Disquieting Disclosures: The Unbearable Sadness of the Danielle Van Dam Story

Disquieting Disclosures -
The Unbearable Sadness of the Danielle Van Dam Story
by Jennifer King, Senior Editor

There should be no quarter given to those who abuse and defile the trust placed in them by an innocent child. Child molesters are heinous creatures, destroyers of the future who themselves deserve to be dispatched in the most hideous way possible. Whoever murdered Danielle Van Dam (right), whoever dumped her soft little body into dirty scrub brush by the side of the road to be mauled and desecrated by the fangs of wild animals, deserves to die an equally painful and inglorious death. And, Danielle’s parents, Damon and Brenda Van Dam, deserve our heartfelt sympathy for the disastrous loss of their little girl in such a horrid manner.

However, disquieting revelations have been floating around this case since Danielle disappeared on February 1st, 2002. First disclosed by radio talk-show host Rick Roberts, these rumors have been linked to an unnamed San Diego Law Enforcement Officer (LEO). The rumors alleged that the Van Dam’s were “swingers”, who had a special room set up in their garage - with inside locks - where eager participants had orgies replete with heavy drinking and pot smoking.

The Van Dam’s, on their appearances on Larry King Live and America’s Most Wanted, seemed evasive, dodging questions about their personal lifestyle. They also almost immediately hired a PR firm, whose spokesman likewise deflected this line of questioning without denying it outright.

Thursday, in court hearings, both Brenda and Damon Van Dam seemed to verify some of these allegations. At the very least, the Van Dam behavior and home life can be said to have been highly unusual.

Brenda Van Dam (left) gave some staggering testimony. Among the stunners were the revelation that she had left 7-year old Danielle alone, trying on clothes, in Mervyn’s, while she hunted down her 5 and 10-year old sons who were “at other stores” in the same mall. Then, Brenda admitted that she had noticed her neighbor, David Westerfield (right), the accused killer, at a Poway bar, “Dad’s”, the previous Friday, January 25th. Van Dam, who was with two friends, Barbara and Denise, admitted under questioning, that the three women had been dancing together, suggestively, with Barbara even attempting to fondle Brenda’s breasts.

According to testimony, the following week, Brenda Van Dam, Danielle and her brother went over to Westerfield’s house in order to sell him some Girl Scout cookies. Westerfield asked Van Dam why she hadn’t introduced him to her friends, who, he allegedly said, “looked really fun“. She also testified that Westerfield had told her that he often had “adult BBQ’s”, at which, according to Van Dam, he said, “He would provide the salad, but everyone had to bring their own meat.“ Van Dam testified that she told Westerfield to meet her and her friends at "Dad’s" the following Friday, and she would then introduce him to her friends.

On February 1st, the day Danielle would disappear, the following events transpired, according to Van Dam’s testimony. Brenda returned with the kids at approximately 5:30, then went out to pick up pizza for dinner, leaving the children alone in the house. After dinner, her two girlfriends, Denise and Barbara, came over and stayed about 15 minutes. The three women each had a beer, then they and Brenda’s husband Damon, met in the garage, where they smoked part of a joint (marijuana cigarette).

At approximately 8:30 p.m., the three women went to “Dad’s” where they met up with Westerfield. Westerfield bought them all drinks (Brenda testified that she had three cranberry-vodkas, one shot of tequila and one Red Bull). Westerfield says he danced with Van Dam, she initially denied it, but testified under oath that she “couldn’t recall.” She did admit to “slow dancing” with an older man, and testified that Denise and Barbara were “sexual dancing” with each other and with other women in the bar.

Van Dam also testified that the girlfriends met up with two men named “Rich and Keith.” Rich was alleged to be the pot connection, in later testimony given by Damon Van Dam. Supposedly, Keith was very interested in Barbara, and confided to Brenda that he had “popped a “V”, apparently referring to a Viagra pill. He allegedly asked Brenda to facilitate a tryst between the two.

At 2:00 a.m., when closing time was announced, the three women got in Brenda’s truck (allegedly taking hits from the same joint they had smoked earlier) and the two men drove in another vehicle to the Van Dam home. Damon, who was allegedly asleep in his underwear in his own bed, was awakened by Barbara, who climbed on top of the bed. Damon admits to “kissing” Barbara, and “rubbing her back”.

Brenda Van Dam came upstairs about 15 minutes later, informed the couple that they were being “rude” and that they should join the rest of the ensemble downstairs. Yet, after pizza, the remaining guests allegedly left. The Van Dam’s assert that they went to bed at approximately 2:30 a.m. They did not consider checking on their children then, and did not realize that Danielle was missing until approximately 9:30 a.m. the next morning.

Danielle’s naked and decomposed body was found by volunteer searchers on February 27th.

Whether her parent’s lifestyle had anything to do with her death is debatable. Surely, the Van Dams love their children, aged 10, 7 (Danielle) and 5. Yet the Van Dams appear to have engaged in a lot of activities which could be directly and indirectly injurious to their family. There aren’t too many families, for example, where the mother leaves her young children alone while she runs out to pick up dinner. There aren’t too many devoted mothers who routinely spend Friday nights dirty-dancing at the local bar. Wise parents who exercise sound oversight do not partake in the heavy drinking and pot smoking which appear to have occurred on a regular basis in the Van Dam household.

And, most parents simply do not invite a group of drunken, pot-addled barflys over to their home at 2 o’clock in the morning, while their innocent children sleep only a few rooms away. One wonders whether either Damon or Brenda’s “friend” Barbara, ever considered what the children would think should they awaken and find their father with a woman who wasn‘t their mother rolling around on their parent’s bed.

Many dark theories abound as to what might actually have transpired between the Van Dams and David Westerfield. According to the defense attorney, witnesses have offered to come forward to testify that, not only DID Brenda Van Dam dance with Westerfield, but she did so exclusively and in a suggestive manner. Nevertheless, Westerfield may indeed be solely responsible for the murder of Danielle, and if he is found guilty than he should fry.

However, the Van Dam’s do appear to have fostered, at the very minimum, a home environment where the least suitable people would often be around their most precious assets. Their little girl, unfortunately, was the one who paid the price. ***

I was glad to see it mentioned, what would the kids have thought if they had stumbled onto their dad in "mom and dad's bed" with mom's friend. Some have made it sound like their activities were "okay" because it was in their locked garage, supposedly away from the kids. Their activities were not okay when young kids are in the house (and some of us think they are vile even if kids are not around), and now we know they did it in their own bedroom. Who knows if or how many times these littles got up from a bad dream toddling into mommy and daddy's room to find who knows what!

Speaking of the VD's......this shopping trip previously rumored is now confirmed by KOGO and KFI-Los Angeles, arranged by the VD - PR firm. This is really amazing.

A limo picks up Brenda, and a bunch of her Gal Pals....so did that include Denise and Barb?? Who else? Just some of the neighbor girls?

The PR firm convinces Nordstrom's to "open-early" so that Brenda can go on a shopping spree......THAT IS YUCKY....

If, "as the PR firm is saying" she needed a dress for the funeral, then have someone grab a size 10-12, black, and that is that....but a shopping spree?

Again, the article is haunting....the Van Dam’s do appear to have fostered, at the very minimum, a home environment where the least suitable people would often be around their most precious assets

That's exactly what I thought..shopping for a funeral dress. DId I not tell ya? HUH? Of course I told you.

Dear Kim

REMOVED FIRST FEW PARAGRAPHS

As for people "Getting rich", I incurred many un-reimbursed expenses related to the search and also took a month off from my business, and I was happy to do it all and I still will send a check to the Laura Recovery Center Foundation for their fine work. There was such a good story here about nice people doing good work to find a little girl. I'm not talking about myself here but rather all of the Volunteer Searchers and neighbors that gave so much of themselves for one beautiful little girl but it all gets lost because people would rather talk about scandal and conspiracy theories. I for one and inspired and I will not let it drag me down.

Thank You again for keeping us informed,
Web master
Sabre Springs Neighbors - www.daniellemissing.com

he was there - he seized the moment and the parents are stupid.sorry, and oh so late in growing up and acting responsible like parents should

You are 100% correct! I posted the articles above to show that it was hard for the friends of danielle and their parents to see signs of neglect and abuse.. I'm not saying she was..I'm waiting for the counselors report..if it's ever revealed.

They are reaping the whirlwind of being thrown in the public eyes, in the mourning of their daughter who died a HORRIBLE UNNATURAL death. You and I both have to give them credit for admitting to their bad habits on the stand, in public on national tv. If those people have an ounce of sense in them...they will STOP their bad choices. Until you or I knwo if they've changed their bad habits, it's time to let them mourn, the the trial proceed, and see what happens to them later. Can you imaging having to admit that publicly? But, as I've posted the quotes before..brenda stated to john walsh 3 times on his show that she is willling to be trashed for what she did. She just wants justice.

I wish jim rob would put in a spell checker..it'd make things even faster. :)

Brenda seems like a complete ditz anyhow who probably isn't too great at remembering things when she's totally sober.

You're probably correct, but I sense something very cold and dark in Brenda's eyes, 'way beyond ditz-hood. Nothing would surprise me.

Here's a What If: What if Brenda had been not only sexually abused as a child, but also had been used by ritual abuse cult, possibly satanic. She then was hypnotized to forget, consciously, but unconsciously she was driven to re-enact her abuse as she grew up, eventually as the perpetrator as well as victim....This is X-Files tinfoil speculation, but her eyes are THAT cold and her behavior extremely bizarre. Did Brenda and her wimpy slave of a husband perpetrate sexual abuse on their own child? Did it culminate in ritual murder? Will we ever know the whole truth? Were all of Danielle's body parts found? Should I be writing fiction?

Or perhaps, as you infer, a local gang found Danielle, spotted her previously as a psychologically unprotected child, selected her as victim for a ritual, cultlike slaying to be carried out by member as initiation into the gang. Lots of brutal Mexican gangs prowl San Diego-LA area. Every morning, corpses of ritually abused animals are found, and sometimes human corpses. The police may recognize some clues in the way Danielle's body was disposed of. So many people knew of the VDs habits, almost anyone could have carried out abduction of Danielle when they knew her loving mom and dad were otherwise engaged.

It's so easy to come up with the "what ifs" in this case,it's hard for me to accept Westshisname as the murderer. Seems too pat.

The stupidest line in the whole piece:

"Surely, the Van Dams love their children"

They did not.

Parents who love their children do not abuse drugs in front of them in their home.

Parents who love their children watch over them, in malls and at home.

Parents who love their children do not leave them to go out to bars to meet their connections.

Parents who love their children do not bring creepy, sleazy dopers and pervs into their home late at night.

Nope, the VD's only thought they loved their children. They never acted like it. The sad thing is, the one who had to pay the tab was Danielle, the one who was blameless. What pigs.

Parents who love their children do not abuse drugs in front of them in their home.

Neither testimony nor news reports confirm that rumor. HOWEVER, on the stand, brenda admitted they locked the garage door (lock on the GARAGE SIDE..(WEIRDOS) so the kids would NOT catch them doing drugs. I hope to God you are wrong. The counselors of the 2 boys will discover it if you are correct.

There should be no quarter given to those who abuse and defile the trust placed in them by an innocent child

Kimmie, you picked the wrong thread to assume the VD apologist position.

The article posted by THE RIGHT STUFF is dead on accurate, and is very damning towards the innocent VD's, IMO....

Admitting to their bad habits?? Hardly..they have evasively dodged all inquiries up until the point that they were backed into a corner, and the DA took a tactical shot at diffusing Feldman's inevitable inquiry into the VD's sexual proclivity....in layman's terms, they were drug kicking and screaming to the stand, and their confessions were less than sincere, since more and more discrepancies in not only their corroborative testimony toward each others actions that night, but discrepancies in their own individual stories.....again, hardly what I call being THROWN in the public eye.....

Geez, how can you say they are private folks on the one hand, when their entire leisure time is spent in finding multiple partners to share their private lives with, IE (swingers)!

What if Brenda had been not only sexually abused as a child, but also had been used by ritual abuse cult, possibly satanic

Ewww...thought that, posted it sort of...took a week to put the flames out on my computer....LOL

It was Gori (?) I believe who posted the High Sabbat Occultist Calendar.

February 2, 2002 is one of 12 High Satanic Holy Days, and it is a human sacrificial date......darn creepy......FLAME SUIT......Zipppppp....NOW ON!!!

The said they smoked pot, drank beer, locked themselves in garage, partied, kissed other people...i think that qualifies as admitting in public.

I'M NOT AN VD APOLOGIST BUT YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND TRY TO CREATE THAT FALSE IMPRESSION IN OTHER PEOPLE'S MINDS

How would you like it if I called you a westerfield apologist? Or how about being classified as being part of a group of people who is more obsessed with the parents when the perpetrator IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT NOW. Why do you continue to ignore the parents' willingness to be trashed in public? Why do you ignore the fact that they admitted on stand their faults? Why do you ignore the fact that the judge said "let it go" during the ph?

If the dope was smoked IN the home, do you really think the kids never saw it? The paraphenalia? Smelled it? That's a stretch, even with whatever "locks" were in place.

Also of note is that, if caught by the authorities at one of their parties, with known drug dealers present, they could have lost their children and their home.
Loving parents do not risk that. I say it again, they are pigs.

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