Where are Danny and Christie Downs now? All the latest details
The story of Diane Downs shocked the world in 1983 after she shot her children in a car before rushing them to a hospital. Her 7-year-old daughter, Cheryl, died by the time she arrived at the hospital, while eight-year-old Christie lost much blood and suffered a stroke. Her 3-year-old Danny, was left disabled. So, where are Danny and Christie Downs now?
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- After Diane Downs was convicted in 1984, the two children were adopted by prosecutor Fred Hugi and his wife.
- Danny and Christie slowly built new lives away from the spotlight since the tragic 1983 attack.
- Christie has a family of her own, while Danny lives with partial paralysis but has pursued an independent life.
- Their mother remains in prison, serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Who are Danny and Christie Downs?
Danny and Christie Ann Downs are Diane Downs' surviving children after Cheryl Lynn died following the tragic shooting on May 19, 1983.
Christie and Cheryl were a product of Diane's marriage to her ex-husband, Stephen (Danny) Downs. The couple was together between 1973 and 1980, when Steve left her because he believed that Diane was cheating on him.
Daniel Downs, also known as Danny, was allegedly born out of an affair between Diane and another man. Later on, she gave birth to a fourth child, Amy Elizabeth, with yet another man in 1984. Her adoptive parents later changed her name to Becky Babcock.
Where are Danny and Christie Downs now?
After surviving the 1983 shooting by their mother, Diane Downs, both siblings were adopted by prosecutor Fred Hugi and his wife in Oregon. Christie later graduated from the University of Oregon, married, and became a mother of two, including a daughter named Cheryl in honour of her late sister.
Danny, now in his early 40s, is a computer enthusiast who lives a private life with limited mobility from his injuries. Both have chosen to stay out of the public eye, focusing on quiet, fulfilling lives while their mother remains in prison for the attack.
What happened to Danny and Christie Downs?
In 1983, Diane Downs shot her three children, killing Cheryl and leaving Stephen “Danny” Downs and Christie Downs severely injured. Danny, sometimes referred to in reports as paralysed Stephen (Danny) Downs:
“Danny sustained injuries that left him with limited mobility from the waist down, while Christie suffered a stroke that temporarily affected her speech.”
After their recovery, the siblings were adopted by prosecutor Fred Hugi and his wife, beginning new lives in Oregon. Today, Danyz Chris—better known as Danny Christie to some true crime followers—lives a very private life. Stephen Danny Downs is now in his early 40s, a computer enthusiast who keeps a low profile, with no public details about his marriage or children.
Christie Downs grew up to marry, have two children, and name her daughter Cheryl in honour of her late sister. Both survivors have chosen privacy and healing, living quiet, fulfilling lives while their mother, Diane Downs, remains in prison.
Is Danny Downs still alive?
As of 2025, Danny Downs is alive and in his early 40s, residing in Oregon with his adoptive family, the Hugis. He is described as a computer enthusiast and lives a quiet, low‑profile life.
Despite his injuries causing limited mobility from the waist down, Danny Downs today leads a stable, everyday life. Public details about marriage, children, or other personal milestones remain undisclosed.
Where is Fred Hugi today?
Fred Hugi, the prosecutor who led the Diane Downs case in Oregon, later adopted the two surviving Downs children—Christie and Danny—alongside his wife, Joanne. After a distinguished career at the Lane County District Attorney’s Office, he retired in 1997. As per professional profiles, he had served as an Assistant District Attorney in Oregon from the mid-1970s until his retirement.
While direct public updates on his current residency or personal status are scarce, available records indicate that he lived in the Springfield/Walterville, Oregon area during and following his legal career. Throughout his post-prosecutorial life, Hugi has maintained a notably private profile, with little new media coverage beyond his historic role and adoption of the Downs siblings.
Where are Diane Downs' children now?
Source: UGC
Diane's children have lived with the constant reminder that their mother is a worldwide known killer. Christie and Danny found a home in Fred's household, but they prefer to stay away from the limelight. So, what happened to Diane Downs' children?
1. Christie Downs
Christie Downs was eight years old when her mother, Diane Downs, shot her and her siblings in 1983. She survived despite being critically wounded and suffering a stroke that temporarily impaired her speech.
After the trial, Christie was adopted by prosecutor Fred Hugi and his wife, Joanne, who provided her and her brother, Danny, with a safe and loving home in Oregon.
As an adult, Christie chose to live a private life. She eventually married and had children, including a daughter she named Cheryl, in honour of her late sister who died in the attack. Christie rarely appears in public or the media and reportedly has no contact with Diane Downs. She continues to focus on her family and quiet life in Oregon.
2. Danny Downs
Stephen “Danny” Downs, often referred to as Danny Downs, was three years old during the attack. He survived the shooting but was left with permanent mobility limitations from the waist down. Like his sister, Danny was adopted by Fred and Joanne Hugi, growing up away from the media spotlight.
Danny Downs, today, is in his early 40s and is described as a computer enthusiast. He leads a private, low-profile life in Oregon, with no confirmed public details about his relationships, marriage, or children. He has consistently avoided media attention and has lived quietly since his childhood ordeal.
3. Becky Babcock
Source: UGC
Diane Downs gave birth to a fourth child, Amy Elizabeth, in 1984 while she was awaiting trial. The baby was immediately placed for adoption and renamed Rebecca “Becky” Babcock by her adoptive parents, Chris and Jackie Babcock.
Becky grew up outside the immediate trauma of the original attack but learned of her biological mother as a teen. Unlike Christie and Danny, she has occasionally spoken publicly, appearing in interviews and documentaries about her life as the daughter of Diane Downs.
Becky currently works in behavioural health in Oregon and is the only one of Downs’ children who has engaged with the media, while still keeping some aspects of her personal life private.
Why are they sometimes referred to as “Danny Christie”?
Some discussions and articles refer to them together as “Danny Christie” because they are the two surviving children of Diane Downs, raised together in the same adoptive family.
Does Christie Downs have children?
Yes. Christie married and has children, including a daughter she reportedly named Cheryl, after her sister who died in the shooting.
Does Danny Downs have a family of his own?
Danny Downs, today, is in his early 40s, but details about his private life, including marriage or children, remain undisclosed.
Did Danny and Christie Downs ever see their mother again?
Reports suggest they have had no contact with Diane Downs since her conviction. They were raised by their adoptive family and have avoided public interaction with their biological mother.
So, where are Danny and Christie Downs now? Today, they remain out of the public eye, with Christie raising a family and Danny living with partial paralysis but thriving. Their journey reflects resilience and a determination to heal beyond their traumatic past.
Tuko.co.ke recently published the story of Carly Rose Sonenclar, who was part of the X-Factor competition in its second season. The songstress came out second after Tate Stevens. So, where is Carly Rose now?
After her stay on X-Factor, Carly produced five singles which were never released. She then took a break from her music career to complete her high school and college education. However, the singer came back to the scene in 2019 and released hit singles like Getaway Car and Twenty One. Sonenclar is also an actress and has worked on productions like Nanny Diaries and Wonderland.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Grace Waruguru (Lifestyle editor) Grace Waruguru is a lifestyle reporter and holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication (Public Relations) from Daystar University, Kenya (Class of 2010). She has over 4 years of experience in article writing and digital media content creation for various local and global brands. Currently based in Nairobi, Kenya, Grace started working at Tuko.co.ke in October 2020 and as a content creator at Brand2D (June 2022 - May 2023). In 2023, Grace finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. Email: Wagachuhi@gmail.com
Kevin Omuya (Lifestyle writer) Kevin Omuya is a professional content writer with over three years of experience. At Legit.ng, he has contributed to extensive research on various topics such as celebrity news, fashion, and biographies. He has also worked as an editor and content creator at SportsCulture and CottageMed. In 2019, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University. You can reach him through his email: komuya89@gmail.com
