education insights | January 18, 2026

Did Diane Downs Have Siblings? – Celebrity

Where was Diane Downs born?

Early life. Diane Downs was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on August 7, 1955, to parents Wesley Linden (1930–2017) and Willadene (Engle) Frederickson. She has testified that her father sexually abused her when she was 12 years old.

Diane graduated from Moon Valley High School in Phoenix where she met her husband, Steve Downs. After high school, she enrolled at Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College in Orange, California, but was expelled after one year for promiscuous behavior, and soon returned to her parents’ home in Arizona.

The couple divorced in 1980 because Steve thought Stephen Daniel, known as Danny, was the result of an affair Diane had. On May 8, 1982, Downs gave birth to a daughter through surrogacy. She named the child Jennifer before turning her over to her intended parents.

Prosecutors argued that Downs shot her children to be free of them so she could continue her affair with Knickerbocker, as she claimed that he let it be known that he did not want children in his life. Much of the case against her rested on the testimony of her surviving daughter, Christie, who, once she recovered her ability to speak, described how her mother shot all three children while parked at the side of the road and then shot herself in the arm.

Downs briefly escaped in 1987 and was recaptured. She is the subject of a book by Ann Rule and a made-for-TV movie based upon it, both called Small Sacrifices. She was denied parole in December 2008 and again in December 2010; her next hearing is set for 2021.

How many children did Diane Downs have?

Diane Downs gave birth to four children. Her first three children with husband Steve are Stephen “Danny” Daniel (born 1979), Cheryl Lynn (born 1976) and Christie Ann (born 1974). Conflicting reports say Downs also acted as a surrogate during her fourth pregnancy, giving birth to a daughter after her trial in 1984.

Downs’ launched a violent attack on three of her children, Danny, Cheryl Lynn and Christie Anne in 1983. Despite being convicted, Downs has always maintained her innocence.

Her blood pressure was non-existent or very low. “She was white, she was not breathing. I mean, she is so close to death, it’s unbelievable.”. But surgeon Steve Wilhite managed to revive Christie, after her blood pressure dipped dangerously low and she suffered a stroke.

“They have both graduated from college. Christie is married and had a baby boy in 2005.

Where was Diane Downs born?

Diane Downs was born on August 7, 1955, in Phoenix, Arizona. The eldest of four children, Downs was raised with conservative values. After high school, she joined the Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College. There, she was expelled for promiscuity, according to Thought Co.

Tonight, June 21, convicted killer Diane Downs’ daughter will appear in an encore airing of “My Mother’s Sins” on ABC News’ 20/20. Diane Downs shot her three sleeping children in 1983 and later told police a stranger attempted to carjack her and shot the kids. In 1984, Downs was convicted and sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years.

How criminalist analyzed Diane Downs’ crime scene Jim Pex, former criminalist with the Oregon State Police Crime Detection Lab, explains how he used dolls and strings to help the 1983 investigation into whether Downs herself shot her three children.

In 1984, she was sentenced to life in prison. 3. Downs Says She Didn’t Do It. “I knew within 30 minutes of talking with that woman that she was guilty”: Surgeon who helped save one of Diane Downs’ kids in 1983 after she shot her recalls chilling interaction.

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In 1987, Downs escaped prison by scaling the fence while guards weren’t looking, according to Fox News . In 1989, she told Inside Edition, “I wanted revenge at that time… I wanted to do obscene things to his body.” (She said this of the man she claimed shot her children.)

In 1984, Downs was convicted and sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years. In 1987, she managed to escape prison. She was recaptured and has gone on to be the subject of a book and made-for-TV movie.

In 1986, the prosecutor in the case, Fred Hugi, and his wife, Joanne, adopted Christie and Danny Downs.

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