Elizabeth Smart Thread, 9/17/02 to ???

[Sherlock]

I'm trying to find that information you posted so we can let the group decide. Do you remember what day you posted it? It was several screenfuls. The article of the investigator was from someone's website and was so far-fetched, she walked into the room and immediately saw Danielle's diary on the shelf, I found it clearly not believable and someone's propaganda. I made no response to that post because I felt sorry for you if you believed that article. The obvious indication of claiming Westerfield was being framed then painting Mr.Van Dam as sexually abusing Danielle was to me to lead to the conclusion he had killed her. I don't remember if it specifically said that. If you have some kind of evidence this article was credible I'd like to see it because I certainly find it near impossible to believe it was credible. I have never said anything positive about the Van Dam's, I think if it weren't for their lifestyle their daughter would still be alive today, but this website article, which included more that just the part about her going into the house and finding the diary, seemed to be to be intended to cast aspersion on Mr. Van Dam as the killer. Let's take a look at the article again.

[Devil_Anse]

What? I can't remember what Comment # 512 was, and I have searched through the "My Comments" section in vain.

[sandude]

What? I can't remember what Comment # 512 was, and I have searched through the "My Comments" section in vain.

Sherlock wrote comment #512.

[Sherlock]

I haven't found that post yet but this is from another one of your posts. This sounds to cast aspersion on Demon VanDam to me:

And they ignored the blood on her pajamas and beanbag chair, by the way. They didn't test the spot in the carpet either that Demon VanDam steam cleaned before the police got there. They didn't identify the fingerprints on the outside door or the blood on the cement outside or the drag marks outside. They didn't put her journal into testimony where she has some very telling comments - the type of comments that sexually-abused children use.

But all of that evidence in the Van Dam home can never be tested in the future. They re-carpeted and re-painted the entire house. All evidence is lost forever. We will never know, probably, the real killer of little Danielle.

I believe Westerfield was set up by a swingers group and that he is not just "not guilty" but that he is INNOCENT of this horrible crime.

Post # 59, Aug. 9, 2000 DELIBERATIONS RESUME


52 posted on 8/9/02 10:22 AM Pacific by Neenah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

[Devil_Anse]

Sherlock, I remember that stuff about Danielle's diary. I remember there was a letter by Danielle found, called the "apology" letter or something like that("Can't we be friends again, Daddy?"), in which the little girl apologized to her father--although if one read the letter, one came away with the distinct impression that her father should be apologizing to HER, not the other way around.

This material appeared on different forums, on various Van Dam case discussion threads. I don't recall seeing Neenah's name appended to it. It was written by someone who was clearly all over the internet, not just on Freerepublic. Personally, I thought this canned information was pretty much just crap and hysteria, in spite of the Van Dams' very unsavory and disgusting lifestyle.

I only glanced at the Westerfield/Van Dam threads here, but I don't remember seeing Neenah's name in connection with that canned stuff. You know, the one or two times I looked at the Freerepublic Van Dam threads, I don't remember seeing the names of ANY of the Smart case posters that I recognized. Were any of them also posters on the Van Dam threads?

Anyway, any sympathy anyone ever felt for Westerfield should be entirely gone by this time. What was in the water in that neighborhood, anyway? Seems like the place was full of perverts.

[Devil_Anse]

Sheesh. I don't see why anyone would need to push the "abuse" button, at least not 99.9% of the time.

Many years ago, I received an anonymous "poison-pen" letter at work. It was written by someone who worked in the same building as I did, and it made some very petty complaints. It was couched in terms of "we are your friends, we just want to help!"

I took the letter and made a copy. Then I posted the original prominently, on my office door. I also appended a short reply.

That's all I did. Within an hour or two, the majority of people in the building were in an uproar, expressing outrage at the coward who would write such a letter. I never bothered to look for the coward. Just seeing that most of the people who worked with/around me were supportive, and considered the letter a low trick, was enough for me. No need to complain to any higher authority b/c "someone was mean to me."

[freedox]

" Local authorities are denying rumors reported on television that placed 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart in Yuma County, Ariz.

According to the rumor, an individual approached the Salt Lake Police Department saying "Elizabeth is living in Arizona and is pregnant," Salt Lake Police Sgt. Fred Louis said. "There is no validity to that statement."

According to the FBI, Salt Lake police told them the rumor was false."

"The only thing we've been told is someone sent a photo up to the police department asking if that matched the description of Elizabeth Smart and they ruled it out as any possibility," FBI special agent George Dougherty said."

I'm a little late to the party, but there is something about this article that strikes me as odd. First, does anyone know if this "rumor" was ever actually broadcast on television? It seems to me that if it had been, it would have been reported elsewhere. Did the Deseret News jump the gun in printing this denial?

Also, it seems to me that if this "rumor" was so huge as to merit a newspaper article, wouldn't the SLCPD have checked it out more thoroughly than just looking at a photo? Apparently, the SLCPD didn't find the "rumor" worthy of their manpower......and yet the Deseret News deemed it worthy of a newspaper article in order to debunk it?

According to the article, the "rumor" that was reported on television (or was it?) was simply that someone had contacted the police and said Elizabeth was pregnant and living in Yuma County, AZ......since when is THIS newsworthy? Surely this is not the first possible sighting that has been reported in this case! I can't imagine a television station running with a story that consisted of nothing more than "someone said she was pregnant and living in Arizona."

Rumors and speculation have run rampant since Elizabeth's disappearance. What was it about this particular "rumor" that prompted such media attention?

[freedox]

"I'm trying to find that information you posted so we can let the group decide....."

Yes, Sherlock......by all means, keep looking. When you sling direct accusations at another poster on this forum, you had better have the goods to back yourself up. I'm very interested in seeing what documentation you have for your accusations.

[varina davis]

Rumors and speculation have run rampant since Elizabeth's disappearance. What was it about this particular "rumor" that prompted such media attention?

Maybe it has merit? Maybe it turned out to be true?

Glad to see you back posting, freedox.

[varina davis]

I still think it's mighty strange that all publicity about this case has suddenly and almost totally disappeared. Newpapers aren't interest, nor TV, no more searches, nothing from LE. Something is afoot.

[Devil_Anse]

Hmmm...Was the rumor that Elizabeth was pregnant, in Arizona, false? Or was the rumor that someone came to SLCPD with a photo claiming it was Elizabeth (pregnant, in Arizona), false? Typical of police--I can't even tell exactly what it is that they are denying.

Surely if someone did come to SLCPD to allege such a thing, surely they sent someone to the supposed address in Arizona where "Elizabeth" was living. Otherwise, this will look like the situation with the blue van in Nebraska--where the girl in the van finally came forward, over the phone (calling from Massachusetts), remember that? It was never said that any police ever even went to interview her in person, to make sure she was really all right.

[Devil_Anse]

Seems like this is "jump on Sherlock" night. Please stick around. I enjoy reading your posts and as you know, so do many others.

[freedox]

"I still think it's mighty strange that all publicity about this case has suddenly and almost totally disappeared....

LOL!!! Yes.....the only thing we have been told for a "fact" here recently is that "ELIZABETH IS NOT PREGNANT AND LIVING IN YUMA COUNTY, AZ!!" Wow......now that is a huge load off my mind.....

[varina davis]

Secrets and lies.... maybe? Maybe not Yuma, but maybe pregnant and living somewhere? I certainly hope so.

[varina davis]

I enjoy reading your posts and as you know, so do many others.

That's a joke. Right?

[Sherlock]

Read post 544.

[lakey]

I'll be glad when they are through writing their term papers.

Got bread pudding but where are your other recipes?

[Sherlock]

I think this case has gone the way of Chandra Levy, whattaya think?

[Jolly Green]

Maybe it has merit? Maybe it turned out to be true?

More lies and distortions varina? You know very well that the story proved to be false.

[varina davis]

You know very well that the story proved to be false.

I don't know that at all. Never heard that any LE checked out the report by going to Yuma and talking to the girl. Unless you happen to know that the Smarts went there on their own?