Posted on 03/08/2002 7:54:30 AM PST by FresnoDA
sw
With no evidence of a break-in--indeed, with a drop of burglary charges--how did he get access to the home? The VD claim he wasn't invited but Mrs. VD's story has altered over the weeks. What is consistant is that they didn't check on the children. Also, how is it she was carried out without waking and screaming? In a similar abduction case in Riverside, the 7 or 8 yr old girl woke and screamed and the parents woke up immediately. The girl was recovered alive. The perp arrested. In that case, the father had left multiple doors unlocked or open.
How did Westerfield get access?
BREAKING: Gag order denied (per KOGO announcement).
Anybody who has ever been around kids knows that they frequently get saliva and blood everywhere they go. It's perfectly normal for a child to fall or bump himself, happens all the time.
Why are single men so often assumed to be pervs?
Just kiddin...
sw
Westerfield, 50, who lives two doors down from the van Dam home, is accused of kidnapping and murdering 7-year-old Danielle van Dam.
He's being held without bail and faces a preliminary hearing on Monday.
Meanwhile, two San Diego police detectives who attempted to visit Westerfield in his jail cell one day after Danielle's body was found acted inappropriately, a police captain said. "I have confirmed that that did happen," Capt. Ron Newman said.
Given the fact Westerfield is represented by counsel, "I question the appropriateness of it," he said.
"I'm sure the detectives felt that it was the appropriate thing to do, given the set of circumstances they were under," he said. "But we will be handling that internally. So it's not something that we would normally do. In fact, we should not be doing it, frankly."
Newman said Westerfield refused to talk to the detectives on Feb. 28, then called his attorney to report the attempted questioning.
In a motion filed in Superior Court following the attempted visit, defense attorney Steven Feldman asked a judge to issue an order prohibiting law enforcement from contacting Westerfield except through counsel.
Feldman said that the actions of the detectives was improper since they knew Westerfield had retained legal representation.
"This court has a duty to protect Mr. Westerfield from police misconduct, especially when it is put on notice that misconduct has occurred," Feldman wrote.
I hadn't heard that before, very interesting for just an aquaintance of the parents...that is exculpatory in my book..looks like the smoking gun is cooling off...any more interesting tidbits?
Excellent point! I am a single female, and a grandmother. The kids in my building frequently came to my door to talk to me, and often asked me if they could come in. I would always sit out in the hallway with them rather than allow them in my apartment. I loved the fact that little ones wanted to talk to me but there was no way I was going to leave myself vulnerable to accusations of impropriety.
I think it's time for the Feds to get involved. Then any little arrangements that have been made to ensure this guy goes free go right out the window.
Then maybe Westerfield will tell the rest of the story.
I have a picture right here on my bookcase of my nephews when they were 2, 5, and 7, and I hope the police never come in here, if they do I will blame Olan Mills and the childrens' mother, who sent it to me.
Also, in an attempt to have any charge to hold him on (IMHO he may WANT to be held, in view of what a lot of FReepers irresponsibly have posted)...this thing of "desertion" is listed, which apparently involved an informal exit from the military back in 1973. Those are never prosecuted NOW.
It does not seem, from all we have in the public domain, that the girl was murdered in any brutal or even discernable way, nor was she sexually molested in any violent or even obvious way, perhaps not even touched in that sense at all.
Looks like nothing more than an overdose of pills, and now it develops that while Westerfield's fingerprints may have been found SOMEwhere, they weren't necessarily in Danielle's room!
Where is the evidence this man is guilty of a crime, or even of having any more interest in Danielle than in a poodle down the street the other way?
Minipark near her home may be renamed to honor Danielle
|
 |
 UNION-TRIBUNE March 8, 2002 The Mountain Pass Road minipark where Danielle van Dam often played may be renamed in her honor. Scott Crider, a spokesman for San Diego City Councilman Brian Maienschein, said Maienschein's office is looking into that possibility. The park in Sabre Springs is now called Sabre Highlands Mini Park.
"Of course we will have to talk to the community and pursue it further with the family," Crider said. "Right now, though, it's in the very preliminary stages. But a friend of the family did say the van Dams were pleased with the suggestion." The 7-year-old, who was kidnapped from her bedroom, was reported missing Feb. 2. Her body was found last week off Dehesa Road in East County. |
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.
