. >> diane downs was a 27-year-old mother who had just moved up to oregon from chandler, arizona. >>arriage to her high school sweetheart steve downs soured before he left arizona. that was reportedly from her infidelity. >> she was newly divorced. the mother of three children, ages 8, 7 and 3, christie, cheryl, and danny. she was a postal worker. >> springfield was not nearly as sophisticated as eugene. they're really twin cities, but it's more blue-collar. >> i really like how ann rule introduces eugene, oregon and springfield, oregon in her book "small sacrifices." she says, "eugene, oregon is the successful sister of the paired cities. cool, slender, professional. her restaurants serve artichokes and ricotta pie. while springfield, oregon, half e risml omogng. >> i think springfield -- it sounds clichÉ, but a lot of people knew each other, and you felt pretty safe there. >> it really wasn't a scary place. i mean, they always say that. when there's a murder or something, the neighbors always say, something like that doesn't happen here, but of course it does. >> it was may 19th, 1