No parole for Oregon child killer Diane Downs

SALEM, Ore. — Convicted child killer Diane Downs has been denied parole and must wait 10 years for her next hearing.

The Oregonian reports the 55-year-old Downs still maintained her innocence at a videoconference hearing Friday in Salem.

She was convicted in 1984 of killing her 7-year-old daughter and severely wounding her eldest daughter and 3-year-old son in a shooting that left both the surviving children with permanent injuries.

Downs was denied parole in December 2008, after serving nearly 25 years, but had the right to a new hearing two years later.

This time, a change in the law allowed the state parole board to deny Downs another hearing for 10 years.

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