DIANE

DOWNS

ALLIE HERRMANN PD 6

BACKGROUND Middle class family

Oldest of 4 siblings Had a rough childhood and struggled to fit in because her family moved often

Started disobeying her parents at 14 Against her parent’s wishes she had a sexual relationship with

Steve Downs at the age of 16. Went to college but was expelled for promiscuity Married Steve in November of 1973

They had a bad marriage and Diane would often leave and go to her parents house

Had her daughter Christie in 1974 Joined the Navy 6 months after Christie was born but dropped out

in the middle of basic training

BACKGROUND CON’T Had her second child Cheryl Lynne in 1975 Steve had a vasectomy because he did not want

any more children Diane liked being pregnant so she got pregnant with

another man but had an abortionHad her third child, Danny, in 1979 with another man

Steve and Diane got divorced in 1980 Diane started dating Robert “Nick” Knickerbocker,

he liked Diane but he did not want the burden of her childrenNick left Diane and returned to his wife Diane desperately tried to get him back

THE CRIME May 19th 1983 around 10pm Diane was heading home from a friend’s house with her

three children in the back seat. She pulled the car over on the side of a dirt road in Springfield, Oregon and shot her three children with a .22 caliber handgun. She then shot herself in the arm and drove to McKenzie-Williams Hospital. When they got to the hospital, Cheryl was already dead and Danny and Christie were barely alive.

Diane told police that a shaggy haired man flagged her down on the road and tried to hijack the car. When Diane refused, he started shooting.

Investigators quickly found Diane’s story to be very suspicious.

THE INVESTIGATION Diane’s story continually failed to match the evidence found

at the scene and in the car. Blood splatters did not match her story Gun powder residue was not found where it should have been Diane’s diary was found that stated she was madly in love with Robert

Knickerbocker but she didn’t know what to do about the fact that he didn’t want children

Diane never cried at the hospital and showed no interest in her children’s health conditions

Christie’s vital signs would spike and look terrified when she saw her mother in the hospital

Biggest piece of evidence Christie, who was unable to speak for 4 months because of a stroke from

the horrible night, told prosecutors that there was no stranger and that it was her mother that shot them.

THE ARREST Finally on February 28, 1984, Diane

Downs was arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder, and criminal assault of her three children.

Criminal Terms Murder- the killing of a human being with malice

thoughts. Attempted Murder- the attempt to kill a human

being. Criminal assault- a treat or use of force on another

that causes harm or fear.

The Sentence Diane Downs was found guilty on all

charges on June 17, 1984. She was sentenced to life in prison plus

50 years.

Sociological Theory

The sociological theory of deviance that I think best describes my criminal is the Differential-Association Theory. This is the theory that people’s behavior is largely determined by the company thy keep. Evidence shows that Diane’s motives to shoot her children relied heavily on Robert Kickerbocker. Diane claimed to be in love with “Nick”. However, Nick did not want to have children or have to raise children. This was something that he regularly told Diane.

Diane was with Nick all the time and would frequently drop the kids off at her parents so she could spend more time with Nick. I think this theory perfectly explains Diane because she was clearly influenced by someone to shoot her children. No mother in their right mind just shoots her three children for no reason. Diane’s relationship with Nick destroyed her family, but she didn’t care because she just wanted to be with Nick.

Cultural References Books

Small Sacrifices by Ann RuleDiane Downs: Best Kept

Secrets by Diane Downs TV

Small Sacrifies (TV Movie)