Diane Downs ~ Selfish Momster & Child Killer~ INCARCERATION & AFTERMATH

 

Diane Downs was exactly what she was labeled as... she truly was a psychopath; never really taking accountability nor responsibility in what she had done to her children.

Diane was put in  Oregon Women's Correctional Center in Salem, Oregon immediately from the courthouse. On July 11, 1987, the brazen woman escaped from the prison by scaling an 18 ft razor wire fence. She was on the run for 10 days literally mere miles from the prison she hid out with a man named Wayne Seifer. She showed up at his door, virtual strangers.

Wayne Seifer was a heroin addict and he had no problem initially letting her in the house, but he felt the heavy burden of trying to keep her hidden inside the house and from her not harming another person. He did however admit that they had a sexual relationship while she stayed there those 10 days. Fortunately for him, the police found a piece of paper in her empty cell that revealed where she was. Surprisingly, the piece of paper was completely blank, but the top sheet was gone and they were able to determine that one of her fellow inmates had given her an address where she could go.

Seifer admits that Diane initially planned on making it a "suicide by cop" scenario, but he was able to talk her out of it and she went peacefully. 

Wayne Seifer didn't get out of this situation unscathed though. He had no reason for hiding the single mother, other than his addiction and drug use. He was sentenced to 5 years probation and 6 months in a restitution center after “pleading guilty to hindering prosecution.” 

Downs received an additional 5 year sentence after she was captured; but she was shipped off to New Jersey Department of Corrections Clinton Correctional Facility for Women. 

(This will bring up issues for Fred Hugi, who was the prosecutor in her trial... I will explain why in a minute.)

It appeared that Diane Downs was trying to better herself, she studied and received an associate degress in General studies. By 1994, she had been moved again, this time she went to California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; moved one more in 2010 where she was in Valley State Prison for Women (Chowchilla, California). The stay there only lasted 3 years because it eventually became an all-male facility.

Although it may have seemed like a conflict of interest, Fred Hugi, the lead prosecutor in Diane Downs' case ended up making this a very personal case for him. Along with his wife, Joanne, they took in and adopted Christie and Danny Downs in 1986. The beautiful thing is that Christie, even though her mother caused her to have a speech disability has gone on to live a full life, marrying and having a son and daughter of her own. (She named her daughter after her sister, Cheryl).

As we already told you, Diane Downs was pregnant during her trial and the State of Oregon apprehended her daughter, Amy Elizabeth in 1984. Amy was adopted by Chris and Jackie Babcock and they changed her name ti Rebecca Babcock. Rebecca reveals when she is older, that as a child, she would write to Diane in prison, but absolutely regrets ever reaching out to her, calling her a "monster". As of 2020, she was still pursuing the quest to find her biological father.

Diane Downs has had a few parole hearings and was denied parole in 2008 and 20102. Her efforts during the 2021 parole hearing were also unsuccessful, and she has not applied for a new parole hearing since then. 

She did attempt to file a Prisoner Petitions: Habeas Corpus (meaning a writ of habeas corpus is used to bring a prisoner, (or for example an institutionalized mental patient) before the court to determine if the person's imprisonment or detention is lawful). These are usually filed as a civil action against usually the prison warden (or anyone who is keeping the complaint in their custody). She filed this is 2022. 

The following year it was dismissed and as it stands, right now, Elizabeth Diane Downs remains a convicted child killer, and will remain in prison until parole board deems her safe to be released or she, herself dies while incarcerated!!! 

As for Diane's ex-husband, and father of her children... Steve Downs has stayed completely out of the public's eye since his ex-wife's crimes were publicized. He never gave interviews when it came to her nor his family. 

The only information we have is that the CPS (Child Protective Services) deemed him unfit to raise their children; especially because of how the children have suffered life-changing physical trauma. It would have been detrimental to their health to be returned to their father.

Let us always remember her children, living and deceased as the despicable acts their own mother subjected to them was both evil and the acts of a very disturbing, self-serving monster!!!

May Cheryl Lynn Downs forever rest in peace. May Christie, Danny and Rebecca be able to continue to live productive lives and never have to fear that Diane Downs would ever be able to come into contact with them again!!!