view their role in protecting their children. Diane’s story serves as a reminder that even the people who are closest to us can be capable of doing terrible things. Although her life sentence means she will never again be free, her story continues to remind us of how precious life is and the importance of cherishing those we love.

Conclusion

Final thoughts

The story of Diane Downs is one that will continue to haunt us for years to come. Her crime was a tragedy not only for the victims and their families, but also for the community as a whole. Despite her conviction and sentence, Diane has maintained her innocence and continues to fight for her freedom. This case serves as an important reminder of how even those closest to us can be capable of committing terrible acts, and it has left an indelible mark on how society views crime and punishment.

Lessons learned from the case

The Diane Downs case has taught us a number of important lessons about crime and punishment. Perhaps the most essential lesson is that no one should be presumed guilty until proven otherwise in a court of law. In addition, this tragic case also serves as a reminder of how quickly tragedy can strike, even within the closest of relationships. The consequences of Diane’s horrific crime are still being felt today, and they serve to remind us all of the importance of cherishing those we love.