BREAKING NOW: Detectives Arrive at Danielle Van Dam Residence for 4:00 P.M. Announcement.

KOGO News Radio 600 ^ | February 28, 2002 | KOGO

[FresnoDA]

BREAKING NOW, KOGO........Unmarked Police Car just arrived at Van Dam's residence, breaking now.....reporter says very grim faced.....expecting that reason for visit is warning VD's of positive ID.

DA HOLDS NEWS CONFERENCE THIS AFTERNOON
Authorities expect to announce today that the body of a young girl found dumped off a road in East County is, as law enforcement officials already believe, that of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam. Dental records will likely be used to make a positive identification. San Diego District Attorney Paul Pfingst said last night that all the evidence points to the body being that of the second-grader who had been reported missing on Feb. 2. ``We believe that Danielle van Dam's body has been found,'' he said during a news conference with San Diego police Chief David Bejarano. Susan Wintersteen, a family friend, said this morning that the Van Dams are ``going through unspeakable pain and loss right now.'' But she said that the discovery of the body ``has provided them with the closure that they so desired."
Stay tuned to KOGO for live coverage of the DA's news conference this afternoon between 4pm and 5pm.

[JudyB1938]

Thank you for that link. Here's one of the posts there:

Nueva 02-28-2002, 2:35 PM
For those of you who are so quick to judge the parents: I have yet to see, anywhere, any *proof* of the allegations regarding their behavior. It's all been "somebody said that somebody heard that somebody thinks that somebody suspects that somebody just *knows* on account of the vibes..." If you are receiving some secret tittilation from the idea, so be it, but keep it to yourself, and don't add to the pain that family is bearing.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

True, but then again, sometimes they are - also true.

However, if suspicion is immediately ruled out, an investigation should cover all parties.

Good grief, I had a friend whose elderly mother passed away in her (the friend's) home a few weeks ago. Even though the woman was in very poor health and 81 years old, the authorities literally treated it as a crime scene when they arrived. I couldn't believe that they even used yellow tape and would not allow the daughter into the mother's room.

Of course this is proper and necessary protocol in this age of elder abuse and euthansia, but nonetheless unfortunate. Until everything is clearly on the up and up, everyone is a suspect.

It seems that the van Dams were eliminated with lightning speed.

That brings me back to the curious timing of the primary here on March 5th and district attorney, Paul Pfingst.

I'm not saying Westerfield is not the guilty one, but I don't think it is as neatly tied with a bow as LE would like it to look or ultimately be.

[MizSterious]

Well, JudyB1938, we're all going to start finding out what's rumor and what's true. The thing about the swinging is, the VDs had every chance to deny the story, and didn't--on national tv, on the Larry King show. Most people think, just from watching that interview, that it's true. Pretty soon the lawyers are going to start giving interviews--the judge was asked to issue a gag order, and didn't, so now it's probably going to be a free-for-all until the judge reconsiders. Anyone who knows the VDs and Westerfield will be lining up for slots on Oprah, Larry King, and Barbara Walters (and many others). We're going to really start to hear the dirt now, if there is any.

[FresnoDA]

Agreed.  If Westerfield is solely dirty, then he would be making deals.  No sign of that.

Three scenarios to consider.

1.    Westerfield acted alone, stalked and entered the home, "lucked out" not to get caught.  Took the child to his house, and left at 9:45 A.M. the next morning in his Motorhome for his "walkabout".

2.    Westerfield was at the VD residence that night, and decided to leave early, with a "trophy" in tow.

3.    Westerfield is a part of something bigger than anyone realizes, and is taking the fall.  Possible?  I don't know.  If threats have been made against his family, maybe.

I know, I know, close eyes, spin around three times and place tin foil firmly upon head......

FDA

[rbmillerjr]

I agree everybody is a suspect. In a case like this with the personal histories, I would imagine tht behind the scenes the police are following up on all leads and suspects.

[anniegetyourgun]

"Westerfield, who is being held without bond, has pleaded not guilty to murder and kidnapping charges and has also been charged with possession of child pornography."

There's always a theme that runs throughout these cases....

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

He could have stayed at the Casino's hotel and got cleaned up, tossed his clothes and then let the maid service clean the place everyday, washing the evidence down the drain, etc..

[billbears]

Prayers lifted up for the family and added to the Daily Prayer Thread

[Ann Archy]

I heard today that the mther brought one or two girls home and two men ...I guess to wife swap. If that's the case, then there was one EXTRA man...was it the Killer??? Is that when he got the child...when the others were having sex???

He should be executed just for being into Child Pornography.....Disgusting.

[JudyB1938]

I know. I know. It's just that this whole thing makes me sick, and I want to believe they are nothing but grieving parents. And I also believe you know what I mean!

[MizSterious]

Who is to say there was "one extra"? Westerfield claims that when he was at the bar that night, he was with a friend named Gary. What if these two were the two male "friends" brought into the house?

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

I would imagine tht behind the scenes the police are following up on all leads and suspects.

I certainly hope so.

BTW....I realize the first sentence in my last post made no sense. I meant that an investigation would not be thorough if some people were too quickly ruled out. I typed faster than I thought.....lol But you understood.

[Teacup]

Confirmed ! It's Danielle...................So it is her? How sad. Prayers for the family.

[spectre]

"EXTRA man"..

Picture this then. Westerfield is the "extra man", and he gets sexually worked up, but he isn't allowed to play in their Raindeer Games. I mean, he is REALLY aroused and they lock him out of the garage where Brenda and Damon and the others are drinking, doing drugs and each other. Got the picture? OK...so then the aroused Westerfield goes up stairs and abducts the child. The rest is history.

Point? Aren't the parents culpable for inviting that EXTRA man over? Remember, they weren't exactly sitting around a table, playing a hand of Bridge.

sw

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

I know, I know, close eyes, spin around three times and place tin foil firmly upon head......

Hey, this case is custom made for a tin-foil-hatter. Nothing would shock me at this point.

Almost everyone I talk to has the same uneasy feeling that things just don't smell right and we have yet to hear a fraction of the sordid details.

I am puzzled by so many things. I have seen no anger expressed toward Westerfield by the van Dams. If this had been either of our daughters, I think my husband, my brothers, and the grandfathers would be raging out of control at this man. It's weird !!!!!

[marshmallow]

What if she had been out at a prayer meeting or volunteering at the local shelter.

The problem was not her being out of the house. It was or may have been what she brought back, and the purpose for which she brought these people back.

Would she still be guilty in your eyes?

Specify. Guilty of what? Murder? No, of course not. The killer carried out the act. Guilty of irresponsible behavior which facilitated the perp's plan? Certainly.

You people are pathetic. It was the killer who is responsible. Period.

There are lots of thieves out there who would like to come into my house and carry off my stereo and television. Are you saying that if I leave the door unlocked and it happens that I'm robbed, I bear no responsibility?

Pathetic is you, my friend.

[troublesome creek]

yup. that's really rockin' alright. a high compliment, for sure!

[DCBryan1]

Marshmellow,

Im with you on this one.

Most parents keep close tabs on their children and try their hardest to keep dangerous/perverted people away from the home and their children, but the VanDam's let these creatures into their home.

The VanDam's on the other hand invited or let their selfish lifestyle be a key factor to the easy access to their children while locked in their garage playing sick sex games.

As I see it, Westerfield is responsible for the acutal act of murder, but Danielle's parents are at least as responsible for not checking on their children TWICE, when the alarm went off.

IF convicted, Westerfield should die, and the VanDam's should lose custody of their other two (2) children until the parents can grow up and show a court that they are ready to be responsible parents.

Mark my words, Im not apologizing for them or feel sorry for anyone involved in this case other than innocent little Danielle. May she rest in peace. (even though she had stupid parents).

[CharacterCounts]

There are lots of thieves out there who would like to come into my house and carry off my stereo and television. Are you saying that if I leave the door unlocked and it happens that I'm robbed, I bear no responsibility?

If you leave your door unlocked, you may not be very smart but you do not bear responsibility for the crime. Only the thief beras responsibility for his crimes. This is not to condone the actions of the parents but so far they are still the victims as is their daughter.

[muawiyah]

We had a neighbor who stopped at a red light on the way home from the grocery to get the makings of a family picnic.

An airplane fell out of the sky on her car and killed her as she talked with her husband on her cell phone.

Stuff happens.

When I was 8 years old our car slid down an icy hill into the path of a speeding freight train.

It's a small club.