robert knickerbocker arizona
I am glad that some articles remain. He had an attorney, Fred G. Campbell Jr., send us a letter denying our request and telling us: You are legally, as well as factually, a stranger to them. Who does he think he is? 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. He still shouldnt have been allowed to adopt them while the appeals process was ongoing, if he had any role in those cases. I will not remove anything. Just a thought. . Guilty or not, we should know better than to use the justice system as a psychic tool when theres not enough evidence. If thats what you want then dont pretend its anything but. Wrong. I think that Van Houten was recommended for parole by a system that assessed that after 40 years, she was not a threat to society and a reformed woman. statement regarding the effects of the childrens medications while in hospital should acknowledge where the blogger obtained information about the side effects.). While these are all good questions, (and were maybe all asked in the jury room during deliberations) I doubt the answers even matter anymore. It sounds pretty fair to me. It does not get any bigger than this. After asking her to have an affair, he kept vacillating between his wife and her. Even prosecutor Fred Hugi was seen walking the grounds to try to find the weapon. Needless to say, you seem to have a problem with the American justice systemnot each individual case. Diane found with him, the kind of relationship she had never known before: there was actually care and intimacy involved. Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. After all, Cheryl Downs is basically serving a life sentence with no possibility of parole for her mothers crime. Im sorry but your article is tosh. 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. Shes where she belongs. I do have to take issue with this article about Diane Downs. Page 26 of Case History. Fred Hugi was pretty upset when Ann Rule went Hollywood with his case. Also, the title of the website clearly demonstrates an inherit bias. Her parents Willadene and Wes were old school Baptist parents who raised her under strict guidelines without much warmth but complete devotion. 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. The casing from the bullets exactly matched, just like a fingerprint, the bullets that Diane had in her home from her own gun which was never found. But I am so tired of the enough time has been served and other criminals have been paroled. The definition of deviant sociopath does not even exist in the DSM-HI, which is the official psychiatric diagnostic manual. Andthe DA adopted her other two children. The gun problem or the absence of blood and powder residues are not make believe. Blood, cuts, limo driver who saw him come in, the shoe print, the blood in the car and on the socks in his bedroom. If you want to defend Diane Downs, more power to you. Besides, none of those diagnoses are illegal. Maybe because of her notoriety and the victims were children. I also wish that Dianes children have a great life. I hope they have. You wondered at times, which side he was working for. I stuck to what came out at trial and not the fantasy factory coming from the state, the media and Rule. Our laws are not written that way. They said so and were told to go back to deliberate. Sometimes it takes until late in life for connections to be made again. Plus, the circumstances of this charade were more than sinister. Surprisingly, he accepted the new child and learned to love him dearly. The person who shot the kids was leaning inside the car because they were shot at close range. Knicks habit of turning on and turning off their relationship was known to Diane long before he admitted it in court a year later (Appendix 81, page 1520, line 21): Q. Christie could not speak but after some rehab, she said repeatedly that she did not know who shot them. And, while Cheryl died, the other two children survived with terrible wounds Danny was left paralyzed from the waist down and Christie suffered a stroke that left her with a speech impairment. Yes, like many Americans, I think that the US system is barbaric. You were not there and one thing I have learned about high profile cases, is that you cannot always believe what the media, biased detectives and Ann Rule have to say. Did u learn nothing?? Everyone in the world can believe something. She was interrogated without a representative from the defense and was not taped for the most part. Downs was denied parole in 2008 and 2010. She waseighteen and soon realized that she had jumped from the fire into the frying pan. I was always really bothered by that. But in the case of DD, there were a lot of elements missing. Removing the children from her and presiding over her criminal trial? Who Is Robert Knickerbocker? In the 21st century, it's not just urns and gravestones anymore. 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. My opinion of why Mr. Hugi adopted Christie and Danny was to seal their lips. The case is old and the blog dated, but it is never too late to respond. Seeing her giggle and laugh during a videoed reconstruction gave me, as a mother, a sickening feeling. Yes, shes as guilty as Simpson. He was very irresponsible and probably could not handle them financially and emotionally. Diane doesnt believe Rebecca is her daughter, rather a media puppet ran by Rule. She got an apartment and I was going to move in with her. Just saw the video of Dianes parole hearing. Downs brought authorities to the crime scene, where police found spent .22 caliber bullet casings, but could not find a weapon. These are no facts its partial truths and conjecture. Children under the age of twelve may cognitively grasp the concept of truth and lie, but lack the conscience which compels people to apply the concept to their lives, or the strength to maintain the truth when adults coerce her to lie. so which one is it????? Doing it without witnesses when she was so sick is underhanded. In fact, if appropriate family is found, termination is not required. Diane was pregnant during the trial so if found not guilty, how would she have regained the love of her life? Detectives, like the hospital staff, were struck by Downs aloof attitude about the shootings and the fact that one of her children had been killed. Just goes to show how difficult it is sometimes to find the truth. I can't bear any of my tribal members to go through what I went through, says Ashlea Aldrichs mother. They seem to say she was like that from the very beginning so in my opinion, it should represent a mitigating circumstance instead of a longer sentence. 6. If you use this mixed water, you can lift off a gunpowder stain.. The Case of Liysa Northon Who Said True Crime Does not Pay? Not giving you free reign here. So she could not have shot her kids at the distance determined by the state unless she changed her clothing and it did not come up at trial. Jeff, you mention being harsh as if there was a justification for it. Diane described the stranger that shot them on the road and a police artist came up with a sketch. To have separated Christie from her brother and the rest of the family to be able to get her mom was unconscionable. That poor girl. Agreed. Q. But it is not hard to see that the way this tape and her confession were obtained was not legitimate. Detective Antoine also performed a trace metal test on Diane I S hands to detect the presence of trace metals left after someone has touched or held something metallic like a gun (Appendix 65). A. I was still living in the house, yes, sir. If you read the blog, you will see many examples of media hype and character assassination. I appreciate the way you dont try to determine guilt or innocence in your blogs but instead focus on due process and the right of all to a fair trial. So should I put an addendum saying that Diane contradicted herself or was not satisfied with the sketch? Many troubling elements of the case were discovered after the trial, but there was enough during the proceedings to be asking questions. I enjoyed your take, and agree their are several reasons with this, and lets be honestevery other case ever prosecuted, to take pause and question but Diane continues to lie, make up brand new stories about people after her, and has made no moves to better herself in any way shape or form while shes been in prison, by her own admission. Downs is said to have claimed that she spotted a bushy-haired man who waved down her car along the desolate road. 4. Diane had consulted a psychologist after the tragedy and after months of consultation, she was never diagnosed as a sociopath. 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. And Hugi seemed pretty sure he would get what he was asking for. 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. This same witness corroborated that Diane did not stop to do something suspicious or dispose of the gun. If she was the shooter, it had to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Do you remember probably about four or five days after She (Diane) managed to jump in the car after getting shot in the arm. If Oregonians were not all convinced at first, the media and the crown made sure they would be. If you read the blog, it is because of the lie told by prosecutor Hugi that ignored the assessment of her therapist Dr. Jamison and was condemned by the psychiatrist that they were convinced to find her guilty. Of course, because this is what she does when people put her on the spot and ask questions concerning her mother and the shooting. Dianes brother, James, sat in court one day andnoticed Foote looking at Hugi before ruling on an objection. Background details that you might want to know about Robert include: ethnicity is unknown, whose political affiliation is none; and religious views are listed as unknown. Robert came clean to his wife about the affair, and then, went on to help the police in their investigation. Ffs maybe u should go back to writing screenplays. No matter how horrible people think she is. I saw that same face in Diane Downs. If appropriate family members could not be found to take placement of the children then family friends are the next step. 2.Diane herself has stated that the shooter was outside the car and shot THROUGH the window, no blood spatter. Ultimately, the blogger is entitled to their opinion as is everyone else. Moreover, he apparently told her that he did not want children and this statement alone would seal Dianes fate. But due to a law enacted in Oregon after she first became eligible for parole, she can now only apply every 10 years. They claimed to have found two lead cartridges in Dianes rifle at home that supposedly matched the ones used during the crime. Their goal was to make Dian look crazy, because sane people dont shoot their children. Page 6 of Case History. Not our place to decide. Im not saying I know for a fact in my mind shes innocentbut there is NOT enough evidence for her to be guilty. Refine Your Search Results. What was the justification? So there was a transfer, but nothing else was found. 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. I agree with your comment. It opened a huge can of worms regarding the real identity of the heart full of lies in this case. The fact that there was a rush to judgment, an investigation targeting only one result and a media coverage often presenting lies is very bothersome. Hugi did not want that. So Diane did what she thought would bring her the deepest satisfaction in life; she became a mother. It is not because a defendant is found guilty or disliked that it is acceptable to bend the rules. Do you remember it would have been around say November 19th of 82 that you would have left Charlene at one time? Mind: Wrongful convicted. 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. They were in a difficult situation becausewithout evidence, they could notcharge her for the crime. During cross-examination, she said that she witnessed the murders while sitting up and that Cheryl was sitting up on the front seat when she got shot. The next day, on June 16, 1983, CSD terminated Dianes visitations with her children altogether. Page 10 of Case History. So either way, it would not be so far fetched that someone said he was the shooter.A little investigation would not hurt. Whatever mental illness she has, has gotten worse with each hearing. Mr. Jagger said it wasnt t enough to know a witness had lied, but she would have to prove it. She was extremely intelligent but her emotional IQ was no match and her desire for freedom, love and affection were dangerously dragging her down a path of self-destruction. She was the prosecutions only hope. Saudi Princesses in Captivity for More Than a Thousand and One Nights Are Tweeting the Blues, Having recently done research on the Liysa Northons case which was the subject of a book written by Ann Rule titled, Some 287 errors and falsehoods were documented by Liysa and verified by official sources. But if you compare the time she was seen by the witness to the timing of her arrival at the hospital, it seems to indicate she went pretty fast, butnone of it was explained ordemonstrated properly. Police interviewed Steve Downs about his ex-wife and discovered that she owned a .22 caliber gun like the one used in the shootings. He actually was the one who suggested they become intimate after many friendly, platonic conversations. you quoted what diane said as to what happened When she resisted, he shot her kids and struggled with her. Read more: ABC News, ABC News (2), Salem News, Salem News (2), Oregon Live, The Washington Post, Murderpedia, Find Law. 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). Also, I agree he does look a little like the actor who played Fred Hugi but I think it might be a coincidence. What got her convicted was two things the towel and Christie. 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. So glad you wrote and provided this information. ..maybe it was lack of Internet and cellies *shrug)..years later, my Co worker at burger King (I was 16)told me about the small sacrifices movie she watched the night before. Statistics for all 12 Robert Knickerbocker results: 77 yrs AVERAGE AGE 29% are in their 100s, while the average age is 77. Dilantin is known to cause mental confusion and you can check it online, but consider the dosage she was on and it needs no clarification. Isnt is odd how something we are exposed to as children can stick in our memory? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The fruit of this abduction was the May 23, 1983, videotape re-enactment staged by Detective Tracy in which Diane is clearly hysterical. Maybe dad relinquished, it sounds like he may have. In reply to Nick. Pretty upset when Ann Rule went Hollywood with his case with each hearing on! And were told to go through what I went through, says Ashlea mother... Something suspicious or dispose of the childrens medications while in hospital should acknowledge where blogger... Ca n't bear any of my tribal members to go back to deliberate allowed. Notcharge her for the most part guilty, how would she have regained the of... A life sentence with no possibility of parole for her to have a great.. 10 years clearly hysterical children and this statement alone would seal Dianes fate, we should better! Diane Downs seal their lips, the media and the rest of the full. Andnoticed Foote looking at Hugi before ruling on an objection at trial and not the fantasy factory coming the... For a fact in my mind shes innocentbut there is not enough for!, he accepted the new child and learned to love him dearly was to make Dian crazy. 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With each hearing to a law enacted in Oregon after she first became eligible for parole, was. All, Cheryl Downs is said to have a problem with the sketch was!