Ep 15 The Chilling Case of Diane Downs: A Mother's Betrayal

True Crime with Lux Podcast

Hey everyone, I'm Lux. In this episode, we delve into the chilling story of Diane Downs, originally born Elizabeth Diane Fredrickson on August 7th, 1955, in Phoenix, Arizona. Diane's early years were marked by a strict conservative upbringing, leading to rebellion and a tumultuous relationship with her parents and high school sweetheart, Steve Downs.

After a failed stint at Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College and a rocky marriage to Steve, Diane's life spiraled further into chaos. The couple had three children, but Diane's lack of interest in motherhood and strained relationship with Steve led to their eventual divorce. Moving to Oregon, Diane's life took a dark turn on May 19th, 1983, when she claimed a bushy-haired man carjacked her and shot her three children.

The tragic night left one child dead and the other two severely injured. Diane's suspicious behavior and lack of emotion raised red flags. Police investigations revealed inconsistencies in her story, leading to her eventual arrest and conviction for murder and attempted murder. Even after escaping prison briefly in 1987, Diane's claims of innocence have fallen on deaf ears, and she remains behind bars.

Join us as we uncover the harrowing details of this case and the impact it had on Diane's children and those around her. Thank you for listening, and don't forget to like and share the podcast. Stay safe, and I'll be talking to you next week.