ELIZABETH DIANE (FREDERICKSON) DOWNS - PART 1 of 6
The Frederickson's, Wes and Willadene have their first child, a baby girl on August 7, 1955. Her name is Elizabeth Diane. There are four other siblings to Diane: John (born after Diane), Kathy arrives when Diane is four, and Paul, born when Diane is eight. Willadene begins working as a clerk for the U.S. Postal service when Diane is 11 or 12.
Elizabeth Diane Frederickson spends her formative childhood years moving, living on farms or in towns in the Flagstaff or Phoenix, Arizona areas, and attending church and school there. Wes Frederickson obtains employment at the U.S. Postal service makes working there a career.
In Diane's teenaged years she chooses to be known as her middle name, Diane. Her parents don't believe in new fads, the current trends in clothing and this makes her feel out of touch, and considered "square." Diane has been quoted as saying that she "rarely babysat for her siblings because she hated it, being blamed for breakages and that she wasn't allowed to punish them." Being the new kid in the various schools is hard for Diane and she later claims that she was always the odd one out, being picked on, ignored and left out.
Yet Diane has also claimed "When I was a child I didn't feel like a total misfit."
Diane later made claims to law enforcement authorites that at age 11 she was molested by her father. She stated that the alleged molestation took the form of fondling or caressing and rides to the desert where he would have her remove her blouse and bra. She stated that eventually these incidents stopped. At other times Diane is quoted as saying that he sexually abused her and that they were stopped by a highway patrolman on one of these rides. The officer took her father aside and spoke to him, after that occasion the abuse stopped.
Wes Frederickson has stated on interviews that "it never happened, and that Diane has since publicly denied the allegations and the false charges against him."
By age fourteen Diane cuts and dyes her hair (blonde) and starts to wear trendy clothes. As boys begin to notice her, she notices back, and acts accordingly. One of the boys, Steven Downs figures he is in love with the now 15 year old Diane. Steven is 16 and lives across the street from her. Her parents dislike him. By the time she is 16 they are engaging in sex.
Diane remains a good student, brilliant has been used to describe her abiliities, with an IQ of 125 on the Wechsler Intellience scale.
Steven enlists in the Navy after graduation and Diane, age 17, enrolls in Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College. Although swearing their love and promises to be faithful, Diane is expelled after one year, for promiscuity.
Steven returns home and he lives in Chandler, she in Phoenix, and they see each other as much as possible. One day she decides not to return home, staying with Steven. Her father Wes shows up with a shotgun. The old "marry my daughter or else" routine. Steven agrees that he wants to marry Diane. Diane is 18.
1973- November 13, 1973.- Steven & Diane are married.
Source: Ann Rule's Small Sacrifices
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