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In taped interrogation, Westerfield tells police 'my life is over'
San Diego Union Tribune ^ | January 7, 2003

Posted on 01/08/2003 9:24:19 AM PST by TomB

In a videotaped interrogation with San Diego police detectives four days after Danielle van Dam was kidnapped, an exhausted David Westerfield says "my life is over," seemingly coming close to an admission that he murdered his 7-year-old neighbor.

"As far as I'm concerned my life is over, the life that I had, the life that I was living is over," Westerfield says in the interrogation conducted the evening of Feb. 5, 2002. Danielle was last seen the night of Feb. 1.

"But you can't blame anyone but yourself, Dave," answers one of the police detectives.

"And I have no problem with that," Westerfield replies.

In the tapes released Tuesday, Westerfield admits "unusual" sexual encounters with his wife, denies anything improper about his alleged use of binoculars to watch neighbors and says the child pornography found on his computer was simply something he downloaded along with a lot of other pornographic images and that he had no sexual interest in children.

Superior Court Judge William Mudd agreed Monday to unseal the videotape along with hundreds of pages of transcripts, documents and recordings in the Westerfield case, as well as transcripts of police interrogations and court hearings conducted in secret.

Some of the material – audiotape and videotape of Westerfield being interrogated during the early stages of the investigation – was released Tuesday afternoon.

The remainder of the material, which ranges from transcripts of closed-door court hearings to motions regarding potential evidence, will be released Monday, Mudd ruled.

The ruling Monday came three days after Mudd sentenced the former design engineer to death for kidnapping and murdering 7-year-old Danielle van Dam, his neighbor in Sabre Springs.

Monday's court hearing came in response to a request by The San Diego Union-Tribune, which has been seeking access to the information for months. The San Diego-based 4th District Court of Appeal has ruled that Mudd must release the information.

The San Diego chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists made a donation to the legal costs.

Westerfield, who attended Monday's hearing, is scheduled to be moved within days to death row at San Quentin State Prison outside San Francisco.

During earlier court appearances, Westerfield was always dressed in civilian attire, but he appeared in court Monday in a green jail jumpsuit. He sat in a holding area so he couldn't be filmed by a television camera.


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To: Rheo
Microscopically similar to the hair from a weimaraner is microscopically similar to the hair from a weimaraner.

Not to a black poodle.
Not to a golden retriever.
Not to a dalmation.
Not to a mutt.



1,201 posted on 01/23/2003 7:15:04 PM PST by EllaMinnow (Below freezing in north Florida...)
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To: redlipstick
Thank you for a civil answer.

My problem with the dog hair was that Dulaney found over 100+ in MH..that were not similar to layla...she found 20+ she thought were similar, but only sent 2 to the lab..no DNA test done...and those 18+ she thought looked similar...she did not compare against Cielo, Precious or Donner, the other dogs that had been in the MH and could have gray/brown hairs with large ovoid hairs.

She did not testify that there are no other dogs but a weimaraner that could have that hair.

1,202 posted on 01/23/2003 8:08:40 PM PST by Rheo
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To: Rheo
http://community-2.webtv.net/msn.com/hergus/Evidence/page16.html

shows the dog hair charts.

Here's a link to the homepage of the site, which has vidcaps of the entire trial. Also has clear photos of the upstairs of the van Dam house with a layout showing the skybridge between the master bedroom and the kids' rooms.

http://community-2.webtv.net/anthas2/WesterfieldTrial/
1,203 posted on 01/24/2003 5:07:05 AM PST by EllaMinnow (Below freezing in north Florida...)
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To: Rheo
I thought for sure that it was the "steamcleaning" of the motorhome that pushed her off the fence...
1,204 posted on 01/24/2003 5:47:41 AM PST by demsux
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To: demsux
Care to explain your beyond stupid comment?

Here it is, el stupido: The trial presented evidence, to which redlipstick has referred. Nancy Grace can rant and rave about steamcleaning the motorhome until the cows come home. That doesn't mean one single person posting on the board ever claimed it happened.

But then, reality and facts aren't exactly up your alley, are they. Idiot.
1,205 posted on 01/24/2003 7:03:40 AM PST by cyncooper
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To: cyncooper
LOL
1,206 posted on 01/24/2003 7:06:36 AM PST by demsux
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To: cyncooper
BTW, here are some UNDISPUTED FACTS: (hourly post time)

The parents lied to and misled police for the first 17 + hours after their daughter was reported missing.

A 60+ pound dog AND alarm system in the home.

TESTIMONY revealed that the Van Dams were involved in wife swapping, with at least one occassion taking place in the master bedroom, just down the hall from Danielle's bedroom.

Damon Van Dam admitted having sex with Barbara Easton at Easton's apartment...Damon also admitted that Barbara Easton came up to the master bedroom, got on the bed and "cuddled" with Damon at about 2:00 am ON THE NIGHT DANIELLE DISAPPEARED.

Two people at the bar, Cherokee Youngs (female) and Ryan Tyrol (male), complete strangers to the Van Dams, testified, under oath, that Brenda Van Dam invited them back to the Van Dam home ON THE NIGHT DANIELLE DISAPPEARED...they felt that it was for sex...btw, either Barbara or Brenda asked Cherokee "if she liked girls?".

The Van Dam's drug dealer and his ex-brother in law came over to the Van Dam home at about 2:00 am, after the bar closed.

The bug evidence indicated that the body was placed at Dehesa Rd. closer to Feb. 15-16, than Feb. 2-4. Westerfield was under constant surveillance BEFORE the 4th.

The lead detective was "not aware" that blood was discovered in the Van Dam stairwell and garage, until the preliminary hearing.

A spent bullet shell casing was found on the floor of the girls room one day after the room was thoroughly searched.

NO evidence of Westerfield in or around the Van Dam home.

Unmatched DNA mixed with Danielles DNA on the cuff of her pajama's. Westerfield excluded.

Unidentified fingerprint on bannister in the Van Dam home. Westerfield excluded.

Unidentified hair on Danielle's body. Westerfield excluded.

Pot use and drinking by the parents on the night Danielle disappeared.

Location of body: somebody wanted this body found...not buried or hidden...an illegal dumpsite...more like a serial killer...Westerfield was all over the county and desert and could have buried her in the desert.

International child porn ring broken up at virtually the same time as this event, with one of the perps living within walking distance of the bar, in POWAY.

1,207 posted on 01/24/2003 7:10:24 AM PST by demsux
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To: redlipstick
Thanks, I've seen those......not sure what you are wanting me to see.
1,208 posted on 01/24/2003 7:17:30 AM PST by Rheo
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To: demsux
Damon and Brenda van Dam passed their polygraph exams.

David Westerfield failed his--miserably is the word used, I believe.

Your "facts" are all very interesting, even though exaggerated and hyped for maximum effect. Doesn't change the fact that David Westerfield kidnapped Danielle that weekend and killed her. I will make the logical conclusion that in the interim he viciously raped her.

This fact may be beside the point in your book, all things being equal and such, but it is the relevant fact as far as I am concerned.

And for the slow witted out there. No, I am not relying on the polygraph revelation for my conclusion. It didn't even come out at trial. I just find it interesting.

1,209 posted on 01/24/2003 7:20:13 AM PST by cyncooper (2+2=4)
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To: cyncooper
Damon and Brenda van Dam passed their polygraph exams.

Really, can you direct me to TESTIMONY or sworn affidavit (sp?) that says Damon passed the poly, or for that matter, Barbara, Rich or Keith?

1,210 posted on 01/24/2003 7:33:46 AM PST by demsux
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To: cyncooper
I thought you people said you were above that sort of name calling. So much for being superior. Sheesh
1,211 posted on 01/24/2003 7:36:54 AM PST by Jaded
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To: cyncooper
even though exaggerated and hyped for maximum effect.

Point out where these FACTS are exaggerated and/or hyped.

1,212 posted on 01/24/2003 7:40:48 AM PST by demsux
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To: Rheo
The copyrighted pictures. LOL
1,213 posted on 01/24/2003 7:41:32 AM PST by Jaded
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To: Jaded
BTW, I need to add that Brenda said they smoke dope once or twice a week.
1,214 posted on 01/24/2003 7:41:36 AM PST by demsux
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To: demsux
During the PH St. BvD said she smoked week maybe a 30 times. Funny the sealed statements (which still have missing parts) St. BvD said that they smoked about twice a week for the last 8 months. Maybe the 30 only referred to weeks. She also said she was on anti-depressants. What a combo. Anti-d's, MJ, Alcohol and Red Bull. Who knows what else. I'd heard snort but who knows.
1,215 posted on 01/24/2003 7:45:46 AM PST by Jaded
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To: Jaded
No wonder Rich Brady, their drug dealer, was able to afford a home in Sabre Springs.
1,216 posted on 01/24/2003 7:47:39 AM PST by demsux
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To: Jaded
A clear website with photos and straight text...far superior to Day-Glo cynicism and leftover droppings of FresnoDA's tasteless humorless wit.

Whassamatter J? Jealous?
1,217 posted on 01/24/2003 7:49:00 AM PST by EllaMinnow (I live in a world where the sky is blue, not green)
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To: redlipstick
The site does have good pics....what was it about the chart and skybridge you were wanting me to see?
1,218 posted on 01/24/2003 7:53:34 AM PST by Rheo
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To: redlipstick
So I see you've had your morning cup of battery acid.

You told us the other day you'd had enough. SO LEAVE.
1,219 posted on 01/24/2003 8:04:46 AM PST by Jaded
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To: Jaded
It should quiet down here in awhile...CourtTV is coming on and they can watch their mentor...Nasty Graceless.
1,220 posted on 01/24/2003 8:12:35 AM PST by demsux
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