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

Skip to comments.

Missing Danielle Parents Allegedly Swingers
Larry King Live ^ | Brenda & Damon Van Dam

Posted on 02/11/2002 5:06:42 PM PST by Petronski

Larry asked them about it just now on Larry King Live (2-11-2), and they refused to deny it.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: libertarians
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 861-880881-900901-920921-940 next last
To: Selara
None whatsover.

Thanks for the great response.

901 posted on 02/14/2002 10:40:16 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 900 | View Replies]

To: Selara; all
Here's another article, this one from a local paper (San Diego Union-Tribune) on this tragedy:

SOURCE

Parents becoming focus of public's interest in case

By Bruce Lieberman and Preston Turegano
STAFF WRITERS

February 9, 2002


All week, media across the nation buzzed about the abduction of a child from her bedroom in northern San Diego.

Danielle van Dam is still missing, but by yesterday the public's attention was shifting to the girl's parents, as accusations and talk-radio diatribes threatened to drown out news of the investigation.

The founder of a group that posted a $10,000 reward for Danielle's safe return suggested the police investigate her family. Radio talk-show conversations questioned the lifestyle of Brenda and Damon van Dam; television and newspaper reporters began asking them about it.

The Internet has been teeming with messages about Danielle and her parents. While some come to the van Dams' defense, the bulk are angry with the parents, and many of the messages are mean-spirited. They address everything from rumors of the parents' lifestyle to their statements that they didn't check on their children after a door was found open at night.

The van Dams, who discovered their 7-year-old daughter missing from her bed a week ago today, became household names almost overnight as they made the rounds of national television shows, pleading for Danielle's return.

They have used the reach of the Internet to ask for help in finding her. A Web site set up by neighbors provides a downloadable poster of the child and asks viewers to distribute it as widely as possible.

The shift in the response to the van Dams – from sympathetic to nasty – was swift as the couple tried in vain to keep the focus on the search for their daughter.

A family spokeswoman said the van Dams would not comment yesterday about the flurry of allegations.

One of the most outspoken critics was Douglas Pierce, who only days before posted a $10,000 reward for Danielle's return. Pierce, who describes his group, the Millennium Children's Fund, as a nonprofit advocacy group for abused children, said he was disturbed by what he saw during his eight hours in the van Dam home Wednesday.

He felt the parents lacked emotion, and said he was put off by what he described as their repeated rehearsals before facing the media.

The van Dams and several advisers plan what the parents say and how they look on television and in newspapers, Pierce said. "They were talking about their makeup and how they look in the camera," he added.

Pierce said the van Dams' two sons, 5 and 10, should be taken from the home while police search for Danielle.

Although he found no evidence to believe the van Dams are tied directly to their daughter's disappearance, Pierce said he decided to ask for outside protection for the children after observing the family, its public-relations team and a journal entry by Danielle that he said suggested conflict with her father.

Pierce said he was shocked when Brenda van Dam showed him Danielle's journal. " 'Daddy, please forgive me,' " Pierce said one entry read. " 'Daddy please love me. Danielle.' "

"After my personal observation, I'm asking for a wake-up call from the San Diego Police Department to investigate the family," Pierce said.

Pierce's comments enraged the van Dams.

"Douglas Pierce is some kind of freak who came into our house," Damon van Dam told a Los Angeles radio station Thursday. He called Pierce "evil."

"He is trying to start trouble for us," Brenda van Dam said. "We did not invite him into our house."

A few days ago, the van Dams began to get questions on television about their private life. Delicate questions became pointed yesterday when San Diego radio talk-show host Rick Roberts criticized the van Dams on the air for "not being honest" about "what really occurred" the night their daughter disappeared.

Roberts told his listeners that a "reliable" source "high in law enforcement" said the van Dams have engaged in "lots of wife-swapping." Saying he believes the source, Roberts reported activity by the van Dams on the night of Feb. 1 dramatically different from their description to the news media.

Roberts repeated his source's allegations for four hours, interrupted mainly by callers angry at the van Dams.

During a break in his 3-to-7 p.m. show on KFMB-AM 760 titled "The Court of Public Opinion," Roberts told The San Diego Union-Tribune he decided to go public with what his source told him because the van Dams' two young sons remain at home and "may be exposed to the couple's lifestyle."

When asked if he thought his comments were slanderous or unethical, Roberts said: "No, not at all. This is not a court of law. It's a court of public opinion. If anyone thinks they're slanderous, they can subpoena me."

Roberts said he told his program director he intended to disclose the source's information and that the director did not object.

Ed Trimble, president and chief operating officer of KFMB-TV and radio, could not be reached for comment after the show.

Roberts' comments prompted a flurry of new messages on the Internet.

A woman who runs a Danielle van Dam message board from North Carolina said, "It is the kind of situation that will show every wart they have – and it will horrify us to think how little privacy anyone really has."

In the meantime, Pierce continued to post the reward offer on the Web.

His Millennium Children's Fund is listed with the state of California as an active corporation first registered Feb. 26, 2000. In April 2001, Pierce filed a 990-EZ form with the Internal Revenue Service, listing the fund as a "children's public benefit charity."

Accomplishments listed on the form included creating Web sites for adults and for children, and "implementing" public-service announcements. Pierce reported no income and no expenses for the 2000 tax year on the form.

902 posted on 02/15/2002 6:38:25 AM PST by MizSterious
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 899 | View Replies]

To: All
In my research work this morning (San Diego Union-Tribune has a lot of good info, for those interested), I also came across this little paragraph in a much larger article:

Instead, the van Dams think Danielle's kidnapper climbed the steps to her second-floor bedroom – decorated in pink and purple – after everyone was asleep. (source)

All this time I was under the impression that the child had a bedroom that was easily accessible to the outside, on the main floor perhaps, or with a door leading directly out of her bedroom. Reading this, I realize that if she was taken, it most likely was someone who (a) had access to the rest of the house, and (b) someone who might know where to find the child's room.

Who had access to the house, if, as it's claimed, the garage door was locked? Which begs the question, was the garage door locked for the duration of the "party", or did someone perhaps need to use an indoor restroom? If so, it would of course depend on the "activities" going on in the garage as to whether or not anyone would even notice the absence of one person. The child could have been carried to a nearby vehicle and stashed there until the person said his/her goodbyes and calmly drove away.

The article is also full of the misdirection and untruths by the van Dams early on, like the "we were just sleeping" story. But mulling over it, I did find some information there that I hadn't seen elsewhere.

903 posted on 02/15/2002 6:54:37 AM PST by MizSterious
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 902 | View Replies]

To: Luis Gonzalez
I've searched for the link to the article that claimed Westerfield was briefly present that night, but have been unable to find it. I did read it, however. But even if the article (I'll post it if I can find it) was 100% wrong, one fact remains: No one is ever completely cleared of a crime until the case is closed! Any policeman saying that knows better, and probably said it for public consumption. My law enforcement relative remarked that even after the case is closed, facts can come to light that might implicate a different perp. He thinks that it's most likely that they want everyone to feel comfortable going about their lives (and no doubt lifestyles)--it's when they're "comfortable" that they get careless.
904 posted on 02/15/2002 7:02:00 AM PST by MizSterious
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 897 | View Replies]

To: Luis Gonzalez
Most people would agree that regular sex with multiple partners is pretty perverted. It's also makes them more likely to catch STDs, some of which (like herpes) are not curable. And several hundred posts ago, someone asked such an astute question: if everyone's so proud of that kind of lifestyle, how come so many of them take pains not to let the children know? One can assume only one reason: shame. I find that especially telling. I'm not talking about getting into the play-by-play details of the sexual act--these people don't want their children to know even the basics, that "mommy" and "daddy" have sex with many other people. They're ashamed of what they do on some level or other, but not morally strong enough to do something about that shame.
905 posted on 02/15/2002 7:10:01 AM PST by MizSterious
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 895 | View Replies]

To: Luis Gonzalez; all
Luis, I think we can clear up at least two disturbing factors, thanks to an article in today's L.A. Times. One is the question of where Westerfield was on the night in question. According to the article:

Westerfield was at the same bar that night but was not among those who accompanied Brenda van Dam home, police said.

My original source was obviously wrong, which might explain why it couldn't be found. Often erroneous stories are simply removed from news sites.

The other is the question about the high-dollar public relations firm--lots of us asked, where the heck did they get the money? The Times reveals that their services were donated.

Source

906 posted on 02/15/2002 8:25:01 AM PST by MizSterious
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 897 | View Replies]

To: Luis Gonzalez
Thanks for the great response.

And thank you for your gracious words. What is your guess on what happened?

907 posted on 02/15/2002 11:35:26 AM PST by Selara
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 901 | View Replies]

To: golitely
So at this point, the only focus in on the neighbor, and awaiting the forensic reports. I read somewhere that the area of the desert he drove to, had many old mine shafts.

I had read earlier that Danielle's bedroom was on the second floor. Also, the family had a large, though "debarked" dog. Now a dog does not need to bark to jump on or bite someone if the dog is startled by an intruder. So, this means that if it were a random intruder, they would have had to entered the house at a time when the mother was out, the dad was napping, get to a second floor bedroom, and get past a large dog.

While anything is possible, it is more plausible, that it was someone familiar with the family.

908 posted on 02/15/2002 11:51:00 AM PST by Selara
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 906 | View Replies]

To: golitely
"And several hundred posts ago, someone asked such an astute question: if everyone's so proud of that kind of lifestyle, how come so many of them take pains not to let the children know?"

Because it isn't the children's business, that's why.

My wife and I close our bedroom door while we have sex, and it isn't because we are ashamed of whatever it is that we do in there, but it is because we do not feel that it is the kid's business, at any level.

My parents are normal, in every sense of tne word, and they took great precautions not to allow us into their private life. And that's what it is, it is private time for the adults. Believe it or not, not everything that adults do should be made known to children. Even after marriage, my wife and I want time, and things, that are strictly hers and mine.

That does not, in any way, mean that we don't adore our kids.

If Danielle's parents had openly conducted their alleged (notice the word alleged, you are still working off rumours andf innuendo) swinging openly in front of the children, would that have made everything better in your eyes?

909 posted on 02/15/2002 12:25:45 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 905 | View Replies]

To: golitely
Did you and your husband allow your kids to watch you having sex?

If you didn't, was it because you were ashamed of having sex?

910 posted on 02/15/2002 12:30:20 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 905 | View Replies]

To: Luis Gonzalez
You know what, Luis, that was a stupid, rude, and ugly question. I specifically stated (please re-read my post) that they needn't get into the play-by-play account of the sexual acts themselves. Thus, your question was unnecessary and, in my estimation, deliberately obnoxious. I've played fair with you, and admitted (with sources included) when I was wrong. This post of yours is beneath most decent people. Please do not ever address anything to me or flag me on any topic ever again.
911 posted on 02/15/2002 12:40:05 PM PST by MizSterious
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 910 | View Replies]

To: golitely
"Which begs the question, was the garage door locked for the duration of the "party", or did someone perhaps need to use an indoor restroom? If so, it would of course depend on the "activities" going on in the garage..."

Now that we have settled the fact that the neighbor was never in the house (at least by invitation), I would like to see your source for the information about any sort of a party going on in the garage that night, or that anyone was in the garage at all.

I also saw something in the article that you posted that confirms one of my main fears:

"Danielle van Dam is still missing, but by yesterday the public's attention was shifting to the girl's parents, as accusations and talk-radio diatribes threatened to drown out news of the investigation."

Danielle is being forgotten by averyone caught up in the romours and allegations.

Sick.

912 posted on 02/15/2002 12:40:45 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 903 | View Replies]

To: Petronski
Sad for the kids.
913 posted on 02/15/2002 12:41:22 PM PST by Soaring Feather
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: golitely
So, in other words, everyone should be open with their children, except you?
914 posted on 02/15/2002 12:41:48 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 911 | View Replies]

To: Luis Gonzalez
Please learn to read before you post. That was not what I said, nor would anyone who comprehends the English language think so.
915 posted on 02/15/2002 12:43:29 PM PST by MizSterious
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 914 | View Replies]

To: golitely
"You know what, Luis, that was a stupid, rude, and ugly question."

My apologies, let me re-state the question then.

Did you discuss when and where you and your husband would be having sex with your kids?

Did you discuss your sexual lives openly with your nine year-old kids?

If you are setting a yardstick by which other people are to be measured, you need to step up to it yourself.

916 posted on 02/15/2002 12:44:26 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 911 | View Replies]

To: Luis Gonzalez
You still haven't learned to read. Please try it again, I'm not using really big words here. I specifically said it was not necessary to get into the details, just to mention that the parents have this open marriage agreement (to put it in polite terms). Actually, most monogamous parents do mention their monogamous arrangement with their children, without getting into the sexual details. So my question was, why don't non-monogamous parents mention their other partners, unless they're ashamed of it? But you knew that, it's just that you felt like insulting someone. Go away. You have no valid arguments, you offer no facts or news items pertinent to the subject--only insults.
917 posted on 02/15/2002 12:50:27 PM PST by MizSterious
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 916 | View Replies]

To: Selara
Also, the family had a large, though "debarked" dog

Is it typical to debark a dog? I'm not a dog owner and I have never heard of this.

918 posted on 02/15/2002 12:50:46 PM PST by vacrn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 908 | View Replies]

To: Selara
I don't know.

If I were to guess, I believe that it's Westerfield. I also believe that he is the source of the "swinging" rumours, trying to cover his own ass by taking attention away from himself, and directing it at the van Dams.

Who else would have "leaked" that information to the press? A law enforcement officer? Why? Releasing information like that can only hurt the investigation. "Swinger" friends of the van Dams would not do it either, out of self-protection.

The discjockey has either been lied to, or is himself lying about his source.

919 posted on 02/15/2002 1:12:30 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 907 | View Replies]

To: golitely
Why should anyone discuss their sex lives with a nine year-old?
920 posted on 02/15/2002 1:21:43 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 917 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 861-880881-900901-920921-940 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