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DIANE DOWNS: MURDERER OR VICTIM

YOU BE THE JURY

CHRISTIE DOWNS

Isaiah Chapter 41 Verses 10-13

 

Christie Downs was called as a witness to testify against her mother.  Christie testified in court, "My mom shot Cheryl then Danny then me."  The State had been preparing Christie for over a year and she was "the" key witness.  If she buckled under pressure, it would hurt the State's case.  Christie was eight years old at the time of the shooting and was nine years old at the time of the trial.  From the date of the shooting until the trial, basically, all of her time was spent in the custody of the State of Oregon without contact with her mother or her or her grandparents.  Her father in Arizona was allowed limited visits.  Doctor Ira Hyman of the Psychology Department, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225, indicates on page 4, paragraph 2 of his letter to Wendy Willis, Federal Public Defender for the District of Oregon that "When suggestions are made, people are likely to incorporate those suggestions into their recollections of experiences."  Dr. Hyman.pdf Dr. Hyman also says in the first paragraph of page 6 in that same letter, "She also may have created a memory based on her experiences and in response to the 6 months of repeated questions and suggestions."

After Christie and Danny were adopted by the prosecuting attorney, Fred Hugi, Dena Reinhardt of Las Vegas, Nevada, made a chance phone call to the Hugi home. In that conversation, Christie, who was attending Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon, said that she really didn't know who shot her. She also said the reason she testified that her mother shot her was because that's what they wanted her to say.  That phone call from Ms. Reinhardt resulted in the following affidavit being drafted to discount the phone call:   Christie's affidavit pages 1 & 2.pdf

 Friends from Kennedy Elementary School said Christie showed them a picture she drew of the "man" who shot them.  Dena Reinhardt of Las Vegas, Nevada called Christie when she was in high school.  Dena recorded the conversation and Christie admitted to her that she didn't know who shot her, but said in court what they wanted her to say.  Sally Chambers of Banks, Oregon put that tape into writing in booklet form.  A copy of that booklet was sent to Diane's new attorney in Salem, Oregon.  On page 32 of that translated conversation, Dena Reinhardt continues her very long conversation with Christie "...Or do you think she really, you think she really didn't do it, huh?  Christie's answer:  "I couldn't tell you, I mean I don't know who did it."  

Look at what Mark Andresen had to say to Catherine Conrad, a law clerk in the law office of Steve Gorham when they preparing affidavits in support of Diane's Post Conviction hearing:  Mark Andresen.pdf

   

Martha Andresen, Mark's sister denied knowing anything about the incident, however, Virginia Andresen, Mark and Martha's mother, had another story to tell:  Virginia.pdf

Dena Reinhardt (Birth Name Angel) gave an affidavit over the telephone to the Law Office of Steve Gorham on November 20, 1990.  It's kind of lengthy, but has some very interesting points.  I think you will find it worth your time:  Dena Reinhardt.pdf Return to: HOME PAGE