In Part One, we spoke about the path that led Diane Downs to the night of May 19th, 1983 , from her strict and turbulent upbringing, to the birth of her three children, to the shooting that left one dead and two fighting for their lives.

We spoke about her arrival at McKenzie‑Willamette Hospital and the early steps investigators took as they tried to make sense of what she claimed had happened on Old Mohawk Road. By the end of that night, detectives had their first look at Diane’s version of events, and their first quiet doubts.

Part Two picks up from that point. This episode follows the unraveling of Diane’s story, the mounting evidence against her, and the courtroom battle that would ultimately determine her fate. If you haven’t done so already, please listen to Part one of the Diane Downs Case.

Content Warning:

This episode discusses the death of children, viewer discretion is advised.

References:

Diane Downs: Her Children Got in the Way of Her Love by Joseph Geringer

World's Most Evil Killers - Diane Downs

Inside Edition - The True Story of Diane Downs: How a Mother Shot Her 3 Kids for Her Lover

Youtube Dreading - When a Mother Kills Her Children: The Case of Diane Downs

In May 1983, a young mother named Diane Downs rushed into an Oregon hospital with a story that seemed like a parent's worst nightmare. She claimed a stranger had stopped her on a rural road and opened fire on her three kids. By the time they reached the ER, one child was gone, and the other two were fighting for every breath.

This episode will be in two parts due to the length of information. If you enjoy these episodes, I encourage you to follow or subscribe to Criminal, Interrupted on your favourite podcast app. As I’ve mentioned before, I'm currently focusing on this podcast full-time due to a heart condition, so every follow and review makes a huge difference. Thank you for listening, and for your incredible support.

Diane Downs: Her Children Got in the Way of Her Love by Joseph Geringer

World's Most Evil Killers - Diane Downs

Inside Edition - The True Story of Diane Downs: How a Mother Shot Her 3 Kids for Her Lover

Youtube Dreading - When a Mother Kills Her Children: The Case of Diane Downs

This episode examines the fatal 2026 attack on Ian Huntley inside HMP Frankland and the identification of Anthony Russell as the inmate charged with his murder. I outline the events leading to Huntley’s death, Russell’s criminal history, and the public reaction that followed.

Note: This isn’t a long episode as there isn’t much information out there regarding Anthony Russell.

Content Warning:

This episode contains factual discussion of murder, child abuse, sexual violence, and assaults on vulnerable individuals.

References:

• ​Wikipedia: Anthony Russell
• ​Wikipedia: Soham Murders
• ​Youtube: Truly Criminal - Anthony Russell: The Killer of Ian Huntley
• ​The Independent: Inmate appears in court charged with murder of Soham killer Ian Huntley
• ​ITV News: Timeline into Anthony Russell's seven days of murders in Coventry and Leamington
• ​Podcast: Criminal, Interrupted - The Soham Murders: Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman

On March 26th, 2018, a family SUV was found at the base of a cliff on California’s Highway 1.

At first it looked like a tragic accident , a road trip gone wrong. But investigators quickly realized there were no skid marks, no signs of braking, and all six Hart children were missing.

What followed was the unraveling of a carefully crafted public image, revealing years of overlooked warning signs, systemic failures, and a deliberate act that shocked the nation.

Content Warning:

This episode includes descriptions of child abuse, neglect, and the deaths of minors.

In the early 1960s, Sydney was a vibrant city, unaware that a predator was moving quietly through its streets. Between 1961 and 1962, five men would fall victim to a killer whose brutality shocked Australia and left investigators scrambling for answers. His name was William Macdonald, an English migrant who blended into the city by day and hunted its most vulnerable by night.

Known later as “The Mutilator", Macdonald became one of Australia’s earliest recognised serial killers, targeting men he lured with alcohol before attacking them with sudden, frenzied violence. His crimes unfolded across familiar Sydney locations, Darlinghurst, Moore Park, the Domain, turning ordinary public spaces into scenes of horror.

In today’s episode, we explore the life and crimes of William Macdonald, a killer whose brutality left a lasting mark on Australia.

• 
  Australia’s Most Feared Serial Killer William MacDonald
• 
  
• CORONERS COURT OF NEW SOUTH WALES - William MacDonald
• Murders Most Foul - William MacDonald “The Mutilator,” Sydney’s Most Disturbed Serial Killer.
• The Daily Telegraph - The Mutilator dead at 90: William MacDonald, who cut off victims’ genitalia, was NSW’s longest-serving prisoner
• The Serial Killer Podcast - William MacDonald | William The Mutilator MacDonald - Part 1 & 2

On 11 May 2012, a house fire on Victory Road in Derby, England, resulted in the deaths of six children from the same family: Duwayne, Jade, John, Jack, Jesse, and Jayden Philpott. The incident initially appeared to be a tragic accident, but within days, the investigation shifted focus to the children’s parents, Mick and Mairead Philpott.

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• R v Philpott, Philpott and Mosley Sentencing Remarks
• The Guardian - Mick and Mairead Philpott convicted of manslaughter over Derby house fire
• Yahoo News - Killer dad Mick Philpott 'in a bad way' after being 'attacked in prison'
• BBC.news - https://www.bbc.com/news/special/panels/13/apr/philpott/inc/half_wide/panel.inc?utm_source=copilot.com

In August 2018, the disappearance of Shanann Watts and her two young daughters captured the attention of the world. What began as a missing‑persons case in a quiet Colorado suburb quickly unraveled into one of the most shocking family tragedies in recent history.

Content Warning:

This episode contains detailed discussion of homicide, child harm, and emotionally distressing material. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

References:

• Burden of Proof Podcast: Chris Watts Deep Dive
• Crime Vault Youtube: Chris Watts Interview
• Dreading (crime and psychology) Youtube: Chris Watts Series
• ABC11: Shannon Watts' mother speaks at sentencing
• Wikipedia: Watts Family Murders
• People.com - Where Is Chris Watts Now? Inside His Life in Prison 7 Years After Murdering His Wife and Kids
• Netflix - American murder: The Family Next Door

In the winter of 1987, in the quiet rural stretch of Pope County, Arkansas, a man named Ronald Gene Simmons committed one of the most devastating crimes in American history. Over the course of three days, he murdered sixteen people, fourteen of them his own family.

It was a crime so calculated, so intimate, and so incomprehensible that even today, decades later, investigators, psychologists, and surviving relatives still struggle with the same question: Why?

Content Warning: This episodes discusses murder of children, gun violence and suicide. Listener discretion is advised.

References:

• Wikipedia: Ronald Gene Simmons
• The Devil of Pope County: America's Worst Family Massacre (Podcast Series)
• True Crime All The Time Podcast - Ronald Gene Simmons
• New York Times, Mass Slayer Abused Wife, Got Daughter Pregnant, In-Laws Say
• THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES - 88-7146, 01-10-1990
• Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (.gov) https://www.tncourts.gov › sites › default › files
• Simmons v. State, No. CR 89-45.
• Franz v. State, No. CR 88-76.
• Ronald Gene Simmons (1940–1990), Encyclopedia of Arkansas