Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Suspect in van Dam case had photos of another Danielle
AP ^ | 3-12-02 | BEN FOX, Associated Press Writer

Posted on 03/12/2002 2:12:19 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer

Edited on 04/13/2004 2:39:54 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

SAN DIEGO (AP) --

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; US: California
KEYWORDS: dam; murder; van
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-49 next last
To: CAPPSMADNESS
I'm not sure if you've been following all the threads..so I don't know if you are already aware of the following or not.. It's pretty interesting too. I guess we could say for every allegation, there is another hiding behind it.. and a comeback for everything! LOL I guess we could explain away his entire weekend..maybe the defense will do just that??

http://www.geocities.com/contempl8/freepersinvestigate/2.html

Tow truck driver says suspect's vehicle was stuck in sand off road Dan Conklin, who owns a tow service that caters to all-terrain vehicles, said he spent more than two hours midafternoon Saturday getting David Westerfield's motor home out of the sand Westerfield,...has said he drove his motor home to the desert Saturday morning, the same day Danielle's parents discovered her missing. Conklin said he found Westerfield, who has been described by friends as an avid desert camper, in an area people do not normally take motor homes.

After the vehicle was freed, Westerfield was in such a hurry, he left behind the motor home's leveling ramps, Conklin said. He "just wanted to get out of there," Conklin said. "He just got on the highway and left." Conklin said San Diego police and agents with the Bureau of Land Management questioned him Tuesday. He took bureau officers to the place where he found the motor home, and they spent several hours there.

"I know this desert well," Conklin said. "This person did some things that were not normal at all."

21 posted on 03/12/2002 4:20:21 PM PST by Freedom2specul8
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: CAPPSMADNESS
and they were removed from the body and sent to a seoerate lab.

I did NOT know that! I hope this will be solved!! that's awful!

Do you know whose blood they found in westerfields bathroom. In between fixing lunch, posting on FR, cleaning and watching the proceedings, I missed all of that.

22 posted on 03/12/2002 4:22:54 PM PST by Freedom2specul8
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: CAPPSMADNESS
I forgot a part..

FEB 9th

"Police said they find it curious that earlier that same day, Westerfield, a frequent desert camper, became stuck in the sand in an area most campers know to avoid. Some campers told police they watched as Westerfield continued down a sandy stretch and remarked that he was sure to get stuck. "He knows the desert real well. What's he doing out there?" an investigator said. "

23 posted on 03/12/2002 4:27:23 PM PST by Freedom2specul8
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
As far as him getting stuck in the desert - my Hubby gets lost in downtown Cincinnati even after living there for 12 years - and he will not ask for help or directions!

On the other hand, he could of very well been acting suspicious. And panic set in when the tow drivers arrived.

like I have stated in previous threads, I will not slam the VanDams becuse of their lifestyle (and it is very suspicious also) But I still get the feeling that the entire story has not played out - and when it does, it will shock alot of people. I also refuse to convict this man before he is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. And right now - there is alot of flimsy evidence.

I mean heck - the girl's blood was found in her own house and driveway and we are just now learning about it!

24 posted on 03/12/2002 5:02:39 PM PST by CAPPSMADNESS
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: CAPPSMADNESS
Skin will dry and not totally decompose for quite a while. The skin that we see and feel is actually "dead" skin. If there are tiny particles of his skin under her finger nails they should be able to DNA it. I'm sure that they are working diligently to bring this evidence to light. Any forensic pathologist worth his salt is going to leave no stone unturned on this case.
25 posted on 03/12/2002 5:21:28 PM PST by notpoliticallycorewrecked
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: BurkeCalhounDabney
Danielle's blood in the RV and on Westerfield's clothing. A more organized, methodical killer would have used strangulation

Unless the blood was planted, (unlikely) there is no explanation as to why her blood would be anywhere near him. That alone is going to be enough to fry this guy.

26 posted on 03/12/2002 5:44:42 PM PST by Mixer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: BurkeCalhounDabney
"Suggestions?"

. . .only that I believe this man is guilty and whatever it takes; hope he meets Justice.

27 posted on 03/12/2002 6:03:28 PM PST by cricket
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: BurkeCalhounDabney
1. He apparently conceived this plot in a very short time frame -- having only seen his victim once, briefly, a week or two before the crime.

I just thought about this...unless he never, never, looked out his windows ANd stayed inside all the time, he surely had seen her going in & out, playing, going back and forth to school or something.

It would seem he observed enough to know their basic routine and when the Van Dams "had company". I know which of my neighbors are home during the day and aren't and pretty well know the time they get home from work, etc.

28 posted on 03/12/2002 7:11:52 PM PST by tutstar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: tutstar
oops, meant to put the #1 statement in italics.
29 posted on 03/12/2002 7:13:17 PM PST by tutstar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: RANGERAIRBORNE
"The Van Dam's are going to be implicated in this kidnapping in some way- perhaps only because they had Westerfield in their house for one of their little drug and sex parties. Or perhaps for a lot more."

Sadly, I think that you're right.

30 posted on 03/12/2002 7:27:08 PM PST by editor-surveyor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Texaggie79
"what possible logic could lead one to believe that he could get away with this?"

Logic?? - People that do things like this are demon possessed; they have no logic, or reason, only lust, passion, and fear.

31 posted on 03/12/2002 7:30:20 PM PST by editor-surveyor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
Possibly drag and jump. The scratches seem pretty suspicious, but then again OJ said he cut his finger on a hotel glass when he broke it in grief upon hearing of Nicole's unfortunate death...
32 posted on 03/12/2002 7:46:50 PM PST by lsee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: BurkeCalhounDabney
"There is something curious here, then: Westerfield seems to have been (prior to this crime) a competent, intelligent person."

That's just how Ted Bundy appeared to almost everybody who knew him -- except, of course, his victims. Ann Rule was a cop and his personal friend. She swore up and down that he couldn't possibly have committed these crimes.

John Gacy had more friends than he could count. He was widely known for his generosity, his friendliness, his civic involvement. Was presented with an award by Rosalyn Carter herself. This was before all those bodies were discovered on his property.

BTW, the body wasn't burned afterall. It blackened from exposure to sun and elements during decomposition.

33 posted on 03/12/2002 9:34:09 PM PST by Bonaparte
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
Those marks are semicircular dots. I was thinking that maybe he was grabbed with fingernails. But, the angle is all wrong. Think about it...
34 posted on 03/12/2002 9:42:50 PM PST by It's me
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: notpoliticallycorewrecked
DNA, like all other biological material, is very fragile and will degrade and decompose after a short period of time. Smaller sources of DNA are especially vulnerable. Why do you think that crime scene evidence collection is such a thorough procedure?

Transportation and storage

When transporting and storing evidence that may contain DNA, it is important to keep the evidence dry and at room temperature. Once the evidence has been secured in paper bags or envelopes, it should be sealed, labeled, and transported in a way that ensures proper identification of where it was found and proper chain of custody. Never place evidence that may contain DNA in plastic bags because plastic bags will retain damaging moisture. Direct sunlight and warmer conditions also may be harmful to DNA, so avoid keeping evidence in places that may get hot, such as a room or police car without air conditioning. For long-term storage issues, contact your local laboratory.

35 posted on 03/13/2002 1:35:17 AM PST by CAPPSMADNESS
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: RANGERAIRBORNE
Add me to the growing list of anti-flamers on this one. I suspect you are correct in your assumptions.
36 posted on 03/13/2002 6:15:38 AM PST by LoneGOPinCT
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer
Westerfield Preliminary Hearing, Day 2

SAN DIEGO, CA - The second day of the preliminary hearing in the case against David Westerfield continued Tuesday. Mr. Westerfield is charged with kidnapping and killing seven year old Danielle van Dam February 2nd of this year. At Tuesday's proceedings the prosecution introduced more evidence suggesting Mr. Westerfield is the possible perpetrator in Danielle's death. SDPD experts testified that Danielle's blood and fingerprints (photo above right) were found inside Westerfield's motorhome (photo above left). They also testified that Danielle's blood was found on an article of his clothing. The preliminary hearing is scheduled to continue on Thursday.

complete story

37 posted on 03/13/2002 6:44:43 AM PST by today
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
Fingernails, that's it. I was thinking teeth, but it could be fingernails. Anyway, they were described as a scratch, so it is probably fingernail marks.
38 posted on 03/13/2002 7:09:04 AM PST by Eva
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
Yep, I checked and there are four punctures, maybe five, the picture wasn't clear enough to tell if there was a mark where the thumb might have been.
39 posted on 03/13/2002 7:11:50 AM PST by Eva
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: RANGERAIRBORNE
However, I doubt that I could go into an occupied house (with a dog), go upstairs, kidnap a child (who is old enough to fight back AND make a lot of noise), then retrace my steps and get out of the house and yard with a fair certainty of not being seen by SOMEONE!!!

Maybe space aliens did it.

40 posted on 03/13/2002 7:15:17 AM PST by AppyPappy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-49 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
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

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