The fact that she and her brother Danny were eventually adopted by Fred Hugi who prosecuted Diane Downs is the most blatant case of conflict of interest I have ever heard of. I feel sorry for Diane too. This whole case is flawed. It was omnipresent in the courtroom as well as the Duran Duran song, The judge instructed them to continue on to force a verdict. I care about the experts reports written about Diane because they know her situation and mental state. Foote denied the motion and declared you have an attorney, use him.. A trial should be based on facts and solid direct or circumstantial evidence. I do not post rude comments. I felt there was something that should be done, but I was at a loss in how to cope with the Court that had given the children to the prosecutor and allowed false testimony to seal her fate. Arizona's governor, AG, condemn as 'barbaric' induced labor of . Anyways, I was 10 years old when this happened, I stayed with my aunt and uncle a lot in those years, in which they watched A LOT of nightly news programs.lol most of it was like white noise to me, as I would play with my barbies on their living room floorbut I do remember this story. Thanks for the link. My website is in the process of being migrated so it has no photos. Diane was found guilty and sentenced to life and she has been in prison ever since. Robert calls Tucson, AZ, home. Sad situation. Being a patient of the doctor who saved the childrens lives has nothing to do with the facts of a case. The detectives took Diane to the crime scene and were able to retrieve shell cases on the ground where the incident happened. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Q. Almost immediately, police suspected that something was amiss. So many of the cases Lise writes about on this blog either have no forensic evidence that supports the verdict or have very misleading forensic evidence that may or may not support the verdict, depending on who is interpreting it. Thanks again for bringing this to my attention. Uncover details about birth, marriage, and divorce. Foote refused 30 to 50 reports by detectives of sightings or leads about the shooter but admitted reports from people in Arizona willing to badmouth Diane. Join Facebook to connect with Robert Knickerbocker and others you may know. Susan, I dont know if there ever was a lawsuit against Ann Rule from the Fredericksons family. The whole blog claims the trial was flawed. She wrote to the governor several times after being dismissed coldly by Hugi and the system. While I appreciate your empathy for the victims of this crime, I have to wonder if all murderers should be locked up their entire life? View the profiles of people named Robert Knickerbocker. I still remember my mother picking up the paper and seeing the headline. What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative? In the 21st century, it's not just urns and gravestones anymore. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. (520) 293-.css-1y2reja{color:transparent;position:relative;z-index:12;text-shadow:0.1rem 0.1rem 0.6rem #089FE4;}JPTD, aka Robert C Knickerbocker, Robert a Knickerbocke. Robert Willard Knickerbocker, 72. Im sorry but your article is tosh. The problem was, Diane has a long-documented history of adversely reacting to tranquilizing drugs. They were traumatized and needed familiar faces to feel safe. Diane was cooked the minute she walked in that courtroom. I am posting Jamesanswer: Yes the allegations were said and you cannot take back what was saideven if retracted My question is: why is she still locked up? Robert has lived in Tucson, AZ in a single family house with Lori. Diane followed the detectives to their car. Even put in different hospitals. I never read the Ann Rule book, but saw Small Sacrifices as a kid and have had an interest in this case ever since. Lori, I luv how you ended your comment Lets also remember that this is the US of A and we dont lock people up for being narcissistic, antisocial histrionic individuals. Hospital employees recall that Downs attitude was very strange and she seemed incredibly calm in spite of her tragic situation. They came up with an explanation as to why this was the wrong gun but the jig was up. More often than not, Christie was interviewed by State Agents (Paula Krogdahl, Paul Alton, Steve Downs and Dick Tracy) within half an hour of having her Dilantin increased. Tracy, I never said she was in the car. The Diane Downs case a case where a woman was convicted of shooting her three children, killing one of them, along a roadway in Springfield, Oregon became the subject of ABCs 20/20 in the episode entitled My Mothers Sin. Stephen Daniel (known as Danny), 3, Cheryl Lynn, 7, and Christie Anne, 8, were all shot multiple times in the May 19, 1983 attack. And if she did it, she has served her time without displaying any violent tendencies whatsoever. I remember when Diane shot her kids and there are some facts Id like to correct from your blog. Substituting reasonable inference and evidence for tarot cards? Yes, isnt it shocking that some people would voice that a faulty investigation does not matter? Let me tell you, it wasnt just the investigators and the prosecution that didnt believe herwe, Oregonians, (who ACTUALLY live here and watched what was happening) believe she is guilty. AKA: Robert Knickerboc, Ruk K Knickerbocker, Robt Knickerbocker +12 more. CK allowed DD to drive away despite the fact she could identify him and he had a gun? I also found it interesting that when he had visited Diane in prison, he had remarked a strange air about her; which did not mean guilt. Phone Number: (520) 293-QPFP +2 phones. They were tons of witnesses that saw him at work. Q. The children were in the hospital, it isnt like they could have taken them home. The most frequent remarks I hear about the case when confronted by the state misconduct and the lack of evidence are gut feelings I dont buy it Shes guilty She did it I know she did it Her story makes no sense Shes evil Shes crazy. It had to be her.. Now she claims she was dating an FBI agent at the time, was holding some top secret pictures for him, and she was on the road to meet someone to pass them off, at the instruction of her FBI boyfriend. Today, Diane Downs is 63 years old and sits in a California prison. The character of the accused is not the main ingredient, especially that in this case, there was a lot of bashing going on in the media and in court. When your goal is to call me dude, insult my name and trash my blog, you can go on other sites who will love to spar with you while swallowing the old narrative of high profile cases. Right away, the police asked her to go back to the crime scene even thoughshe did not want to leave her children behind. Diane herself stated Cheryl was asleep on the front floorboard completely covered up with Dianes jacket how the hell did a stranger or a hitman(one of Dianes OTHER stories) KNOW Cheryl was there. Mainly because she is being kept caged due to her name recognition at this point, not her offense. Cheryl was shot twice in the back and one of the bullets ended up on the floorboard. Thanks Kit, It is a bit of a mystery to me that not more people see that if we removed the high profile name and the accompanying media storm, the case was no slam dunk. There was no blood on the front seats so Cheryl was laying down and Christie was asleep laying down and never witnessed anything. Thats the problem with high profile cases. A new trial would be out of the question, so to me, parole would be the solution. It gave Anne Rule carte blanche to legally use these labels in her book and it stuck. YouTube is a video-sharing website where users can upload and watch videos, subscribe to user channels and leave comments. They both fainted when they saw their dead child, but it did not count. Brewer stood ready to testify in June 1991, that it was because of Prosecutor Hugis lie that he changed his mind to convict and that he alone was responsible for silencing the dissenting votes of two other jurors (Appendix 97). http://sputniknews.com/us/20150620/1023613662.html#ixzz3djEXlSAC // The Prison State of America Dec 28, 2014 Chris Hedges, http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_prison_state_of_america_20141228 They now throw people in prison in the US for debts. If you want to defend Diane Downs, more power to you. woman quot~ unquote, do you remember anything like that? What about the judge stopping a defendant from getting a new attorney? Robert and Diane even decided toget matching rose tattoos, but as soon as the ink on her tattoo was dry, he refused to get his done. He gave temporary custody to Dr. Wilhite. In this article, we can clearly see that Becky struggled and tried to justify her woes (maybe rightly so) by blaming it on her DNA. She also underwent a gun residue test that same evening that revealed no trace of gun powder on her hands. Her arm was severely damaged, so shattered that she needed a graft from a hip bone. I saw that same face in Diane Downs. Surely before Diane downs, there were other mothers who killed their kids..or allegedly did, however in 83 and 84 it made national news, nothing quite like it had come across the media world, which during that decade was really skyrocketing in sensationalismI believe is where it started, becoming less news and more entertainment. Most doctors would tell you that it is normal for our brains to block out a traumatic incident especially when combined with a serious physical injury. I had never heard of this case and fell upon several videos that had me completely convinced DD was a narcissistic psychopath. It opened a huge can of worms regarding the real identity of the heart full of lies in this case. In 2008, a psych evaluation by L. Williams, Ph.D., Chief of Mental Health at Valley State Prison for Women, explained Dianes lack of emotions and its relationship to her case. She folded it neatly around her arm. Interesting that the article has one of the same elements that Diane perpetrated when she drove to the hospital the night of the murders she made more of a fuss about her arm injury than she did about one of her kids dying and two of them being gravely and permanently wounded. If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. It should have raised a red flag concerning her mental stability or the possibility that more people were involved. Or why the fact that he was a con artist made him such a credible guy in this case. If you shoot at least 6 inches from a victim, you see what is around you in the car. Due process always matters. A prosecutor inventing a new psychiatric category in court and labeling the accused is kind of unsettling. Its too late for me to call myself a murderer (when I am not) just to purchase my freedom. She did it. The prosecutors in the case said that Diane had committed such a heinous act in the hopes of getting back together with one of her previous lovers, Robert Knickerbocker, who had made it known that he didnt want children in his life. Everyone deserves peace. Her son ended up in jail and ONeils children accused him of neglect and bad parenting. Diane had moved to Oregon only 6 weeks before the tragedy to work in the area and have her parents spend time with the kids. The time was spent waiting for the clock to tick down the final seconds for all appeals to the parental termination to be allowed. Twitter is an internet service where users can update the world in real-time as to their current activities, thoughts and location in 140 characters or less. She was no mother of the year, I will grant them that, but a trial is supposed to be based on evidence. Foote then handled the juvenile docket and first encountered Downs when he ordered her two surviving children into state protective custody. When Dianes youngest daughter, who was adopted after being taken away by the state, found out who her real mother was and decided to reach out to her, the media and Rule grabbed hold of her to promote their agenda. What got her convicted was two things the towel and Christie. So I start with that bit of history in mind. He told the police that Diane had previously stalked him and had even seemed willing to kill his wife to have him all to herself. I was being sarcastic. Imagine the ones there for years. It was positive only on a small portion of her upper hand where she said the gun touched her when she wrestled with the attacker (a detail she had mentioned before they did the test). She even provided the police with her own sketch. Up. Refine Your Search Results. Postal Service to be closer to her parents. You didnt know that?? Gosh Donna, you really dont have a clue. Click to read The Case of Liysa Northon Who Said True Crime Does not Pay? In fact, what investigator Tracy had written in his notes is that the heart monitor jumped because of excitement or intense fear. Evidence continued to pile up against Diane Downs. Are you still taking comments by email? Once you are vilified in the media in the US, the way Downs and others have been, a lot of people shut their eyes and their mind to any other possibility than what was presented in the court of public opinion. Yet, that is exactly what the videotape showsDiane laughing hysterically about hurting her arm. If not from her high profile status, she would already be out. Published by Press & Sun-Bulletin on Sep. 23, 2015. There is also a critical shortage of Foster Carers internationally, so that the Hugis offered to take the children in could be viewed as altruistic. Ultimately, the blogger is entitled to their opinion as is everyone else. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. Conflict of interest on steroids!! The role of Diane Downs was played by none other than Farrah Fawcett and her lover was played by Ryan ONeal who had been Farrahs love interest in real life. Yes, Christie said she did not know who did it. The photo of Hugi I used is the one you find when you do a search online for Fred Hugi who prosecuted Diane Downs. They did a trace metal test to see if Diane had held a gun. Also, aside from her original mental state, which may or may not excuse her aloofness (doesnt prove shes a killer by the way! I say these things if I were on the jury. I talked about her still being locked up, all these years later, because I really want to know is it because we believe she will commit more crimes or is it because we need more revenge? They would have tried to reopen the case. I recently found your website and have enjoyed it a lot. 2.Diane herself has stated that the shooter was outside the car and shot THROUGH the window, no blood spatter. ), years in solitary confinment Whats wrong with us?! To Lori For some people, the best send-off is one that they would have loved to attendthemselves: a big party. So move on. How could Christie say anything but the things they told her to say with that kind of influence? The detective said if Diane would just testify against Steve Downs, she and her children could go home and try to put their lives back together. It appeared rigged: Rigged? She took care of herself not her children. Besides, none of those diagnoses are illegal. And what happened to her little daughter is beyond unethical. Looking for Robert Knickerbocker? I am quite bothered by what happened in that courtroom and in the media. . In case you did not read the blog: During Dianes examination at trial, Fred Hugi said in front of the jury, in the form of a question, that she had been diagnosed as a deviant sociopath. The fact that she was driving five miles per hour to the hospital says it all as a mother myself, I dont care how hurt or mentally damaged I was, I would drive that car 100 MPH to get my children to safety. The tape of Christie and her adoption by the prosecutor are facts. She would have been released under strict conditions with the support of her family and under the care of a mental health specialist. Do not forget that she got letters of support from a warden and psychiatrist. Why am I not arguing the facts of the trial? The GSR? The ballistics, gun, speed at which she drove the car, her demeanor, etc. 80% MARRIED 80% of these people are married, and 20% are single. Whats next? Crime is entertainment and big money so this case will continue to be on the forefront and the same assumptions will be repeated over and over again. Moms were working more, we were becoming the latch key generation, as in we let ourselves in alone while still in elementary school.when I mentioned before about maturity of a 8, 9, 10 year oldwe loved playing outside on bikes, and playing with our dolls, boys usually had their action figures..lol.and we loved our moms, even if they were young and liked to go out and sent us to babysitters..the book and movie, Im quite sure, over did the situation..and Im sure there was more on both sides, the family of diane, diane herself, but well never know all the details. (Appendix 81, page 1466). She was fighting back and they did not like it. 5. Jennifer and Sarah Hart killed themselves and murdered their six adopted children in 2018 by driving their SUV off a cliff in California. They were not truth seekers and enjoyed a nice burning at the stake instead. Meaning it was unlikely she was the shooter. What was the rationale behind this? The flesh and muscle had been cored three days earlier, but the steel plate and bone graft could not be effected for two weeks (a precaution against infection). You indicated you were not going to get a divorce? It seems that a lot of what was written down never came up during testimony and some nurses even strayed from the original content. Downs had only been living in Oregon for six weeks when it seems she just snapped. This same witness corroborated that Diane did not stop to do something suspicious or dispose of the gun. But you would know that if you had read the blog or info about the case. As time went on, Diane became the prime suspect, especially after Robert and her ex-husband, Steve Downs, both told authorities that she owned a .22 caliber handgun, the same type which was used for the shooting of the children. Survived by family in Tucson and sister, Audrey Marbaker of Retta, Susquehanna County, PA. No one bothered with these details so I did. It was never a slam dunk. Charlene would call Diane at all hours of the day and night to threaten violence if Diane continued on with her husband. Take your smugness elsewhere, at long last. Right after her first surgery, The Detectives were adamant that they HAD to have Diane right then to recreate the incident- unless of course, you have something to hide. She had no priors and no history of violence in prison. Teams of people and detectives combed the area for months looking for the gun but it was nowhere to be found. Because Foote was already familiar with the case, the presiding judge assigned him the murder trial after Downs was charged with the shootings. SPRINGFIELD, OR Before Charles Stuart in 1989, and before Susan Smith in 1994, Diane Downs made national headlines by claiming that an unknown assailant had violently attacked her and her family, causing outrage and making national headlines. The most recent tape of her daughter is not admissible because it is never allowed to bring out tapes that were obtained this way. Grief researchers say holding that missing funeral service, even a year or more later, can still help us heal. Robert is related to Linda Knickerbockerpowell and Elna Mae Knickerbocker as well as 3 additional people. This article is about due process and the legal right to a fair trial for everyone. This is a more common route for children with parents who are incarcerated for what looks to be the entire childhood of the children. To have separated Christie from her brother and the rest of the family to be able to get her mom was unconscionable. but later you claim Diane was inside the car and shot the kids in the car and that that BECAUSE she was inside the car she should have had blood splatter on herso WHICH IS IT, I dont know which it is Libby. Blood, cuts, limo driver who saw him come in, the shoe print, the blood in the car and on the socks in his bedroom. And Steven was free to follow her lead or not. And these men in black perceived this as an act of war, and proceeded to go after them with every legal or illegal means at their disposal. Or can have an accomplice. * Historical, vital, and court records and search results may require an additional purchase. Not speculative? In Rules book, Diane is portrayed as a horrible selfish mother but her family and friends saw another version; she lovedher childrendearly and worked hard to be a good provider. This home is the most recent known address for Robert. And if you claim your innocence, it obviously creates a vicious circle of not showing contrition. I followed the trial. , 87. I accept that it is sometimes necessary but I believe in rehabilitation. If, as Proctor said, it was exchanged right away, and the other Ruger was subsequently stolen by Steven, how was it remotely possible for him to have this info? Despite the arrival of two daughters, Diane and Steves marriage was unstable, and Diane would often take the kids and leave their home, but would always eventually return home to Steve. I went on ebay and ordered multiple stuff from the 80s, news footage, just to hear what she sounded like, because of all the talk in the book about her demeanor. Maybe she didnt want to admit she was there for drugs, but you need a really tiny brain to worry about that in such a situation. That same gun turned up at a police raid years later in Perris, California, and it did not match the ballistics from the shooting site. There have been behaviors that in the general course of events one may expect from a single parent that in a way have been falsely interpreted as being some form of evil.. Just similar stuff.and that I guess, makes it easy for me to see how that song could of fueled her up.never underestimate the power if a song..what feels intense and exciting to you, may not to another, but shoot, anytime I hear pink floyd run like hell.takes me right back 1991 in the heat of my chase..for me, I got the answers I wanted from 89 when my friend said that about the Duran song and it involved in that case. If you had, you would clearly know that I do not claim her guilt or innocence. If I feel that due process was violated, I will go there anyway. Downs is a worthless as the day is long.. Maybe you should read the blog before commenting. Do you remember probably about four or five days after And she clearly remembered the April 1983, rape that Mr. Downs would later refer to as love making. Resides in Woodlawn, TN. I am a strong believer that pregnancy can do serious harm to some women. She did not fit in and was now anxious to assert her independence and live her own life. But there is forensic evidence pointing to Diane Downs. I have no idea whether or not she was guilty of the crime. I am publishing your comment because once in a while, I need to post the pitiful representation of true crime readers who made Anne Rule a rich author. The media keeps talking about several escapes, but there was only one. Downs brought authorities to the crime scene, where police found spent .22 caliber bullet casings, but could not find a weapon. Seems like she was her worst enemy. Brewer stood ready to testify in June 1991, that it was because of Prosecutor Hugis lie that he changed his mind to convict and that he alone was responsible for silencing the dissenting votes of two other jurors (Appendix 97). it also isnt right that the rules get to keep being changed after the fact as far as how often one may apply for parole. It should have been investigated further. Dianes dad died a year or two ago. I guess he did not want too many people to know about the improprieties that happened in his courtroom: I guess? Only in Hollywood and in Ann Rules books, would you find such fantasy: Relevance? This is what I try to do when I research a case that was deemed to be a slam dunk. She followed all the correct Parole Boardprocedures for two years with no hearing. . But as usual, it was slanted in the worst possible way. Ms. Downs makes every effort to avoid emotional stimuli in order to reduce the demands made on her. Foote refused 30 to 50 reports by detectives of sightings or leads about the shooter but admitted reports from people in Arizona willing to badmouth Diane. If the grandparents and uncle had visitation rights, they could have respected some rules as far as not discussing the case, but imagine if she had told them that she did not remember? Gun shot residue is not always present. Her release was recommended by a warden and a psychiatrist. How interesting. Some cases are so one sided that you feel like exposing or at least, discussing the other side. Maybe that her mom was obviously not well after spending her life in prison so it would have been a good idea to meet the Downss family quietly and get the jest of it. Late Tom Billings had been the first who openly questioned Diane Downs guilt. As a married man, the ball was in his court and he decided togo forit. There were many problems with her trial and that matters. View Robert Knickerbocker results including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. tell someone else. Usually it isnt there but every once in awhile, it comes out. She could not have been shot twice in the back while sitting up and have the bullet pierce her body to end up under the floorboard of the passenger side. I am not her advocate, but I think she did not get due process. And Steven would hunt her down anyway and charm his way back into her life. I understand that the authorities were afraid to leave the two remaining children under her care if they thought she was guilty, but they could have been released to the grandparents or other blood relatives with supervised visits from their mom considering that she was not charged with any crime. They are still part of their birth family. you quoted what diane said as to what happened When she resisted, he shot her kids and struggled with her. But I am realistic. A second child, Cheryl, quickly followed in January 1976. I then question how she would not have blood splatter if she shot them inside the car at close range. The strong, emotive language. Yeah, Ive noticed a lot of people thing Jim Jagger is Fred Hugi. The powers that be knew they had nothing on Diane so Christie became their sacrificial lamb. When analysing this blog, look at three statements from the blogger: Diane Downs and Alice Crummins were considered sluts In an earlier comment you stated that Diane had met all of the requirements for parole. The blog I read is all about the improprieties and flat out misconduct in Dianes trial (and the way Ann Rule profited off of it with fiction). Her character was also too much on the forefront. It was all about Charlene wanting KnickKnick ~wanting Dianeand Diane wanting a return to the peace she had before Knick asked his wife for a divorce. Christie Downs was eight-years old when she was injured and nine-years old when she testified. 2023 Warner Bros. She was interrogated without a representative from the defense and was not taped for the most part. But if you compare them, and if stranger there was, there are similarities but it is not dead on. This happened in 1983, not 1893. So obviously, she was the prime suspect. I bet the records are and always have been sealed regarding this aspect of the case. Robert L Knickerbocker. There is also a recording where she says that she had no idea who shot them. Knickerbocker even reportedly told Downs hed leave his wife and move to Oregon to be with her, where she'd taken a job with the U.S. Three weeks after the crime, Judge Foote from family courts, removed Danny and Christie from the care of Diane Downs and her family. There is absolutely no evidence that Hungry like the Wolf was playing when Christie got shot but it is another detail they added to bring a dramatic element to this trial. Simply because I researched them. For all my life I have thought I was not that smart, but now I can tell myself, hey cheer up could be worse. Can you imagine your little boy growing up to beat to death (with his bare hands and boots) Is she referring to her ex husband? GSR can easily fall off just by brushing your hand against a surface. It seems they all went the easy way. I base a lot on what I see and hear from her in her own words in footage of a 28 yr old woman. She was not in the car when her children were shot. Insulting a woman in prison since 30 years instead of debating the inconsistencies of this case is pretty pathetic. We already know that. ""Moochie"" was a Senior at the time of his death, November 6, 1974. . Robert is in his early sixties now and retired. He could not during the marriage so he walked away. If the goal was to get rid of them, why didnt she emulate her lesser half in this matter? She. Ann Rule promotes her books as true crime stories so to this day, viewers believe that the book and the movie titled Small Sacrificesdocument the true story of the Diane Downs case; in fact, it is a mix bag of truth, falsehoods, interpretation and plain fiction. 3. Barry Sheck and bis crew of investigators should get involved. During Dianes examination at trial, Fred Hugi said in front of the jury, in the form of a question, that she had been diagnosed as a deviant sociopath.. It was flawed. Reddit is a social news website where the registered users submit content, in the form of either a link or a text post. But due to a law enacted in Oregon after she first became eligible for parole, she can now only apply every 10 years. View Dean Knickerbocker's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. Strange how Jagger is pretty absent too except for the few photos where he is wrongly identified as Hugi. Diane described the stranger that shot them on the road and a police artist came up with a sketch. Common sense will tell this Court, when Diane accidently slammed her mangled arm into the steering wheel of Detective Tracys car, it was ANYTHING but a laughing matter. I try to bring out the details that were ignored because Down was so unpopular. Thank you for presenting a side of the story & case apart from the usual narrative. Only the people who present ongoing threats to the safety of the public in general are the ones this sentence is reserved for. The only living witness to the crime was Christie, whose stroke impaired her speech and made her unable to speak to police. I was shocked any asked why she thought that. . I think it posible she brought the kids there to be shot by someone else. Diane may very well be guilty, but YIKES this investigation and trial seemed so butchered and tilted in the prosecutions favour. My beef is with the interference by the media, TV shows and Ann Rule For the children to be legally free for adoption a termination of parental rights had to occur. The two mental disorders that cause excessive talking are Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia. Their goal was to make Dian look crazy, because sane people dont shoot their children. Page 6 of Case History. In the nurses notes, she is described as in shock and unable to grasp the situation. But, as would be the case years later with both Stuart and Smith, the shocking truth eventually came to light that Diane Downs had allegedly lied about the deadly attack on her children. Tis why at 10 years old I was hearing about this case in Ohio, and family members talked about it around me.it hit with great force that way. Many troubling elements of the case were discovered after the trial, but there was enough during the proceedings to be asking questions. Her case was too public and they are afraid of public backlash. So she warns her to stay away. Downs then fell in love with a married coworker named Robert Knickerbocker, who continuously promised Diane hed be with her and always reneged. Wow. 132 records for Robert Knickerbocker. It will not make me popular, but I dont mind. These women did not show emotions and did not fold when asked to. Robert Knickerbocker was never a suspect or a person of interest in the case. It appeared rigged and the fact that Ann Rule sat in the courtroom ready to produce a Masterpiece of Guilt could only help the prosecution. During Dianes examination at trial, Fred Hugi said in front of the jury, in the form of a question, that she had been diagnosed as a , Anne Rule made a big deal of a brass unicorn engraved with the childrens names that Diane had purchased. The ghastly crimes were not perpetrated by a nameless, faceless stranger as she told police, but seemingly by Diane Downs herself. I will agree that it was suspicious that Diane got away with one bullet in the arm, even if the injury was severe, but she was outside the car and many scenarios are possible to that effect. In 1991, David Brewer, a juror who deliberated Dianes fate in her 1984 trial, came forward to say he and another juror had decided to acquit Downs by the close of the States presentation. But without proof, Diane couldnt implicate Steve Downs any more than she could shoot him as he violated a restraining order threatening to beat her AGAIN. Considering the lack of evidence, it seems that she was condemned mostly because of herinappropriatestatements and behavior. Christie was understandably all over the place and I agree that the way in which her statements were procured were very odd and seemed to be very coached. But you told Diane Downs to go ahead and get an apartment? If thats what you want then dont pretend its anything but. Arizona; Tucson; Robert Arthur Knickerbocker; Robert Arthur Knickerbocker, Age 66. aka Robert C Knickerbocker, Robert a Knickerbocke. Later that year, Downs was transferred to a maximum-security prison in New Jersey, where authorities believed she would be less likely to escape because she knew no one there and would have no place to run. Ur not showing facts that Ann Rule lied n misled n ruined lives with. See more Show your support Send Flowers Send flowers or a gift to a service or family's home. The next morning Diane appeared in the courtroom with a police report written by Detective Pond a year earlier, in which Ms. Patterson was sure Diane had gone nowhere near the bathroom the night of the shooting (Appendix 62). In one of them, he knew her name and in another one, she had answered a call and been told to meet someone. danny also said a cartoon character shot themalso he was SHOT IN THE BACK how could he see the shooter????????? If I included the ones I dont post, it would need more than a like or dislike button. Dianes automobile was secured and examined and no gun was found. So yes I think she did it, I think ration left her a long before she did itI think post pardum played in this, I think, she was scattered all over the map.againjust hearing it in her own words. Surprisingly, Fred Hugi actually looks quite different. It was a fairly new science at the time so thats all it took to find him not guilty. No matter how much Ive read, or how many of her constant at the time interviews I watch on YouTube, the things that come from her brain to her mouth never cease to amaze me. The underlying basis of this article. Downs herself had been shot in the forearm during what she claimed was a struggle with the mysterious stranger. This blogger apparently believes anything she hears to support her inaccurate theory that Diane Downs was falsely accused and convicted. I cannot be more transparent than that and integrity was one of the missing pieces of the entire case. In fact, I am surprised that people are not flabbergasted by the way this case was handled and tried and that what bothers them most is that I try to discuss it in a blog and dare defending this woman. Ive done my research. Right after the shooting, little Danny would ask the nurses, , Even Ann Rule in her book, keeps mentioning that, Every time, she said she did not know, they told her to think again and made suggestions. Mind: Wrongful convicted. Knick had NOT signed the premarital agreement, but that didnt stay his pursuit of Diane, knowing she was moving 1200 miles away. Did CK shoot at car when DD drove away? The authorities wanted to see them mourn and fall apart. Her attorney, James Jagger, did a poor job for Diane. As a result, he decided not to attend the rest of the trial. View Robert Knickerbocker results in Florida (FL) including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. It is because she is a high profile person. They hated her attitude and thought she was promiscuous and showed no sorrow or remorse. . He hired Jim Jagger on the 1st of June 1983, 11 days after the shooting. You mention her youngest daughter, and how Ann made sure she only heard negative information about Diane.. You say she made more of a fuss about her arm than about the injuries her children sustained. Mr. Jagger read the report and said, you were right. When the trial began, Christie Downs, then nine-years-old, had recovered the ability to speak and she provided extremely damaging testimony for the prosecution. Lise do you know if the kids have ever reached out to the grandparents/family in the last few years? They dont need to be adopted and have their entire identity changed. Do you REALLY believe she expected them to live especially since she drove at less than 10 mph. An attractive woman whose two children were killed in mysterious circumstances and the cops decided to go after her. Hed left his first wife to co-habitate with (and later marry) Charlene. How do you expect the daughter to have any fair understanding of the situation or any decent contact with Dianes family when the people who have been calling her mother a murderer and a monster are dragging her in the media spotlight in the hope of writing another book or getting a new scoop, but all one sided. Christie NEVER said she didnt know who did it she was just unwilling or afraid to tell on her mother. Im not saying I know for a fact in my mind shes innocentbut there is NOT enough evidence for her to be guilty. Needless to say, you seem to have a problem with the American justice systemnot each individual case. And Ann Rule said that the unicorn that was omnipresent in court was part of the premeditation. I had never heard of this case before I read her book (Im not from or do not live in the USA), but I found myself constantly despairing at the authors unfounded judgements and wild suppositions. Is. They lied about the ballistics. Id have more influence arguing for better relationships with Mexico at a Donald Trump rally in Mexico. Too bad it triggered you, maybe try to stay away from sites that might not go along with the mob mentality and usual media narrative. USA population seems to shun complex ethical problems preferring to deal with absolute evil in order to exert absolute power to crush it. We could say that it was suggestive on his part, but considering how this trial was conducted, I tend to believe it happened. I just tried to find a video or article about Hugi and I only get the one or two that I already have. When she returned to the hospital, Downs was informed that Cheryl was dead, but her other two children had survived the attack. The roller coaster ride had nothing to do with Diane s children and Diane knew it. One could argue that this blog does not stick to what came out at trial. Nine months after the shootings, on February 28, 1984, Diane Downs was arrested and charged with one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder. 2. Brewer freely declared that Diane Downs would never have been convicted except that he believed the lie Jim Jagger permitted Fred Hugi to enter into the record. This was all logged in Christies hospital reports and is found in the Appendix of the petition filed in Federal Court in 1996 in the section Hospital Reports. Diane was diagnosed as being bipolar and subsequently diagnosed by a psychiatrist before sentencing. In the 1996 Federal Petition, you can find the Anatomy of Brainwashing that can answer any question on this subject. I am interested in the truth. At what point during these meetings did she start calling him Dad? Leaving out a lot of info that should be included and presenting a very one sided take on these things. Do not take this so personally. Mr. She was the first to admit that at times, she was somewhat neglectful, impatient, yelled too much, and could have been a better mother, but she seemed to have turned the corner and was doing her best with the means at her disposal. Knickerbocker even reportedly told Downs he'd leave his wife and move to Oregon to be with her, where she'd taken a job with the U.S. In the spring of 1986, Christie confided to school mates that shed been coerced to lie in court, to implicate her mother (Appendix 1-2). I watched the paroles hearing in 08, was lucky to find it, it was streamed live at the timemy sister, who is a whiz with computers, found it for me. It goes on and on. You hit the nail right on the head. Child Protective Services takes confidentiality to the extreme (warranted in most cases). One should also wonder why their biological father who was so eager to bash his ex on the stand was not given custody, and did not stay in contact with his two remaining children.
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