Where Is Diane Downs Now? '20/20' Special Focuses on "Mommy Murderess"

What kind of person murders their own kid? That's what '20/20' needs to understand when they revisit the Mommy Murderess case. Where is Diane Downs now?

In May 1983, Diane Downs drove her 3 children to McKenzie-Willamette Hospital in Springfield, Ore. They have been covered in blood and Diane had a gunshot wound in her left arm. She told the police they have been sufferers of an tried carjacking, however the reality was far more sinister and surprising. Diane shot her own children, then shot herself, and did it for the affection of a married guy who claimed he never sought after children.

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Eventually Diane would be stuck and convicted of 1 rely of murder and two counts of attempted homicide. At the time of her trial, Diane was once pregnant along with her fourth kid to whom she gave beginning two days after going to prison. That child was then spirited away to a hotel room where she was once adopted by means of a loving couple who named her Rebecca, or Becky. Now, a new 20/20 special includes a uncommon interview with Becky Babcock about discovering who her delivery mom was once, and where Diane Downs is now.

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Where is Diane Downs now?

Diane Downs is currently serving her sentence of existence plus 50 years at Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla, Calif., where she's been since August 1993. Previously, Diane used to be housed in a maximum-security jail for women in Clinton, N.J. As for why she wasn't in Oregon where the crimes happened, "[prison] officials said they wanted Downs placed in a more secure facility in a state where she is less known because she is an escape risk who constantly seeks publicity," in line with UPI.

Diane wasn't just an break out chance; she in truth did escape from Oregon Women’s Correctional Center. On July 11, 1987, Diane scaled the prison's chain-link fence while guards weren't paying attention. Using her garments to offer protection to her from the barbed cord on the top, she landed safely on the opposite side and made her way to the home of Wayne Seifer, whose spouse was also an inmate.

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How used to be Diane Downs in any case stuck?

Loren “Larry” Glover, a former Oregon State Police detective who eventually found Diane, told ABC News that regardless of getting a ton of tips, not anything was once hitting. He was once anxious that Diane was doubtlessly going after her kids to kidnap them, or worse, hurt them. At the time, Wayne used to be now not residing his best possible life, hooked on heroin and basically dwelling on the edge. When Diane showed up and asked if she could stay, he had no problem with that. They entered into a temporary sexual relationship.

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It used to be time for Larry to go back to the drawing board by taking a peek at Downs' belongings, at the prison. While there, he discovered clothes, a map of Mexico, and some stationery. Folks, we are about to get to a few actual detective work. The paper was once blank, but when Larry grew to become it a selected manner, he may just see the indentation of a map, so he sent it to the FBI who created a photostatic copy. The map had a line drawn from the prison to a house with an address written by way of it. That was Wayne's house.

The police raided Wayne's space while he was once out of the town with circle of relatives. Diane grabbed a BB gun and attempted to induce a suicide through cop state of affairs however in the end gave up and went willingly. Diane won an additional five years tacked on to her sentence and Wayne were given 5 years probation and six months in a restitution center in Salem, Ore.

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Does Becky Babcock be in contact with Diane Downs?

When talking with ABC News in 2019, Becky described her early life with her adoptive parents as "picture perfect." They were an energetic family, going snowboarding, hiking, or horseback riding. And whilst Becky at all times knew she was once adopted, she did not get started asking questions until she was Eight years old. Becky's adoptive folks attempted to giver her just enough knowledge to meet her, however in the end it just wasn't enough.

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One day, whilst speaking to her babysitter, Becky made it appear as though she knew extra about her mother than she if truth be told did. "Oh, so you knew who Diane Downs is," said Becky's babysitter. This led Becky to locating the ebook famed true-crime author Ann Rule wrote about her mother, called Small Sacrifices. Flipping it open to a photograph of her mom, Becky was scared of what she noticed. Diane's eyes have been chilly and useless and Becky was afraid of the truth that they have been related.

For years Becky neglected what she discovered until she was once 16 years outdated, when a then-boyfriend rented the Small Sacrifices made-for-TV movie that starred Farrah Fawcett as Diane. This destroyed Becky and she or he spiraled into a lifetime of partying and drugs, after which a being pregnant at 17. After getting pregnant a second time and giving that baby up for adoption, Becky had a metamorphosis of center about her mother, so she reached out to her.

Initially the letters were slightly normal but soon became increasingly irrational on Diane's end. Diane was once rambling about conspiracies and he or she informed Becky people were gazing her. And of course, Diane kept insisting she was once blameless. Becky determined at that time to finish their courting. Now, Diane is up for parole again and Becky is coming forward to shed new light on the tale.

20/20's My Mother's Sins airs Friday Feb. 4, at Nine p.m. EST on ABC.

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