Diane Downs ~ Selfish Momster & Child Killer Part 3

 

On February 28, 1984, Elizabeth Diane Downs aka "Diane" was arrested and charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder and criminal assault.

Unbeknownst to authorities, Steve or Robert; Diane Downs was pregnant with her fifth child at the time of the investigation and arrest. She had been having an affair with yet another man. She would remain pregnant throughout the trial and just before sentencing, she gave birth to her fourth daughter whom she named Amy Elizabeth. 

The newborn was obviously taken into State custody and adopted; but we shall reveal more about that in the Aftermath section of this case.

The prosecutors did not hold back, they explained that Diane Downs shot her children simply because she wanted to be with Robert Knickerbocker. He didn't want any children in his life, and this was her solution to all of her "problems". Diane had to undergo psychiatric evaluation where she was deemed a narcissist with historionicism and she was anti-social. 

She was labeled a malignant hysteric psychopath (which basically meant she has no remorse for her actions. No empathy for her children; they were more of objects and possessions than being little human beings. She literally would only acknowledge that they were a part of her and her life... nothing more!!!)

Her undoing was when her daughter, Christie who recovered enough to speak and remembered everything from that brutal night. She testified that her mother parked on the side of some rural road and shot her and her two siblings; finally ending the shooting with one more bullet; shooting herself in the arm.

Diane Downs was convicted on all the charges laid against her, and the jury lowered the hammer as hard as they could. On June 17, 1984, Diane Downs was sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years. 

It was ordered that she had to serve a minimum of 25 years, before she would even be considered eligible for parole. Although her sentences were to be served consecutively; the judge made it very clear to the public that he had zero intentions of ever letting Diane Downs live to be free. 

This meant that Diane would not be able to apply for parole until 2009. She was registered as a dangerous offender, which meant she could apply for parole every two years; either until they gave it to her, or she died in prison.

To be continued....