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Background

Born on August 7, 1955, in Phoenix, Arizona, Elizabeth Diane Downs grew up in a conservative household under the strict rules of her parents, Wesley and Willadene Frederickson. Diane often felt suffocated by the restrictions on clothing and makeup, which led to relentless bullying at school.

On November 13, 1973, Diane ran away from home to marry Steve, a guy she met in high school. By 1974, they welcomed their first child, Christie Ann, followed by Cheryl in 1976. After an abortion left her filled with regret, Diane sought to have another child, resulting in the birth of Stephen Daniel in 1979—a child fathered by a friend, as Steve had undergone a vasectomy.

The cracks in their marriage widened, driven by infidelity and financial strain, culminating in a divorce in 1980. By 1982, Diane had another child, this time as a surrogate mother, despite failing psychiatric evaluations that suggested underlying psychosis.

Crime

On May 19, 1983, Diane arrived at McKenzie-Willamette Hospital in Springfield, Oregon, claiming she and her children had been attacked during a carjacking. Her injuries included a gunshot wound to her forearm, but the real tragedy lay in the condition of her children.

Eight-year-old Christie had suffered a stroke, three-year-old Danny was paralyzed, and seven-year-old Cheryl was dead. Diane told investigators that a “bushy-haired stranger” was in the middle of a rural road near Springfield. She got out to talk to him, but he started shooting when she wouldn’t give up her car.

The weird story, along with her calm demeanor and inconsistent statements, immediately raised suspicions.

The evidence quickly contradicted her story. A lack of blood spatter patterns and gunpowder residue on the driver’s clothing did not align with Diane’s claims. Witnesses reported seeing her car moving slowly toward the hospital, rather than the high-speed rush she described.

Even more damning was the revelation that Diane owned a .22 caliber handgun, a detail she initially withheld.

Unfired cartridges matching the murder weapon were discovered in her home, and Steve, along with a former lover, Robert Knickerbocker, corroborated her possession of the gun.

With mounting evidence, Diane, who was once again pregnant, was arrested on February 28, 1984, and charged with murder, attempted murder, and assault.

Legal Proceedings

At trial, the most heart-wrenching moment came when Christie, who had regained her ability to speak, testified against her mother. She recounted the horrifying details of that night, sealing Diane’s fate.

On June 17, 1984, Diane was convicted on all charges and sentenced to life in prison plus fifty years, with parole eligibility after twenty-five years.

She was forced to give her baby up for adoption; however, her story didn’t end there.

Diane’s life behind bars was anything but uneventful. On July 11, 1987, she scaled an 18-foot razor-wire fence to escape the Oregon Women’s Correctional Center. Captured ten days later, she received an additional five-year sentence.

Diane was transferred to a prison out of state to minimize further risks.

Parole

She became eligible for parole in 2008 and has had several hearings since then, at each one she continued to blame the “bushy-haired stranger”.

After her 2025 parole hearing, the board decided she should remain locked up.

She will see a parole board again in 2031, when she is 76 years old.