[Southflanknorthpawsis]

This is old ground, but I began to go back to it today with this release of affidavits.....taking us back to the very beginning.

I have real big problems with the very first moments of this and of course, it just expands from there. But.......

How normal or believable are the first moments of the van Dams in this case ? There are a number of convenient circumstances that just magically (cough, cough) fell into place for them.

1. In spite of various indications of open doors, etc., no one ever looks in on the child ?????
2. All items in the house must have shown no sign of being disturbed ?????
3. Danielle's absence is undetected until 9:00 am ?????
4. Call to 911 is almost immediate ?????
5. Although it is well into daylight and others are awake in the house, BvD and DvD never think that maybe Danielle walked outside on her own and went to a neighbor's ????? They tell the 911 operator that they haven't checked with neighbor's before calling ?????
6. The supposed kidnapper/murderer keeps the victim in his house until daylight, never knowing at what time she may be discovered gone ?????

NONE of this passes the smell test.

I can't think of anyone who would find his/her child's bed empty at 9 in the morning and not at least look outside and in the vicinity of the home. Who would call 911 and report her "missing" immediately when other possiblities were much more likely ?

I think the van Dams should have been deemed suspicious and remained so from day one. Their behavior was much more peculiar and unusual than a stupid hose stretched across a lawn.

Then when it was learned that they regularly "entertained" unsavory people in their home, the delving should have been intense.

I believe it never was more than a superficial scan and Diane Halfman quickly sent LE on their way.

If one stops to really contemplate the activities in those first hours and then consider the strain to make DW be the guilty one, it is really disturbing.

The idea of a frame-up and/or manufactured evidence starts to become more and more feasible.

[the Deejay]

"I think the van Dams should have been deemed suspicious and remained so from day one. Their behavior was much more peculiar and unusual than a stupid hose stretched across a lawn."


Yep. I've been thinking this same thing since the prelim ended. Under the circumstances, if I were one of the investigators, I would have looked long time at Damon. He would have been my first suspect.

[MizSterious]

And, you can add to your long list--how did the kidnapper keep her confined? See my post on no evidence of being bound.

[the-gooroo]

Great post! You raise some excellent questions. Damon testified that he checked the backyard and then DROVE around the area. I agree with you, why didn't they call her friends first, or the neighbors to see if any one had seen her? Why didn't Damon drive to her friends house to see if she was there? Their first reaction according to their testimony was panic and called 911. Like you said, it just doesn't pass the smell test.