Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 1,441-1,4601,461-1,4801,481-1,500 ... 1,541-1,560 next last
To: redlipstick
Have a nice evening. :-)
1,461 posted on 02/03/2003 4:11:02 PM PST by Jaded (Watchin bop@T-MOT.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1460 | View Replies]

To: redlipstick
Hi. Back on post 1365 you made a comment about finding just ONE convicted murderer that passed a polygraph.

One would guess you said that because you believe that no guilty person could pass a polygraph. Is that a correct assumption?

Several posters found examples of what you referred to. Why don't you respond back?

It makes no difference, really, about the polygraph. The reality of the situation is that they are like divining rods. They may or may not indicate where water is and are only as good as the belief of the rod holder.

Even if every suspect that was guilty passed a polygraph test, it proves nothing.

It does, however, raise more REASONABLE DOUBT. It probably bothers those that believe the Polygraph exam he was given is further proof he is guilty.

It really isn't. That is why it is not accepted in a court of law.

1,462 posted on 02/03/2003 4:23:06 PM PST by UCANSEE2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1460 | View Replies]

To: redlipstick
I didn't ping you, Jaded didn't ping you...just who pinged you to this thread today?
1,463 posted on 02/03/2003 4:23:46 PM PST by demsux
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1460 | View Replies]

To: demsux
I see, ucan pinged you. PLEASE, ucan let her fade away slowly...
1,464 posted on 02/03/2003 4:26:35 PM PST by demsux
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1463 | View Replies]

To: UCANSEE2
"One would guess you said that because you believe that no guilty person could pass a polygraph. Is that a correct assumption?"

NO.
1,465 posted on 02/03/2003 4:34:03 PM PST by EllaMinnow (President Bush knows I'm not Damon van Dam's sister.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1462 | View Replies]

To: UCANSEE2
Even if every suspect that was guilty passed a polygraph test, it proves nothing.

If this were the case, it would prove that polygraphs are a complete waste of time.

However, since it is the case that the guilty usually fail and the innocent usually pass, they do have some merit.

They are allowed in court for the defense as evidence of reasonable doubt, they are not allowed for the prosecution as evidence of guilt. A good system, IMO.

And LE are allowed to use them to help them eliminate suspects, (they do NOT eliminate by them alone, however)

All in all, a pretty good tool, in conjunction with other techniques.

1,466 posted on 02/03/2003 6:55:36 PM PST by Valpal1 (We will sing in the golden city, in the new Jerusalem.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1462 | View Replies]

To: redlipstick; Valpal1; cyncooper; BunnySlippers
The rumor mill? Red...his sister? LOL!!

I've saved the freepmail excerpt below for a long time (it's about a few of the dw supporters). I got it back in July 2002.. I received permission tonight to post it. Seems the email chain thing, started a LONG time ago.
Check it out..this was written to me by someone who cares, who was included in a freepmailing by some darksouls...

"What you don't know is they freep&E-Mail some of us that are not regular posters on the thread and put down the ones that do not agree with their views, they don't know that I don't agree with them. Sooo I don't want to be a rat here but I thank you ought to know that they are doing the same thing that they accuse you of. "
1,467 posted on 02/03/2003 7:10:15 PM PST by Freedom2specul8
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1465 | View Replies]

To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
Some dark soul freepmailed me the other night, said he had heard from "several freepers" that I am Damon's sister.
I knew right away who the "several freepers" were.

(I'm just relieved they haven't guessed that I'm actually David Westerfield's 1st ex-wife!)
1,468 posted on 02/03/2003 7:24:23 PM PST by EllaMinnow (President Bush knows I'm not Damon van Dam's sister.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1467 | View Replies]

To: redlipstick
You got slammed with some hateful spam-freepmail? :(

I think that is terrible. Why does there have to be a conspiracy behind anyone who does not agree with them.

Now don't get me wrong..over the past few years there have been a few folks (of which I can count on my left hand) who have made me and others speculate about their real intentions..but nothing that caused me to let everyone on my email list know the suspicions.

1,469 posted on 02/03/2003 7:43:00 PM PST by Freedom2specul8
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1468 | View Replies]

To: redlipstick
To clarify..Was the person a meanie, or a nice guy passing on the message of a darksoul?
1,470 posted on 02/03/2003 7:43:56 PM PST by Freedom2specul8
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1468 | View Replies]

To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
That was not nice

You hateful spiteful old hag

Don't you hate it when someone uses someone else's words for their own benefit?

Just so you don't think I'd ever do that, I'll post your whole comment.......all the credit to you of course.

How awful!

You are hateful

No, it is you who are hateful

I'm here to annoy you cuz you don't agree with me..

get a life

That's rude!!!!

I'll kick your buttocks!

Mod, help me!!

You hateful spiteful old hag

1447 posted on 02/03/2003 11:00 AM PST by ~Kim4VRWC's~ [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1446 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

1,471 posted on 02/03/2003 8:33:51 PM PST by Krodg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1447 | View Replies]

To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
Must have been a slow day at high school...all the "cheerleaders" are in a tizzy.
1,472 posted on 02/03/2003 8:34:25 PM PST by demsux
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1470 | View Replies]

To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
Why does there have to be a conspiracy behind anyone who does not agree with them.

That's funny.

1,473 posted on 02/03/2003 8:35:57 PM PST by Jaded (Watchin bop@T-MOT.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1469 | View Replies]

To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
I've saved the freepmail excerpt below for a long time (it's about a few of the dw supporters). I got it back in July 2002

Is this the best you've got?

1,474 posted on 02/03/2003 8:37:10 PM PST by countess
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1467 | View Replies]

To: Jaded
I thought so too..
1,475 posted on 02/03/2003 8:37:51 PM PST by Freedom2specul8
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1473 | View Replies]

To: countess
Actually, IMHO it's it's not a matter of what is best or worst..it's a matter of as someone else said..what in the heck is the purpose here? Discussion of a case that we are observing as it unfolds..or is it about trying to ruin the reps of people on fr?
1,476 posted on 02/03/2003 8:39:47 PM PST by Freedom2specul8
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1474 | View Replies]

To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
..or is it about trying to ruin the reps of people on fr?

You're the one discussing your private freepmails, not me.

1,477 posted on 02/03/2003 8:41:25 PM PST by countess
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1476 | View Replies]

To: countess
Well.....what goes on behind the scense HAS affected the direction of these threads. I think your opinion is valuable countess.. I've not seen you participate in the bs that goes on.
1,478 posted on 02/03/2003 8:43:32 PM PST by Freedom2specul8
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1477 | View Replies]

To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
Discussion of a case that we are observing as it unfolds

This case isn't "unfolding" to you, cyncooper or reddipstick...IT'S OVER for you and yours.

The ONLY reason that you and yours frequent this thread is to disrupt, hurl venom and denigrate other posters.

For those with doubts, it is a place to discuss other possible scenario's at our leisure.

1,479 posted on 02/03/2003 8:44:19 PM PST by demsux
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1476 | View Replies]

To: demsux
You should really stop assuming dems.. let's be civil about it, k?
1,480 posted on 02/03/2003 8:46:16 PM PST by Freedom2specul8
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1479 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 1,441-1,4601,461-1,4801,481-1,500 ... 1,541-1,560 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson