In taped interrogation, Westerfield tells police 'my life is over'

San Diego Union Tribune ^ | January 7, 2003

[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.

[UCANSEE2]

I may not agree with your opinion, but I would fight for your right to have it !

[Freedom2specul8]

Thanks for posting the article red..

[Freedom2specul8]

If he stays in denial, he's going to make himself sick with the stress of it all. I wonder if the death row inmates get to talk to each other.. My gosh, that one website is sickening..they get to have all kinds of activities, and webpages..they can even make money off of their art. Aren't they special.

[Freedom2specul8]

John Neal's online
http://www.signonsandiego.com/forums/upload/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=29

[Rheo]

LOL..that looks funny as you posted it to yourself.

More documents are up at signonsandiego.

[Hildy]

I heard a little of the recording on the radio today and I have to say that he certainly was a Chatty Kathy. That probably just confirmed to the authorities his involvement. He just seemed to have an answer for everything. Impossible.

[Mo1]

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[UCANSEE2]

post 281 is to you.

[Freedom2specul8]

Thanks Rheo..here's the link

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/danielle/20030109-9999-westerfield_documents.html

[Freedom2specul8]

He sure was...I recall reading that his chattiness increased the suspicion...

I was trying to read the new documents..the link to "May 1, 2002, defense motion to admit 'lifestyle' evidence." doesn't work. :( Ratz

[Freedom2specul8]

They had extra characters..here's the url if anyone is intersted.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/danielle/documents/SCN_20030109150433_001.pdf

[Freedom2specul8]

I've been reading the new documents..I figure everyone else is too.

You know what...DW is lucky he wasn't detained for suicide watch after requesting the gun.

[Freedom2specul8]

I was right I think...at least feldie agrees with me.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/danielle/documents/SCN_20030109143309_001.pdf

Since they had a search warrant for body fluids, hair, nails..he was in custody. I take it this is the reason mudd wouldn't release the info before now.

[Freedom2specul8]

GO TO PAGE 7
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/danielle/documents/SCN_20030109143204_001.pdf

Feldman accuses prosecutors of trying to kill is client. WOW

[UCANSEE2]

The PDF files are causing me problems. Acrobat wants to update something and then my pc locks up.

Regardless, sounds like DW should have been on suicide watch.

[UCANSEE2]

What in the heck is that about. Read on, page 8 is interesting also. More shenanigans by Prosecution.

[Freedom2specul8]

WARNING: prejudicial and biased language in this post.

A VIOLENT STALKER?


FELDMAN ADMITS TO WESTERFIELD'S STALKING INCIDENT..wanted the info deemed inadmissable and tried to use it as a reason for mistrial.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/danielle/documents/SCN_20030109143048_001.pdf

Talks about westerfield being propensity to violence while drinking!

[Freedom2specul8]

wanted the beastiality pics thrown out..

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/danielle/documents/SCN_20030109143048_001.pdf

believes all the character evidence was 'prejudicial" against his client and violated amendment 5 and 14.

[Valpal1]

Kim, he's referring to the death penalty!

[Freedom2specul8]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/danielle/documents/SCN_20030109143021_001.pdf
prosecution wanted to present george johnson at penalty phase.

george johnson told police he heard stomping, banging, screaming and yelling and noises from a young girl coming from the parked motorhome. He said he then saw westerfield sitting on the edge of the drivers seat, pale and breathing heavily at a time that westerfield was suppose to be at another location...