Missing [San diego] girl's neighbor went to desert, beach and back

San Diego Union-Tribune ^ | 9 February 2002 | Kelly Thornton Elizabeth Fitzsimons and Joe Hughes

[scholar]

I am behind on the facts of this case. Did a FR search and didn't find any background information. What credible evidence is there against David Westerfield?

[BunnySlippers]

Now being reported that child pornography was found in his house:

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/kgtv/20020208/lo/1073356_1.html

[BunnySlippers]

See # 22. Child pornography in his possession. It depends how incriminating that is to you. It may not prove much except that it bumps him to the top of the list.

[winodog]

No matter what happened I pray to God that this girl is in Gods care. Stuff like this with helpless children involved tears me up emotinally.

Nothing in the thread says anything about the suspects past. I wonder what he has been arrested for previously.

With all the hoopla liberals make about doing things for the children I wish they would make crimes against children a special hate crime all of its own.Whenever a vile spawn of satan molest's a child or even tries to and the proof is overwhelming, kill them, kill them immediatly, make it torture and very painful. Make it available on pay TV. And last but not least let the father of the child administer the punishment. If they are not up to it I volunteer.

[BunnySlippers]

They went after Walsh for one reason: The parents are by FAR the ones most likely to murder children by overwhelming statistics. That's just good police work. Saying that they looked at Walsh doesn't mean that they let the real killer get away.

In fact, Walsh is the first person to say (I've heard him say this at least 10 times) to parents in this situation that they are under suspicion, to willingly take lie detector tests immediately without complaining so that they can be ruled out as supects.

[Henrietta]

I think that the neighbor, Daniel Westerfield, made a big mistake in letting police search his house. Stymied by the lack of any clues whatsoever of this girl's disappearance, they'll find some sort of excuse to charge Westerfield, trump up some sort of evidence against him, and put him away for life.

I'd be looking real hard at these parents.

[RGSpincich]

I'd be looking real hard at these parents.

They claim to have passed a lie detector test given by the police.

[marajade]

Why did he make a mistake if he isn't guilty and he knows that they are suspicious of him.

[It's me]

Conklin said that before noon Feb. 2, Westerfield hiked to an encampment of off-road enthusiasts and told a man he was stuck. That man went to Conklin's business and directed him to Westerfield.
Westerfield was alone and without an all-terrain vehicle or dune buggy when Conklin found him trying to dig out his motor home, which had sunk into the sand up to its frame. Conklin said he was immediately suspicious, and that he saw a long line of footprints that stretched from the motor home off into the distance.

Well, the "long line of footprints" seem to be Westerfield going off to get help. Unless, of course,they are going off in another direction.

I, too, find this story very disturbing. I heard on the local 11:00 pm news last night that the items that were confiscated from Westerfield's home had to do with pornography. I hope that is wrong.

Another thing strange, in this very strange case, is that Westerfield told the police that he danced with Mrs. van Dam and she says that she did not. Why the discrepancy?

The other thing is that the time she came home has changed from 2:30 am to 2:00 am. Why? And why would you invite people over only to have them leave after 15 minutes? Did they stay longer? Did they do the "swinging" thing and not want to prejudice the public against them for their "different" lifestyle? She did not deny the "rumors" that are flying.

It is such a strange case. I'm beginning to seriously doubt Westerfield's involvement in the disappearance. Last thing, the police spokesman on the day we first heard of Westerfield actually reminded everyone of the Richard Jewell case during the Atlanta Olympics. Hmmmm.

[marajade]

What I'd like to know is how long has he been their neighbor and his background.

[diefree]

I agree, look at the parents first. But the police work in Walsh's case wasn't good.

[contessa machiaveli]

the parents have been cooperating with the police and even passed a lie detector test....which is more than the ramseys ever did.they may be evasive because of certain personal problems, who knows. this westerfield neighbor smells to high heaven...whatever happened to the days when you could take a suspect into a back room and "encourage" the truth out of him.

[diefree]

The police are under pressure to solve a case. They don't always do the right thing. Look at the McMartins, Jewell, Kelly Michaels, the Amiraults(sp).

There are too many innocent people in jail, proven by DNA.

[It's me]

What I'd like to know is how long has he been their neighbor and his background.

That's the thing. He's been there for about two years and they don't really know him at all. Supposedly, Danielle sold him Girl Scout Cookies a few weeks back. That is the only connection. He is twice divorced and had two older children, I think in their twenties.

On the UnionTribune website there is a forum like this one and Westerfield's former brother-in-law said that in no way would Westerfield be capable of doing anything like this.

Go figure that one...

[marajade]

I'm not disputing you. I'm just wondering why they would zero in on the neighbor? Something must have caused them to do so. My guess is if they find nothing in the drains or the vehicles they impounded they'll start looking elsewhere.

[marajade]

Look at the evidence they had against OJ and he was found innocent. The police aren't that stupid.

[demkicker]

I tried your link and it didn't work. Can you re-check it and post it again?

[It's me]

There are other rumors flying around which I won't dignify by stating here.
As each day goes by, I get angrier and angrier because I think that the chances of her being found safe, are dwindling. I hope for the parent's sake, they are not guilty! There will be such an outcry ...

[RANGERAIRBORNE]

"I think that the neighbor, Daniel Westerfield, made a big mistake in letting police search his house"

Absolutely correct. Even if he is as pure as the driven snow, he should have INSISTED that the police get a warrant to search any of his property. That provision is in the Constitution for a very good reason, and we need to be sure to exercise it. NEVER "allow" the police to search your car, house, or any other property without a warrant.

By the way, airport "security" searches are unConstitutional, but due to the climate of fear and people's need for reassurance, I don't expect that objection to be raised. (They were barely legal when done by a private entity (the airlines) as a condition of using their service. But now the "screeners are Federal employees, which makes them subject to the Constitution)