Christie Downs Lives a Private Life after Surviving the Family Tragedy

Christie Downs had a traumatizing childhood. She and her siblings were shot by their mother in cold blood. While Christie and her brother survived, unfortunately, their sister passed away.

Christie Downs' mother made headlines in May 1983 for her actions. Elizabeth Diane Downs shot her three children because she reportedly believed her kids were getting in the way of her relationship with her boyfriend.

The awful incident left Christie Downs with speech impairment, and her brother, Danny Downs, was paralyzed from the waist down. Unfortunately, their sister Cheryl, who was seven years old, didn't survive the incident.

Christie Downs' Mother's Interaction with the Doctor Who Saved Her Children's Lives

Dr. Steven Wilhite, who had just finished his shift at Springfield, Oregon hospital, recalled his beeper going off and receiving an alert about three children who had been shot. He immediately rushed to McKenzie-Williamette Medical Center. Upon arrival, he took charge of Christie's care while another surgeon attended to her brother.

Stephen recalled finding Christie in a bad state. "When I looked at Christie, I thought she was dead. Her pupils were dilated. Her blood pressure was non-existent or very low," he said.

With his expertise, he stabilized Christie's condition. Stephen recalled going to update her mother about her condition and was surprised by Elizabeth's reaction. He said she didn't show remorse and acted like she didn't care, saying things like how the situation ruined her vacation and new car.

Christie Downs' Mother Claimed a Male Stranger Shot Her Children

Christie's mother, who had rushed her children to the hospital, claimed that a stranger had stopped her car in the middle of the night and shot her and her three children. She sustained an injury on her left arm from a single bullet.

The media speculated she got pregnant because she wanted to gain sympathy from the jury.

However, according to the police report, Elizabeth, a divorced postal service worker, pulled over her car near Springfield at around 10 p.m. and shot her three children multiple times at close range.

Elizabeth was found guilty after her daughter, Christie, testified against her and was later sentenced to life imprisonment plus 50 years. Christie and her brother Danny were adopted by the lead prosecutor in the case, District Attorney Fred Hugi, and his wife.

Christie Downs Is Not in Contact with Her Sister

Before her sentencing, Christie's mother got pregnant and gave birth to another child, Rebecca Babcock, but didn't reveal the baby's father's identity. Immediately after birth, Rebecca was taken by the state and delivered to adoptive parents.

When Oprah Winfrey interviewed Elizabeth in 1988 and asked her why she got pregnant, Christie's mother told the talk show host that she did so because she desperately missed her children.

However, the media speculated she got pregnant because she wanted to gain sympathy from the jury. Elizabeth remains in jail and still maintains her innocence to date. Christie and her brother Danny, now adults, live their private lives away from the spotlight.

As for Rebecca, she attempted to connect with her siblings, but they conveyed their disinterest in talking, expressing their desire to live their lives free from the burden of being known as Diane Downs' children.