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Defendant (Westerfield) Now Lives A Spartan Existence: Nothing Left But To Fight For His Life!!
Union Tribune ^ | August 5, 2002 | Kristen Green

Posted on 08/05/2002 8:59:13 AM PDT by FresnoDA

Defendant now lives a Spartan existence

By Kristen Green
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

August 5, 2002

Defendant David Westerfield talks to defense attorney Robert Boyce during testimony proceedings Wednesday, July 24, 2002, at the San Diego courthouse. Westerfield is accused of the kidnapping and murder of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam last February. Westerfield's son, Neal Westerfield, appeared as a reluctant prosecution witness. (AP Photo/Dan Trevan, Pool)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.


TOPICS: Local News
KEYWORDS: childpornography; daniellevandam; davidwesterfield; kidnapping; molestation; pedophile; pedophilism; pornography
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To: FresnoDA
Well, he thinks Damon killed her that night and dropped her off at Dehesa. If we are to believe the bug evidence proves Westerfield did not do it, then it would seem that Damon did not kill her and drop her off that night either. Also Feldman never called him to testify either. Not sure what to make of the journal and other comments. Sure wish some of this had come out at trial.
81 posted on 08/05/2002 1:05:20 PM PDT by clearvision
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To: clearvision
The theory is that she was hidden somewhere. That's why there was such speculation about the phone call on 2/15-16. The other point being that either Damon did it or he knew who did it and it wasn't David. That would explain the lack of emotion until PR corrected them during the trial. And of course he went overboard.
82 posted on 08/05/2002 1:13:17 PM PDT by Jaded
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To: demsux
From all appearances, SDLE are a bunch of friggin' morons and/or corrupt.

How about another point of view.

LE on scene, convinced this is another child kidnapped/raped/killed scenario. No reason to distrust the parents at first.

The detectives leading the investigation are close friends of the VD's CLOSE FRIEND, Diane Halfman. She convinces them also that it is a case of MISSING GIRL, now GO FIND THE BAD GUY.

Oh, and BTW, Brenda has a suggestion (she got from Damon) as to WHO IT IS!

Police may have been just as much a victim of CIRCUMSTANCE and BEING LED BY THE NOSE, as the general public is led by the media.

Once the DA camped on the case (due to high publicity value, guaranteed by the PR firm), Police were really being led around by the NOSE.

It may be that much of the evidence police took (think about it, there was an awful lot taken from the VD's house not used in trial) was being taken by honest, well-meaning investigators, and even though DW was the target they were told to shoot down, maybe they 'knew' better and took evidence that would be useable 'after' they got the DW trial over.

83 posted on 08/05/2002 1:19:17 PM PDT by UCANSEE2
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To: clearvision
ALL OF THE FOLLOWING IS SPECULATION based on the assumption DW seems not guilty and based on information gathered in genreral. None of it is presumed to be fact or statements of fact.

If Damon liked little boys, then maybe it wasn't him that would have molested/killed Danielle.

CONSIDER: Bill Libby had a 'date' with Brenda for that FRIDAY NIGHT.

Damon was reported to have been 'out' until 1am.

Where was Bill Libby all that time ?

Why didn't he testify?

As someone else mentioned he was prepared to take a trip to a CABIN in the mountains.

84 posted on 08/05/2002 1:24:36 PM PDT by UCANSEE2
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To: All
Maybe Damon had taken Danielle on trips to the 'cabin' before.

Maybe Bill Libby or some other men were allowed to have their way with Danielle.

If they Diary entries Daneille allegedly made were true, they could describe this scenario.

"I'll be better next time".

A little girl who wouldn't cooperate, and cried. Either with being molested or just being videotaped in sexually provocative poses.

Maybe Danielle was going to tell.

My best two theories are

(1)Damon wasn't home that night until 1am and Danielle was looking for her parents or ran away.

OR

(2) Danielle was going to tell on Damon or his friends and he had to get rid of her, and make it look like a kidnapping.

#2 fits the story of what happened closer.

85 posted on 08/05/2002 1:34:29 PM PDT by UCANSEE2
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To: Jaded
-Danielle hidden somewhere-

After coming to the realization that Danielle's body was discovered across from the Sloan ponds on Dehesa Road. I looked into the geography of the area. This area is called SYCUAN SUMMIT, it is a well known "mountain biking trail" for San Diego mountain biking enthusiasts. Now, a few days ago another poster listed/posted Damon VanDam on some website as having this Mountain Biking interest. (Hiding business card in seat shaft, etc.) I looked for the post I could not locate it again.

http://www.socalmtb.com/Trails/sycuan.htm Is Sycuan Summit-ElCajon/Dehesa -See: Trail desc. #2 is a dirt road- can drive a truck through it.

http://www.socalmtb.com/sd_trail.htm -Lists other types of biking trails.

My point is, their might be caves or caverns in this area that could have been used to conceal a body. If Damon practiced this Mountain Biking activity in that area, he might have been familiar with good places to conceal something. -It's possible-
86 posted on 08/05/2002 1:54:05 PM PDT by juzcuz
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To: Jaded
The info on DHP's site about Danielle's journal entries do not sound like something a young girl 'should' be writing in a diary.

They sound more like Danielle was being used for something, for quite some time.

Perhaps molested, by Damon, or friends of his.

Perhaps being shot on video to sell on the international market, or being broadcast out via the internet.

87 posted on 08/05/2002 2:21:31 PM PDT by UCANSEE2
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To: UCANSEE2; spectre; Politicalmom; basscleff; All
unposted true crime
http://www.unposted.com/

The content of this site is protected by Copyright Law. (Title 17, US Code) - July 2002 - P. & C. Montgomery



Intro
David Westerfied
My theory about DNA - I
My theory about DNA - II
1994 - The Copycat
My questions
The interview
1981 - Adam
1989 - Tiffany
1999 - Michael
Questioning the evidence: DNA
Questioning the evidence: fingerprints
My comments

Events related on this site are not fictional and are available through public records, conclusions and comments are made by the author.

My interest in the Van Dams started with the trial of David Westerfield, the man accused of having kidnapped and murdered their daughter Danielle.
My belief in his innocence is the reason why I started this journey in search of evidence to confirm or negate my conviction.
When a man is accused of such a horrible act, the only way for him to get his life back, is to show that someone else could have committed that crime.
If you think Westerfield is a sick puppy deserving to be hanged to the next tree, I invite you to follow all episodes of my investigation, you might think differently when you are done.
Events related on this site are not fictional and are available through public and police records. Conclusions are made by the author.

BEFORE publishing this site we talked to Westerfield's defense, contacted both parents of the two missing students and a newspaper regarding the information we found. Still, none of this information became public. I published this site as I believe the public has the right to know about what we discovered.
The site is, for me, the only way to get this information out.

Let me recall the events for those not familiar with the case:

San Diego California, February 1st 2002.

Danielle Van Dam is a lovely seven year old girl who lives with her family in the San Diego suburb of Sabre Springs, California. The parents are Damon and Brenda Van Dam, there are two other young boys, their sons, and a dog.

February 2nd 2002.

Around 9:30 am that morning, Brenda checks on Danielle and finds her daughter’s door open and an empty bed. Brenda and Damon begin to search for Danielle everywhere and finally, Brenda called 911.

Danielle Van Dam is gone, her naked, severely decomposed body will be found by a volunteer search team on February 27.

Meanwhile a neighbor, David Westerfield, has been questioned and is ultimately accused of the crime.

Media and trial reveal that Brenda and Damon Van Dam are swingers. The night of Danielle’s disappearance, Brenda Van Dam is at a local bar with her sexpals in search of partners to bring back home.

At trial, according to Damon, while his wife is gone, he plays videos games with his sons; what Danielle is doing during this time is unclear. Around 10 pm, he put the three kids to bed and goes to bed himself, watches TV.

The only official recollection of events is based on the declaration of Damon Van Dam, the single witness, who admitted on day 2 of the trial to having lied to police officers about what went on at the family’s home that night.

Defense will show that Damon didn’t reveal to the police he had smoked marijuana, consumed alcohol and snuggled in bed with one of his wife’s sexpals, just a few hours before Danielle’s abduction; Damon didn’t consider those details relevant so he provided a expurgated version of the facts.

Trial will not show that Damon was even in the house after he put the children to bed. Both Brenda and Damon took and passed a lie detector test and despite their reluctance to relate details concerning the night of Danielle's disappearance, police exonerated them of all suspicion after only 48 hours of investigation.

2 - David Westerfield

1981 - Adam Walsh

During the the John and Ken show interview on February 7th 2002, Damon Van Dam declares (among other things): "We were in south Florida in 1981 when Adam Walsh was kidnapped”

In 1981, Damon Van Dam is a teenager. He and his family live in Hollywood, Florida.

I am not going to recall the terrible Adam Walsh’s case, John Walsh does it better than anybody else and his excellent book can be found in any public library.

I will just recall the main headlines: Adam Walsh is an adorable 6-year old kid who disappears from the Hollywood Mall Florida, on July 27th 1981. He will be found dead later.

As of today, nobody has been found guilty for his death.

There is something that you will not find in the book but that figures in the Hollywood police report; that's what I am going to talk about.

Warning, this is complicated.

On July 27 1981, Adam Walsh disappears from the video game area situated in the toy department of Sears, inside the Hollywood mall.

It is hard to determine the exact hour of Adam’s disappearance but it is sometime between 12:30 and 12:50.

This is summertime, school is over.

Video games are brand new in 1981 thus making Sears a very popular place among teenagers in the neighborhood.

The first couple of kids (for better understanding I will call them A & B) arrive at the mall around 11:30 a.m. They go to the sidewalk cafe and eat lunch. From the cafe they go to Sears to play video games. They estimate their arrival around 12:15 and play approximately one half hour, that will be 12:45.

A & B relate to investigators they didn’t see Adam Walsh during this time.

Next, we have two other teenagers (C & D). They are cousins. The mother of one of the kids will declare to the police that the kids went to Sears mall for lunch around 12:15 and had lunch at the sidewalk cafe. After lunch they stopped at Sears to play video games and recall that while playing, an incident happened involving two other black teenagers. They estimate the time at 12:45 and are pretty sure about the hour because they had a 1:00 tennis tournament.

C & D cannot now be interviewed by the police because... they are going to school in South America.

Another teenager (E) arrives at he mall around 12:30, he goes to the sidewalk cafe and has a slice of pizza. From there he goes to Sears, stops on his way to watch cars and estimates his arrival at the video games around 12:45.

At the video game he declares having played with a little boy approximately eight years old. He declares that two black teenagers arrived and tried to take the game controller from the child. At this point, he saw a female security guard walk up to the two black teenagers and tell them to leave the store.

E, our fifth teenager stated leaving Sears after 1:00 pm. When he was shown Adam Walsh’s photo he was not sure if the kid he had played with was Adam. Chances are, it was him.

The security guard is another teenager, she is 17 years old. She declares an incident happened between 12:30 and 12:45 at the video game area located near the toy section at Sears.

She witnesses a fight between two white and two black kids. One of the black kids slapped a white child who appears to be 10-year old; she approaches the four kids and spoke to them. One of the black kids became verbally abusive and she told the four kids to leave the store. She declares the two black kids left the store via the south door and the two white kids via the north door. She also described one of the white kids as being approximately 7-years old and when shown Adam’s photograph, has no idea if he was the young kid.

Adam Walsh was never to be seen after 12:45.

What is interesting in all of the above is that we end up with eight teenagers, one child and six different stories.

***

Teenagers A & B declare playing video games around 12:15 for 30 minutes, and leave around 12:45. They don’t see Adam and don’t seem to have noticed the security guard or the two black kids.

Teenagers C & D declare (via an adult) having played video games after 12:15 and recall the incident with the two black kids around 12:45. They don’t mention the security guard and they are in South America at the time of the investigation.

Teenager E recalls having played with a little boy. He recalls the incident with the two black kids and the security guard telling the two black kids to leave. He doesn’t say anything about the security guard telling the white kids to leave too and he declares leaving Sears after 1:00 p.m.

The Security guard declares having seen four kids, two white kids, one being a very young child, and two black kids. She ordered them all to leave and assures that they did.

It is reasonable to think some or all of these teenagers are the last persons to have seen Adam Walsh.

Nothing shows the investigation seriously followed up any of their declarations.

I think it could have been interesting to know more about all of that and check exactly what they did after leaving the mall.

Sears was a popular area and teenagers know other teenagers who themselves know other teenagers..... One of them might have be able to provide a serious lead about how Adam disappeared. One might have seen or known something that could have helped the investigation.

More questions should have been asked.

What were the names of some of teenagers who "were in South Florida when Adam Walsh was kidnapped"...

I suggest people reading this page to go on a search engine and look for "Jamie Bolger". This child was abducted from a shopping mall in 1993. He was tortured, sexually assaulted and brutally murdered. His two killers were 10 year-old...

In real life parents warn their children against adults, they do not warn their children against kids or teenagers.

In real life, adults kill and kids kill too.

1989 - Tiffany Louise Sessions

I didn't ear Damon Van Dam say anything about Tiffany Sessions in the radio interview given on February 7th 2002 during the John and Ken show hosted in Los Angeles.

Damon doesn’t relate that on February 9,1989,when he is a student at the University of Florida in Gainesville a young student disappeared from campus: Tiffany Louise Sessions.

tiffany louise sessions In 1989, Tiffany is a 20 year-old finance student at the University of Florida where Damon Van Dam, then 24, is studying electrical engineering.

On February 9,1989, around 6 pm, Tiffany told her roommate she was going to take a brief walk. She was never seen or heard from again. Nothing was missing from her apartment to indicate she intended to stay out long.

Tiffany’s father mounted one the most intensive hunts in Florida history. The governor of Florida made a public statement about her disappearance. A $75,000 reward was offered for her safe return.

Like Tiffany, Damon studies at the University of Florida.
Did he possibly know her personally ? She is 20, he is 24. Is it possible they had common friends ? In any case I find strange he could have forgotten the “most intensive hunt” in Florida, not to mention the intensive investigation on the campus and all over the city.

Less than a month after Tiffany's disappearance, he marries Brenda Sue Cope at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church of Gainesville on March 11th 1989.

Marrying Brenda must have been such an exciting event that Damon will not recall the “most intensive hunt” in Florida history.

David Westerfield was not in Gainesville in 1989, he didn't study at University of Florida.

On February 7th 2002, during the John and Ken show, Damon Van Dam declares (among other things): "I was in Los Angeles in 1999 when Michael Negrete disappeared, I am a friend of Miguel Negrete, Michael’s father, and I worked with the men when it happened"

After they left Florida in 1993, the Van Dams moved to Texas. Then to Arizona. On to San Diego, California and finally in 1998 they moved to Sabre Springs where they bought a home; the home from which Danielle vanished in 2002.

In 1999 the Negrete family lived in Sabre Springs too.

michael negreteMichael Negrete is a 18-year teen ager who just graduated from Rancho Bernardo's High school and this fall 1999, he is a freshman at UCLA in Los Angeles.

Michael is a talented musician with good grades and a lot of friends; a very popular young man loved by everyone. He lives in one of the biggest dorms on campus.

On December 10th 1999, Michael attended a party on his dorm floor on the UCLA campus, with friends they sipped margaritas and listened to music.

After leaving the party Michael went to his room and played a computer video game through an intranet connection; competing against a friend that was in another room on the campus.

Around 4 am they finished the game. Michael went outside his room to congratulate the other student he was playing against, then went back to his room.

Michael was never to be seen again, his wallet, keys and shoes were found in his room.

Police searched the dorm's garbage and every construction site on campus but found nothing. Investigators tracked down dozens of UCLA students who had lived in the dorm, no one knew or saw anything.

The family offered a $100,000 reward. Hundreds of volunteers and friends searched for Michael everywhere and found nothing. Dogs tracked his scent to a local bus stop, that was were the trail ended.

At one point police thought they had a lead worth following; witnesses reported seeing a strange man on the dorm floor where Michael lives and were able to provide an accurate description of this man.

A sketch was drawn, posted, and distributed. No one has seen this man on the sketch since the night Michael disappeared.

Michael Negrete's disappearance is not front-page news anymore, but, when his suspected abductor's sketch is pulled from news wire archives I think there is a resemblance with Damon Van Dam.

The sketch of Michael's suspect is beardless.

I believe it is coincidental that, since the murder of Danielle, since his picture is all over the news, Damon Van Dam let his beard grow.

Police concluded that someone Michael knew had contacted him and had given Michael an incentive to leave the dorm at 4 am on that fateful Friday night.

What was it that Michael couldn't resist?

Very simple: a video game party.

Is Damon Van Dam like Michael Negrete a video games freak?

In 1994, Damon Van Dam, during a late spring cleaning, got rid of computer video games, in 1996 he was unloading video games and joysticks while selling his house in Texas, in 2002 he is playing video games with his sons....
Michael's mother confirmed, that without any doubt, Michael would have accompanied somebody he knew at any time for a video game party.

Is it possible Michael Negrete knows Damon Van Dam? After all, the man is a friend of his father. The Van Dams and the Negrete both live in Sabre Springs, California.

Coincidence. Damon Van Dam was at the University of Florida in 1989 where Tiffany Louise Sessions disappeared. Coincidence. Damon Van Dam was a friend of Michael Negrete's father when Michael disappeared in 1999. Coincidence. Damon Van Dam happens to have a resemblance with the man wanted for questioning in Michael's case.
If these coincidences had been found in Westerfield's background instead of a D.U.I., they would be called "strong leads to follow".
alt
Left: Damon Van Dam in 2002
Right: sketch drawn in 1999 portraying the man wanted for questioning in Michael Negrete's disappearance. Witnesses reported seeing a strange man on the dorm floor where Michael lived and were able to provide an accurate description of this man.

88 posted on 08/05/2002 2:46:11 PM PDT by FresnoDA
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Comment #89 Removed by Moderator

To: basscleff

Fort Lauderdale 1994 - Amanda


Amanda Mary Dougherty, a lovely 5-year old little girl known as “Mandy” disappeared from her parent’s home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, sometime after midnight on September 22, 1994.

She was reported missing early in the morning. There is no explanation for Mandy’s disappearance.

The little girl was last seen asleep in bed by her father around midnight and the next morning around 6 am when he went to wake her, he found an empty bed.

At home this very night were Mandy’s parents, her young brother and two pit bull dogs.

No traces of housebreaking were found. The two pit bulls guarding the Dougherty’s house added to the mystery. These dogs are known to be very protective, too vigilant to allow intruders into the house...and not even a bark or noise made while Mandy was taken away.These dogs, like the Van Dam dog, witnessed what happened that night, but, dogs can’t talk.

Mandy’s nude tiny body was discovered in a shallow waterway a few days later. She had been strangled, a wire twisted around her neck. Investigators said she had been killed shortly after she disappeared.

Mandy’s father was unable to recognize the bloated and decomposed body of his little daughter. Officials had to get an X-ray taken two years previously to finally positively identify the body.

Police concluded the killer knew Mandy, her family, their house and was familiar with the two pitt bulls.

Eight years later, Mandy’s death is still unexplained, the crime is still unsolved.

Does this story sound familiar?

A little girl that disappeared from her bed at night while the rest of the family slept, silent dogs, no trace or evidence anyone ever entered the house, a little body found so decomposed that X-rays were needed to make a positive identification.

It is familiar because, in my eyes, Danielle Van Dam’s crime is the copycat of Amanda Dougherty’s murder.

Amanda was found with a wire around her neck, around Danielle’s neck was her necklace. Both bodies were so decomposed that immediate, positive identification was impossible. In both cases the last person to see the little girl alive was the father.

None was ever arrested for the kidnapping and murder of Amanda Dougherty.

Statistically speaking, I believe it is impossible to find such similarity with two crimes and here, we have a perfect replica: two little girls kidnapped at home in the middle of the night while the family is asleep, while dogs are present and while absolutely no sign of housebreaking can be found.

We are all aware of other little girls being kidnapped but their circumstances were different. When the kidnapping happened at home, the little girl was not alone, witnesses were left behind like in Poly Klaas's case or, the little girl is kidnapped outside, picked up by a sick pedophile.

The dictionary defines copycat as: "One that closely imitates or mimics another".
Amanda and Danielle's murders are not a "close" imitation, both abductions happened in the same exact circumstances. They are different crimes seemingly committed the same way.

Both cases left us with the same unanswered major questions :

_How did an intruder enter the house despite the presence of family and dog(s)?

_Who knew the house well enough to find the little girl’s bedroom without hesitating?

Danielle’s case being such an apparent copycat cannot be a simple coincidence. To me, the only plausible explanation is that whoever was involved in Danielle’s death, was aware of Amanda’s murder. Aware enough to put up the same story.

News and reports show that in 1994, Amanda’s story was the case capturing South Florida’s attention with hundreds of police officers, firefighters and volunteers searching for the little girl. It is hard to believe that someone with Florida roots, especially in Fort Lauderdale, didn't know all these details, thus allowing the perfect replication, including even the dog!

Brenda and Damon Van Dam are Florida natives. In 1994, Damon's mother lives in Fort Lauderdale. I believe Amanda's story could very well be the source of inspiration to explain Danielle's story.

David Westerfield has no connection to Florida.


90 posted on 08/05/2002 2:52:10 PM PDT by FresnoDA
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To: MizSterious

Fort Lauderdale 1994 - Amanda


Amanda Mary Dougherty, a lovely 5-year old little girl known as “Mandy” disappeared from her parent’s home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, sometime after midnight on September 22, 1994.

She was reported missing early in the morning. There is no explanation for Mandy’s disappearance.

The little girl was last seen asleep in bed by her father around midnight and the next morning around 6 am when he went to wake her, he found an empty bed.

At home this very night were Mandy’s parents, her young brother and two pit bull dogs.

No traces of housebreaking were found. The two pit bulls guarding the Dougherty’s house added to the mystery. These dogs are known to be very protective, too vigilant to allow intruders into the house...and not even a bark or noise made while Mandy was taken away.These dogs, like the Van Dam dog, witnessed what happened that night, but, dogs can’t talk.

Mandy’s nude tiny body was discovered in a shallow waterway a few days later. She had been strangled, a wire twisted around her neck. Investigators said she had been killed shortly after she disappeared.

Mandy’s father was unable to recognize the bloated and decomposed body of his little daughter. Officials had to get an X-ray taken two years previously to finally positively identify the body.

Police concluded the killer knew Mandy, her family, their house and was familiar with the two pitt bulls.

Eight years later, Mandy’s death is still unexplained, the crime is still unsolved.

Does this story sound familiar?

A little girl that disappeared from her bed at night while the rest of the family slept, silent dogs, no trace or evidence anyone ever entered the house, a little body found so decomposed that X-rays were needed to make a positive identification.

It is familiar because, in my eyes, Danielle Van Dam’s crime is the copycat of Amanda Dougherty’s murder.

Amanda was found with a wire around her neck, around Danielle’s neck was her necklace. Both bodies were so decomposed that immediate, positive identification was impossible. In both cases the last person to see the little girl alive was the father.

None was ever arrested for the kidnapping and murder of Amanda Dougherty.

Statistically speaking, I believe it is impossible to find such similarity with two crimes and here, we have a perfect replica: two little girls kidnapped at home in the middle of the night while the family is asleep, while dogs are present and while absolutely no sign of housebreaking can be found.

We are all aware of other little girls being kidnapped but their circumstances were different. When the kidnapping happened at home, the little girl was not alone, witnesses were left behind like in Poly Klaas's case or, the little girl is kidnapped outside, picked up by a sick pedophile.

The dictionary defines copycat as: "One that closely imitates or mimics another".
Amanda and Danielle's murders are not a "close" imitation, both abductions happened in the same exact circumstances. They are different crimes seemingly committed the same way.

Both cases left us with the same unanswered major questions :

_How did an intruder enter the house despite the presence of family and dog(s)?

_Who knew the house well enough to find the little girl’s bedroom without hesitating?

Danielle’s case being such an apparent copycat cannot be a simple coincidence. To me, the only plausible explanation is that whoever was involved in Danielle’s death, was aware of Amanda’s murder. Aware enough to put up the same story.

News and reports show that in 1994, Amanda’s story was the case capturing South Florida’s attention with hundreds of police officers, firefighters and volunteers searching for the little girl. It is hard to believe that someone with Florida roots, especially in Fort Lauderdale, didn't know all these details, thus allowing the perfect replication, including even the dog!

Brenda and Damon Van Dam are Florida natives. In 1994, Damon's mother lives in Fort Lauderdale. I believe Amanda's story could very well be the source of inspiration to explain Danielle's story.

David Westerfield has no connection to Florida.


91 posted on 08/05/2002 2:54:48 PM PDT by FresnoDA
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Comment #92 Removed by Moderator

To: mouser
I try to keep up with these threads but I have problems that keep me from being here when posts are new. I'm late but wanted to add a note about the scent dog.

According to one Lt. Duncan of the SDPD the scent dog that was taken to the vD house to find Westerfield scent was from FBI not 180 Frank. Hopi may have been the FBI dog but I am not totally sure of the name. The FBI dog apparently was taken to Westerfield house,too. I'm sure this information was never presented at the PH or to the jurors in the trial. Had the FBI dog found Westerfield scent in the vD house it most assuredly would have been presented in both PH and in this trial.

93 posted on 08/05/2002 2:58:33 PM PDT by BARLF
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To: shezza; Jaded
I'm in.......11AM Central.
94 posted on 08/05/2002 3:04:26 PM PDT by BARLF
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To: basscleff

Broward kidnapping suspect wants taped statement thrown out

 

Thursday, June 7, 2001

Associated Press

 

FORT LAUDERDALE — A man charged with kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl tried to persuade a judge to throw out a taped statement.

Stephen Covell, 35, of Margate, testified in a pre-trial hearing Tuesday that he was exhausted and high on crack when he told police he had abducted and assaulted the child. Covell said he was afraid he was going to be charged with the 1994 murder of another girl, Amanda Dougherty, 5, of North Lauderdale.

Investigators questioned Covell about Dougherty's slaying, but he was never charged with her murder.

Covell, also a suspected bank robber, told Broward Circuit Judge Paul Backman that investigators had threatened to file murder charges in the Dougherty case. They said his only hope would be to cooperate with the investigation, Covell said.

Sgt. Rob Schnakenberg of the Broward Sheriff's Office, who taped the statement, said Covell did not appear tired or under the influence of drugs when he gave his account of the crime.

He voluntarily waived his right to remain silent, Schnakenberg said.

Covell's lawyer, George Reres, tried to convince the judge that his client's mental state and the threat of the murder charge made it impossible for him to voluntarily waive his rights.

In a separate statement, Covell said he committed six bank robberies in Broward and Palm Beach counties. Reres is also attempting to have that statement kept from the jury.

The hearing will continue next Tuesday.

95 posted on 08/05/2002 3:09:49 PM PDT by FresnoDA
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To: FresnoDA
Wow, those are some theories!

Of course, the JURY won't hear any of this, now will they.

There is a light at the end of this tunnel.

After the trial, and the GAG order is lifted (it didn't apply to Court TV, I don't think), we will be free to get on with finding the REAL killer of Danielle.

If they should convict DW, then he will have time to appeal, and in the meantime, all the different angles and theories about how she met her fate can be looked into. It's interesting that people can come up with different versions of how she died, and how she was taken out of the house, by either her father or a guest at the home. There was ample time for that to have happened. BUT NO ONE has been able to speculate on how DW "did it"..except to say "well, he just did!"..

Of course, I don't think DW is guilty... and of course there were many suspects that LE didn't check out. WHY? LOL.

The Jury is oblivious to this.

sw

96 posted on 08/05/2002 3:13:05 PM PDT by spectre
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To: demsux
Dem..you have found some amazing scoops...have you checked into these posts about the Florida connection to The Demon and missing children?

FresnoDA
97 posted on 08/05/2002 3:16:55 PM PDT by FresnoDA
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To: dread78645; UCANSEE2
New WORD for your list

The Amazing deviated stroll: Happens when a child just walks out after dark, deposits her blood in the motorhome of a child porn collector, her hair in his sink drain and bed, deviates from her normal routine, and then winds up dead off the highway a few miles away.

98 posted on 08/05/2002 3:18:32 PM PDT by Freedom2specul8
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To: FresnoDA
Nope, the only thing I found re/DVD in Florida, was him peddling "self help" tapes...MLM type of deal.
99 posted on 08/05/2002 3:24:30 PM PDT by demsux
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To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
Kim...what do you know about this website... www.unposted.com I just noticed the URL when on the Millenium Childrens site...could be a wack..but then...who knows?
100 posted on 08/05/2002 3:27:37 PM PDT by FresnoDA
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