The story of Diane Downs, born Elizabeth Diane Frederickson on August 7, 1959, is a chilling example of the dark reality that can hide behind a seemingly perfect family facade. Growing up in Phoenix, Arizona, Diane was the eldest of five children. To the outside world, the family appeared as a model of conservative and religious values, always sitting in the front pews of their church. However, behind closed doors, the atmosphere was cold and demanding. Diane later spoke of a deep aversion to her father, a postal worker and veteran, alleging that he subjected her to inappropriate treatment that left a lasting psychological mark.

As a teenager, Diane was initially shy and considered unfashionable by her peers, but a significant turning point occurred at age 14 when her parents enrolled her in a "charm school." This experience boosted her confidence and transformed her appearance. She began using her middle name, Diane, and entered a rebellious phase. She met Steve Downs in high school, and despite her parents' disapproval, the relationship continued. After being expelled from a religious college for misconduct, Diane married Steve in 1973.

The marriage was quickly strained by financial difficulties and a lack of communication. The couple had two daughters, Christie and Cheryl, but Diane felt unfulfilled. She sought the attention she lacked in her childhood through various extramarital affairs. One such relationship resulted in the birth of her son, Danny, in 1979. Although Steve knew he was not the biological father, he initially agreed to raise the boy. However, the marriage eventually collapsed, and the couple divorced in 1980.

Diane moved to Oregon and began working for the postal service, where she met a married man named Nick Knickerbocker. She became intensely obsessed with him, but Nick viewed their relationship as a casual distraction. He eventually decided to reconcile with his wife and ended the affair in February 1983. Crucially, Nick had expressed that he did not want to be a father to children who were not his own, a sentiment that investigators believe became a primary motive for Diane's future actions.

On the night of May 19, 1983, Diane arrived at a hospital in Springfield, Oregon, in a blood-stained car. She claimed that a "bushy-haired stranger" had stopped her vehicle on a deserted road and shot her three children. Seven-year-old Cheryl was killed, while Christie and Danny suffered devastating injuries that left Christie with a speech impediment and Danny paralyzed. Diane had a relatively minor wound to her arm.

Investigators immediately noticed inconsistencies in Diane's behavior. She appeared remarkably calm and detached when discussing her daughter's death. Forensic evidence further dismantled her story. Ballistics experts found that the shots were fired from the driver's seat, and gunpowder residue was found near Diane's position in the car. Furthermore, witnesses reported seeing her driving toward the hospital at a very slow pace—approximately 9 kilometers per hour—contradicting her claim that she was rushing to save her children.

The most decisive evidence came from her daughter, Christie. Once the girl recovered enough to communicate, she testified that there was no stranger and that her mother was the one who had shot them. In 1984, while pregnant with a fourth child, Diane was convicted and sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years. Her fourth child was adopted by another family, while Christie and Danny were adopted by the prosecutor who handled the case. Despite a brief escape from prison in 1987 and multiple denied parole requests, Diane Downs continues to maintain her innocence from behind bars.

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