Until six months ago, David Westerfield hosted barbecues by his pool, fixed dinner in his remodeled kitchen and relaxed on white leather sofas in his four-bedroom house. Posted on 08/05/2002 8:59:13 AM PDT by FresnoDA
By Kristen Green
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
August 5, 2002
Until six months ago, David Westerfield hosted barbecues by his pool, fixed dinner in his remodeled kitchen and relaxed on white leather sofas in his four-bedroom house.
He ran a business from home, logging onto one of several computers. He took his plush motor home on trips to the desert, where his children and friends played on his numerous sand toys.
Today, his Sabre Springs home is on the market for $480,000 and his Toyota 4Runner, motor home and computers are in police custody. No matter what the verdict in his capital murder trial, life as David Westerfield knew it will never be the same.
After he was charged Feb. 22 with kidnapping and killing his 7-year-old neighbor Danielle van Dam, Westerfield was incarcerated in the 17-story County Jail in downtown San Diego. Because of security concerns, he was placed in isolation on the third floor, the building's medical unit.
His cell is equipped with the basics. A television is the only perk. The floors are cold, hard concrete. So are the beds. Three inches of mattress cushions his back at night.
The cell is painted white and furnished with a tiny, built-in desk, a urinal and a sink that doubles as a water fountain. On days when court isn't in session, Westerfield doesn't see much else.
"There's little opportunity for him to do anything other than watch TV or read," said Sheriff's Capt. Ken Culver, who runs the jail.
Westerfield has limited contact with anyone other than the guards. He can leave his cell, with an escort, to make phone calls, and he gets visitors several times a week.
During his incarceration, his attorneys and their staff members have met with him more than 50 times. He's had six sessions with a couple of psychologists.
He's allowed two 30-minute visits a week from friends and family. His sister stopped by 10 times, and his ex-wife and two children have visited at least a dozen times.
After visits, he returns to his cell, where he eats his meals, reads books, writes letters, watches television and sleeps.
Westerfield was moved into an isolation cell not as disciplinary action but because he was threatened. His first day in the facility, inmates drew pictures of him with a noose around his neck and screamed that they wanted him to die.
"Since then there have not been any issues with him," said Culver, who noted that Westerfield is respectful toward deputies.
Culver said it's unlikely that other prisoners know where Westerfield is. He showers alone and occasionally is allowed access to a gymnasium, also alone. He hasn't been outdoors since he was booked.
His life is not only restricted to his cell, it is tightly monitored. Deputies and video cameras record his every move.
Inmates are awakened at 4 in the morning, and breakfast is served within a half-hour so those with scheduled court appearances can be transported to courthouses.
Lunch arrives between 9:45 and 10 a.m. and dinner usually is at 4 p.m. The lights are out by 10.
Meals are produced en masse in an Otay Mesa facility and delivered to the Front Street jail. The meals, which range from fried chicken to casseroles, are reheated on individual trays in a big oven, the way airline flight attendants heat in-flight meals.
Westerfield's meals are delivered to his cell, while most inmates eat with others in central dining areas.
On court days, he changes into a suit, which sometimes has been dry-cleaned overnight.
Beneath his jacket, he puts on a metal waist-belt that has chains that cuff his arms. Then he is escorted from his cell to a pedestrian bridge that stretches from the County Jail through the old jail next to the downtown courthouse, and then to the courthouse.
During the trial, his restraints are unhooked. Westerfield sits at the defense table in a suit and tie, laughing occasionally at the judge's jokes and smiling or waving at friends who testify.
At lunchtime, when his attorneys, the jury and court staff head off to lunch, he's locked in a holding cell behind the courtroom and handed a jail-packed sack lunch. It's typically a peanut butter or bologna sandwich, an apple or orange and a drink.
After the court proceedings, deputies lead him back through the crosswalk to the jail.
When he gets there, he changes out of his suit and back into his blue jail uniform. Then he's led to the sparse, white cell that, for now, is home.
Poor Danielle. A child deserves to be safe in its own home. I can't defend those idiot parents..who have not ONCE even expressed a single emotion sharing the responsibility for their daughter's fate. It is not Natural. When a parent loses a child, even if they had NO CONTROL over the conditions or circumstances, they will ultimately suffer and say "if only I'd done this or that"..."if only"..has NEVER been said, Kim.
Danielle was the ultimate victim of having selfish, self-centered and immature parents, and that's the sum total of why she ended up dead. She'd be alive today, if that night never happened, WHATEVER happened that night.
But her parents "have no regrets". Evil..
sw
I truly believe Judge Mudd is convinced of DW's guilt, or is siding with his LE. He isn't all that cute when he gives a Padre's game report, and commands forced laughter from the spectators and lawyers..while DW sits there, wondering what the heck is sooo funny, his life is at stake and the JUDGE is joking...ha, ha.
Mudd wants a VERDICT, nothing less. Wouldn't want to "muddy" up the waters with alot of confusing defense material..no sir..not in his court. He's got a handprint in the Motor Home..that's a High Fly Home Run, far as the Court is concerned.
sw
I.E. Look at the early pictures of DAMON when he had the goatee.
Slim, dark hair.
Now, months later, look at the pictures of him in the courtroom testifying.
Pudgy, light hair, blonde eyebrows.
Maybe he had to quit using cocaine, what will all the police and press around all the time.
They made a habit of doing what they did, and it is not fair to compare the consequences of their actions to those of Mark Klass or I'll say even Samantha's Mother. Apples and oranges, Kim.
By the way, if the Nosey neighbors were sooo big on who and what left the van dam residence, then SURELY to goodness, SOMEONE saw Mr. Westerfield carry the child out of the home, down the street and into a car? Someone MUST have seen him?
Oh, but wait! If no one saw HIM, then it is very possible they didn't see the SOMEONE ELSE that did it? Hummmm?
Just as they DIDN'T see a little girl who went into a Motor Home to play.
sw
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