In one of the most chilling and heartbreaking stories of maternal betrayal, Diane Downs, a mother from Oregon, attempted to murder her three children in 1983, driving them to the brink of death in a cruel effort to regain the affection of a man she was pursuing. Her case would not only horrify the nation but also bring attention to the darkest corners of a mother’s psychosis.
What Happened: The Tragic Events of May 19, 1983
On May 19, 1983, Diane Downs pulled her three children—Christie, Cheryl, and Danny—onto a rural road near Springfield, Oregon. With a .22-caliber pistol in hand, she shot each of them multiple times before shooting herself in the arm to stage the scene as a carjacking. Diane then drove her children to the hospital at an agonizingly slow pace, hoping they would bleed out before they could be helped. Her daughter, Christie, was the only one who survived, albeit with a stroke and impaired speech.
The initial assumption was that the family had been attacked by a stranger, as Diane claimed. However, her behavior at the hospital, marked by a chilling lack of emotion, raised suspicions. She showed no tears, casually commented on the ruined state of her new car, and expressed little concern for her children’s fates. A witness also recalled seeing Diane drive slowly after the shooting, adding to the growing doubts about her story.
The Investigation: Suspicions and Confessions
In the days following the shooting, the investigation began to unravel Diane’s carefully constructed lies. Despite initially denying ownership of a gun, police discovered that she did indeed have one. A search of her diary revealed her obsession with a man named Robert “Nick” Knickerbocker, who had ended their affair, citing her children as too much of a burden. Diane’s motive soon became clear: she hoped that by murdering her children, she could regain his affections.
The key break in the case came when Christie, after regaining her ability to speak, clearly identified her mother as the shooter. When asked who had shot her, the child simply and definitively replied, “My mom.”
Diane Downs’ Troubled Past: A Life of Neglect and Manipulation
Diane Downs’ life had been marked by dysfunction and instability. She had divorced her first husband, Steven Downs, in 1980 after he became convinced that their son, Danny, was not his biological child. Despite her failed attempts to become a surrogate mother, she continued to live a life characterized by neglect and emotional manipulation.
Her children were often seen unkempt and neglected, and Diane would regularly leave them in the care of others while she pursued relationships with men. Her affair with Knickerbocker, which ultimately led to her violent outburst, reflected a deeper pattern of seeking validation through others rather than her own children.
The Trial and Conviction: A Life Sentence
In 1984, Diane Downs was arrested and later convicted of the attempted murder of her children. She was sentenced to life in prison, where she would remain incarcerated. Her case became a media sensation, as many grappled with the horror of a mother who could attempt to kill her own children out of selfish desire.
Diane’s actions left a lasting impact on the survivors of the incident. Christie, who survived despite being shot multiple times, went on to share her story, ensuring that the world would never forget the chilling betrayal by a mother who failed to protect her children.
Closing Line
Diane Downs’ case remains one of the most unsettling in criminal history, a stark reminder of the darkness that can reside in even those who are supposed to love and protect their children. Despite her conviction, the damage caused to her children and the lives lost that day will never be forgotten.
