Mudd Letters Opened To Public: Van Dam Jurors Continue to Mull and Ponder Westerfield's Fate! 8-15

Union Trib ^ | August 15, 2002 | Union Trib

[FresnoDA]

Letters to judge opened to public

SIGNONSANDIEGO

August 14, 2002

The judge in the trial of David Westerfield today allowed reporters to see court log entries of notes from jurors, as well as letters to the judge from the public about the murder of Danielle van Dam.

The letters from the public included a variety of theories about the case.

Jurors ask to review pictures, interview

One letter-writer sent the following theory to Judge William Mudd: "Danielle van Dam killed herself.''

A nearly illegible postcard with a Spokane postmark alluded to at least one ex-wife "with a drinking problem (who) lives in Spokane.''

 

DAN TREVAN / Union-Tribune

Some of the folders of documents made public by Judge William Mudd.

The writer failed to indicate whether the reference was to ex-wives of Westerfield – who has been married and divorced twice – or someone else connected with the case.

The postcard was unsigned.

Another missive came from a man who referenced another high-profile murder trial – that of O.J. Simpson.

"The O.J. Simpson case was a miscarriage of the state's justice mainly because Judge (Lance) Ito was too lenient with the actors defending O.J.,'' the man wrote.

There was no news Wednesday afternoon about the status of deliberations, but Mudd announced he was holding a sealed hearing 9:30 a.m. Thursday to consider an unspecified defense motion in the case.

Wednesday was the fifth day of deliberations. The prosecution concluded its closing arguments last Thursday.

Westerfield is accused of kidnapping 7-year-old Danielle van Dam from her Sabre Springs home and killing her.

He could face life in prison or the death penalty if convicted of murder with special circumstances.

He has also been charged with misdemeanor possession of child pornography.

The log entries show that on Friday, the jury requested ``all available evidence of pornographic images'' and a photograph of a teen-age daughter of the defendant's ex-girlfriend.

[UCANSEE2]

It was in a BAD place to hide a body, unless you wanted the insurance money.

I can only think of two possible reasons for the body to be placed where it was.

Killer in a big hurry to leave town (permanently) and found secluded spot (obvious cause other people dump there) and figured no one would see him do it.

Only other reason, what JJ said. TO make sure searchers COULD FIND the body. So the insurance claim could be paid.

[domestice]

I believe that the DNA has to be gotten from the inside, root part of the tooth...at least a tooth that has been dry. But everyone knows that when a tooth comes out..(our daughter will be 7 & has had a few fall out lately)...it can be rather bloody.

Just a thought anyhow.

[juzcuz]

Hi: U-see -Your calling to me-

Hubby and I just got back from eating some wonderful Wonton soup chocked full of veggies in a brown broth. It was light and filling all at the same time. Wonderful..

I'm still pondering teeth... and how come the lower jaw ones were all still there inspite of putrification etc. Will get back after I digest....

[sawsalimb]

Not sure if that would be true in this case-if there was still some gun tissue attached to the tooth,it could be used to transfer DNA,at a guess.(Not sure,and I'm about to blow supper thinking about carrying around a tooth from a cadaver in my pocket. IMO,it's probably possible,but it's a stretch.)

[the Deejay]

On the side is way more than what's on their paychecks.
I'll betcha. The paychecks are probably chicken feed in
comparison.

[crypt2k]

Did the vdams actually indentify the body, or did they just take the word of the DNA analysis?

Dental records.

[UCANSEE2]

Deejay intimated that Bill Libby now lives at the above address. Hope this helps.

Bill Libby.

Only one who was TOTALLY ALONE that night. (wife out of town)

Only one who was supposed to HAVE A DATE with Brenda, but (as far as we know) never showed up at Dad's.

Only one whose TIME that FRI/SAT has never been accounted for.

One who then 'managed' the DONATIONS to the Danielle Recovery Center.

One who had a cabin in the mountains that He/his son and Damon/his sons were supposed to go to for a FATHER/DAUGHTER snowboarding event. (if that makes any sense)

[the Deejay]

Thanks. It wasn't clear to me how they identified the body.

[UCANSEE2]

BTW, I went back and was reading the transcripts. Reading the sidebars that weren't heard on TV. Denise Kemal is the one whose testimony Feldman was attempting to impeach.

[UCANSEE2]

A tooth. Think about it. A tooth. All they had to have was a tooth.

[crypt2k]

FATHER/DAUGHTER snowboarding event. (if that makes any sense)

I thought a father/daughter dance was imminent.

[UCANSEE2]

I wonder if the friend's mother can corraborate that.

Why didn't they just test the friend's DNA with the blood that was on the PJ's?

[BARLF]

Ok, thanks Rheo.

[alisasny]

http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/733980/posts?page=1

Just read this and still have tears in my eyes..........

I thought you all would enjoy

[UCANSEE2]

I just don't know how else blood can be planted without it coming from a vial or directly from a person.

The tooth. The whole tooth and nothing but the tooth.

[BARLF]

Thanks Jaded, I was just reading some articles and saw where DW was being looked at almost from the beginning. Cause he was the only neighbor not home. But, he wasn't,there was another family close by that wasn't home either. Guess Brenda didn't know them.

[Yeti]

"Stupid" is the *last* thing I would call you DJ. :)

You know I am just trying to keep us all on the same page.

relax ¦¬)

LOL I should take my own advice more often!

[nycgal]

Why didn't they just test the friend's DNA with the blood that was on the PJ's?

Cuz they may not have gotten the results they wanted?

[UCANSEE2]

I've seen this on the Discovery Channel(?), but in order to get the DNA extracted from a tooth, the tooth has to be destroyed/ground down into a powder. Just rubbing it onto something won't work.

You are telling me that a tooth, that was just removed from a putrified mouth of a carcass, would not have any skin cells, slime, slobber, anything in it that could be used to wipe on something?

$100 says if I pull your tooth, I can get tons of DNA off it! All I have to do is keep it in a small evidence bag that seals. THEY GET DNA OFF TOOTHBRUSHES !

[UCANSEE2]

It would show a major and minor contributor tho, wouldn't it?...like the beanbag DNA.

It would if it was blood/sweat from DW. What if it was ketchup from a McDonald's ketchup packet, wiped on the lapel, then the tooth taken out of the evidence bag and wiped on it ?