Can't Look Away: A Mother/Daughter Obsession with True Crime

We examine the case of Diane Downs, the mother who claimed that she and her three children were shot in an attempted carjacking in Springfield, Oregon in 1983.  By the time she reached the hospital, 7 year old Cheryl was dead, 3 year old Danny was paralyzed, and 8 year old Christie was barely clinging to life.  Police began to suspect that the person who was supposed to love them most had tried to sacrifice them in order to be with her married lover, a man who did not want children.

Sources:

Small Sacrifices by Ann Rule

Small Sacrifices (TV Movie)

"Diane Downs: The Mother Who Shot Her Three Children" by Charles Montaldo, ThoughtCo

"Becky Babcock: A Girl's Fight to Escape Her Mother's Crimes", Elizabeth Vargas, Gail Deustch, Alan B. Goldberg, and Jessica Hornig

"Blood Ties (Part 1)", ABC News 

"Blood Ties (Part 2)", ABC News

Farrah Fawcett Interview (1989)

"Diane Downs 1988 Prison Interview", The Oprah Winfrey Show

"Diane Downs 2010 Parole Hearing" 

"50 Years of KEZI 9 News: The Diane Downs Case (Part 1)"

"50 Years of KEZI 9 News: The Diane Downs Case (Part 2)" 

We talk about the rerun of the "48 Hours" special on Etan Patz and the recovery of Jayme Closs!

Sources:

"The Lost Boy: The Disappearance of Etan Patz", "48 Hours"

"Complaint Reveals Chilling Details of Jayme Closs's Abduction, Captivity", CBS News

In our first official episode, we discuss the case that started it all for both of us - the abduction and murder of Adam Walsh, as well as the accomplishments of his parents, John and Reve, who became the country's leading advocates for missing and abducted children.

Sources:

Bringing Adam Home: The Abduction that Changed America by Les Standiford and Joe Matthews

Compilation of News Reports on Adam's Abduction

"Adam Walsh Murder: John and Reve Walsh Re-Live the Investigation" by Dan Harris and Claire Pedersen, ABC

"The U.S. is Still Dealing with the Murder of Adam Walsh" by Olivia B. Waxman, Time

"27 Years Later, Case is Closed in Slaying of Abducted Child" by Yolanne Alamanzar, The New York Times

"Police: '81 killing of Adam Walsh solved", NBC News

"John Walsh Reveals Wrenching New Detail of Son's Death 33 Years Later" by Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter

"Walsh's grief turned to action after Adam's murder" by Rich Phillips & Ann O'Neill, CNN

"Adam Walsh case finally solved" by Lily Echeverria, The Miami Herald

"Cops: 1981 Adam Walsh Murder Solved", CBS News

Ottis Toole Biography, Crime Museum

Ottis Toole Biography, biography.com

Interview with Witness Mia Taylor

Code Adam Training Video

Code Adam Training Video (featuring John Walsh)

Interview with Daniel J. Travanti

John Walsh on His Wife Reve

For Next Episode

Read Small Sacrifices by Ann Rule

Watch Small Sacrifices

In our intro episode, we look at how we got into true crime, talk about a few of the cases that have stuck with us, and discuss our goals for the podcast.

For Episode 1: The Abduction and Murder of Adam Walsh

Read Bringing Adam Home: The Abduction That Changed the World by Les Standiford and Joe Matthews

Read Tears of Rage by John Walsh

Watch Adam (1983)

Watch Adam: His Song Continues (1986)