Search for Danielle van Dam shifts to Mexico [San Diego case]

AP - San Diego Union tribune ^ | February 21, 2002 | AP

[crypt2k]

TIJUANA, Mexico – The search for a missing 7-year-old girl who police believe was abducted from her Sabre Springs home shifted Thursday to Mexico, authorities said.

A high-ranking Mexican official said investigators searched for Danielle van Dam in a gritty Tijuana neighborhood close to the border crossing with San Diego.

Mexican investigators have received more than one tip that Danielle may be hidden in a home in Colonia Libertad, said Antonio Martinez Luna, head prosecutor for Mexico's Baja California State. The Tijuana neighborhood is known as a base for drug and illegal immigrant smugglers.

In San Diego, a police spokesman said a tip led investigators to Mexico, but declined to provide a precise location of the search.

"It's one of 500-plus tips we've received. That's all we can say and that's all we are going to say," said spokesman Dave Cohen.

Danielle was last seen Feb. 1 when her father put her to bed. Her parents noticed she was missing when they went to wake her up about 9 a.m. the next day, authorities said.

Police said a 49-year-old neighbor, David Westerfield, is a potential suspect and they have searched his home several times and impounded his vehicles. Police have not said what caused them to focus on Westerfield.

No arrests have been made.

Westerfield met Thursday at his home with his attorney, Steven Feldman, who declined to speak to reporters camped outside the house, two doors down from the van Dam residence.

Danielle's disappearance has sparked a nationwide manhunt and was featured on the TV show "America's Most Wanted."

Since the girl's disappearance, volunteers have searched vast expanses of the Southern California desert as well canyons and coastal areas in the region. About three dozen Marines searched foothills east of Danielle's home Thursday.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

I sincerely doubt that she is in a home in Tijuana, unless she is being held by a child porn ring.

[crypt2k]

Or unless someone has run afoul of a drug cartel.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Sadly that since the parents were into swinging, porn, illicite sex and drugs, anything is possible for Michelle.

I am pretty sure that God gave us the Ten Commandments so we wouldn't run into trouble.

[oc-flyfish]

Southern California bump.

[oc-flyfish]

You are absolutely right. Unfortunately most of our "enlightened" citizens don't want to hear that.

[Registered]

[JMJ333]

You must be mistaken--I just came from a thread where some freepers claim that porn is not harmful. =(

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

I see you have been flamed by our resident porn princess. Consider it an honor and be glad you have honor and decency.

[Uni-Poster]

LMAO! Need that posted on some of the local message boards here in San Diego.

[Hildy]

Honestly, I've loved every single thing you've ever posted, but this is terrible. Even if all the rumors are true, and I don't think they are, do you think they deserve to have their child killed?

[FITZ]

Kidnappings are commonplace in Mexico, anything that close to the border is possible now. Maybe there were some bad drug deals made, or someone knew they had some money.

[DoughtyOne]

I honestly hope this doesn't turn out to be a good lead. This would turn the issue of illegal immigration very ugly. And as much as I detest illegal immigration, I wouldn't want it to devolve to issues like this.

[MizSterious]

What are you, nuts? Nothing on Registered's artwork that says the van Dams deserved to have their child abducted. For the humor-deprived, he was making fun of the parents, not the child. sheesh.

[crypt2k]

One thing's for sure - Damon van Dam is a lousy baby sitter.

[scholar]

...I just came from a thread where some freepers claim that porn is not harmful.

Anyone who believes that a medium that demeans and defiles other human beings is not evil frightens me.

[JMJ333]

Then the thread I posted will frighten you. I really fear we are losing the culture to hedonism/moral relativism.

[crypt2k]

"Her father is an expert in Earth cell-phone technology, and her mother is what is known as a 'soccer mom'. A perfect addition to our 'rise and fall of the human race' exhibit."

[ken21]

today's soviet union tribune had a pic of the police moving the closet doors out of danielle's room out of the house. they were wrapped either in white paper or plastic and labeled. the closet doors will be inspected for foreign fingerprints.

why weren't these seized earlier?

the police must be sucking air on this case.

[crypt2k]

A glimpse inside the infamous garage?