'Justice was served,' says grandmother
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/danielle/20020822-9999_1n22grandma.html
By Kristen Green
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
August 22, 2002
Danielle van Dam's grandmother was at work in a retirement home near Gainesville, Fla., yesterday when she heard the jury had reached a verdict.
Joan Cope turned on the television in a resident's room and searched for a station broadcasting the news. She learned that David Westerfield had been convicted of kidnapping and murdering her only granddaughter.
"I was so happy, I cried," she said.
Her husband, Thomas, and son, Thomas Jr. – Brenda van Dam's father and brother – were watching elsewhere.
"My husband cried," Cope said. "My son cried."
Danielle's parents, Brenda and Damon van Dam, are prohibited from speaking about the verdict because of a gag order on witnesses in the case. The grandmother is the first relative to speak for the family.
Cope said that when she got home from work, she again watched the verdict on television. When Thomas arrived, they replayed it on the computer three times.
The verdict brought them peace.
"It doesn't bring our baby back, but justice was served, and that man can never hurt anyone again," Cope said.
She talked with Brenda on the phone yesterday and said the family was relieved.
The Copes flew to San Diego after Danielle disappeared Feb. 2 to support the family. They visited again this summer, attending two days of the trial. Brenda's brother wants to return in September to commemorate what would have been Danielle's eighth birthday.
Cope said she hopes that the jury will sentence Westerfield to death. Danielle, she said, "got the death penalty."
"He's taken someone so precious to us," Cope said. "She was a very strong little girl, and she was fighting for her life."
Then, Cope added: "I really want him to have to think about what he's done to her . . .
That was my angel."
Kristen Green: (619) 542-4576;
kristen.green@uniontrib.com
I wouldn't expect her to feel any other way.
