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.
Well, the little "VIP" shopping trip to Nordstroms for the new Court outfit, sort of set me off. JMO.
The Brechner Report Volume 20, Number 4 April 1996 A monthly report of Florida mass media law published by The Brechner Center for Freedom of Information in College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida. It is published 12 times a year under the auspices of the University of Florida Foundation and is a joint effort of The Brechner Center for Freedom of Information, the University of Florida College of Journalism & Communications, the Florida Press Association, the Florida Association of Broadcasters, the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors and the Joseph L. Brechner Endowment.
R. Michael Hoefges, J.D., Editor Eric Fritz, Production Coordinator Anna C. Alonso, Production Assistant Bill F. Chamberlin, Ph.D., Director Sandra F. Chance, J.D., Asst. Director Brechner Center for Freedom of Information 3208 Weimer Hall College of Journalism and Communications University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611
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Judge sticks with ruling and orders Walsh files released FORT LAUDERDALE - Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Leroy Moe upheld a previous ruling and ordered the Hollywood Police Department to release investigation files on the 1981 abduction and murder of 6-year-old Adam Walsh.
The order came in an action filed by The Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, The Miami Herald, The Mobil (Ala.) Press Register and The Palm Beach Post. Judge Moe ruled in October that police had until February 16 to investigate new leads before releasing the records. (Brechner Report, Dec. 1995)
At another hearing held recently, the judge rejected motions made by the Broward County State Attorney's Office and the parents of Adam Walsh seeking to keep the documents closed.
The Public Records Law exempts records of an active criminal investigation, meaning one progressing in good faith or in which an arrest or prosecution is reasonably anticipated in the foreseeable future. Police have yet to identity the killer in the Walsh case. (2/12/96-2/29/96)
Now, let's see if we can find a copy of the police interview with that teen, and see what his name is/was.
sw
From what I have seen, there are several people on these threads who are quite handy with a search engine. I suspect we'll know more shortly :)
sw
What I mean is that I don't think she was proactive. I think Damon is the the cult leader and she is the best he can do for a follower. She's morally inept. Stupid. Malleable. Shallow, very much acculturated to the play set. In life, she wants what she is told to want.
Damon, on the other hand ....
Kim!!!
sw
sw
New song parordy : "Looking for Perv's in all the wrong places"
Kimmy, Dave Westerfield is a father of a little girl. He shacked up with a woman with two under-age girls. He lived in the neighborhood for two years prior to the van Dams moving in, without attacking the kinder. Then he waits another two years --and then commits a kidnap/murder of a little one ?
Nope, I don't buy it.
sw
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...
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020-450-12-78
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Record Created on 10-Feb-2001.
...
A cheap-ass blogger site.
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