Marc Klass Personally Meets With Van Dams: Reward at $25,000

Union Tribune ^ | February 13, 2002 | San Diego Tribune

[FresnoDA]

 

	Marc Klass offers help to family of missing San Diego girl

ASSOCIATED PRESS

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[Chad Fairbanks]

Boy, AP sure doesn't waste words, do they... ;0)

[FresnoDA]

 

	Marc Klass offers help to family of missing San Diego girl

February 13, 2002

SAN DIEGO – Marc Klaas, who became an advocate for missing children after his daughter was murdered in 1993, met Wednesday with the father of a 7-year-old San Diego girl who police believe was abducted from her bedroom.

"I can emotionally give them support and tell them what to expect," Klaas told reporters after meeting with Damon van Dam, whose daughter, Danielle, was last seen Feb 1.

Klaas's 12-year-old daughter, Polly, was abducted from her home in Petaluma during a slumber party. Richard Allen Davis was convicted and sentenced to death for the crime.

Since then, Marc Klaas has worked as an advocate on children's issues through a private foundation.

Danielle was last seen when her father put her to bed in their home 20 miles north of downtown San Diego. Investigators have called a neighbor, David Westerfield, a "potential suspect" but have made no arrests.

Police used a bloodhound Tuesday to search the van Dam's home, but declined to say whether the dog found anything.

Investigators have also taken a DNA sample from Westerfield and sent it to an FBI crime lab for investigation, Lt. Jim Duncan said. Authorities previously seized a motor home and other property belonging to the neighbor, a 49-year-old self-employed engineer.

Westerfield has allowed investigators to repeatedly search his home, two doors down from the van Dam's house in the Sabre Springs neighborhood of San Diego.

"Progress is slow," Duncan said. "We do not appear to be close to an arrest."

The case has sparked intense media attention and Danielle's disappearance was featured Saturday night on the crime-fighting show "America's Most Wanted."

Danielle's parents have offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to the safe return of their daughter.

  

[FresnoDA]

Sorry Chad, two times is the charm let's hope.

[Chad Fairbanks]

I hope the kid is found soon... the not knowing must be horrible...

[FresnoDA]

Hope for missing girl fading

Police say time elapsed with no news does not bode well

By Joe Hughes
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

February 13, 2002

San Diego police conceded yesterday that the odds of finding Danielle van Dam alive are diminishing and that an arrest in the case could be weeks away.

"We are not real hopeful on her condition," homicide Lt. Jim Duncan said.

Against that grim backdrop, searchers continued to scour areas around the Sabre Springs neighborhood where 7-year-old Danielle was reported missing 11 days ago.

Searchers combing a riverbed near Danielle's school, Creekside Elementary, found a blue backpack stuffed with old papers, a blue denim shirt and some underwear. They were collected in evidence bags by San Diego police.

Duncan, lead investigator on the case, said he had not been notified about the items. Asked about their potential significance, he said, "I would assume if somebody picked up something worthwhile to the investigation, I'd have heard about it."

Duncan said the investigation remains focused on David Westerfield, 49, a self-employed design engineer and a neighbor of the van Dams.

Westerfield has submitted a DNA sample for study, Duncan said. It has been sent to the FBI crime lab in Washington, D.C., and given the highest priority. Other evidence has been sent to a local crime lab.

Detectives brought in a bloodhound from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department yesterday to search Danielle's room for any sign Westerfield had been there. Police searched Westerfield's home and the girl's room with dogs last week.

Duncan said the bloodhound is better trained and has a more acute nose than dogs used previously. It has been used by the FBI in high-profile cases.

Danielle was last seen by her father, Damon van Dam, when he put her to bed about 10 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 1. Her mother, Brenda van Dam, returned home with friends in the early-morning hours of Feb. 2. The couple discovered their daughter missing at 9 a.m.

People who were in the van Dam home Friday and Saturday have been cleared, Duncan said.

"We have no other potential suspects," he told the media yesterday.

"Progress is slow," said Duncan. "We do not appear to be close to an arrest."

Much rests with the examination of forensic evidence, a painstaking task that can take time.

Duncan said some material was taken from the motor home Westerfield took to the desert the weekend Danielle disappeared, even though Westerfield cleaned it before it could be examined, Duncan said.

He also said there has been no confession in the case.

[DoughtyOne]

The public has no choice but the support these parents and help find the child. Frankly though, I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop in this case.

If I were Klass I might have kept my distance from this one, although the overriding issue is the recovery of the child. That being the case perhaps it is appropriate for him to become involved.

I think that this child was betrayed by her own parents, who were at best contributing factors in this fiasco.

[FresnoDA]

I think that this child was betrayed by her own parents, who were at best contributing factors in this fiasco.

There are two types of people that really frost me.

1.    People who have skeletons in their closets, who run for public office.  Then when it is revealed, they cry out, "But that was my personal life, it should not matter".  If you want to keep it private, then don't run for office you Jack A@@!!

2.    People who have kids, but still want to run around like second year frat/sorority brats.  Partying on the weekends, sleeping around.  Hey, if that is your gig, then go for it, but under no circumstances, bring "crumb crunchers" into that environment.

As for the Van Damned, they should have joined a health club, the gal could use a few more days at the gym each week, and a lot less beers on the weekend!

As for the base running and switch hitting, if he worked for me, I would can the guy!!  Qualcom is under my sights for portfolio removal!!

It is time in our country for some good old fashioned Righteous Indignation!!

FresnoDA

 

 

[Shermy]

Hey, FDA. Haven't seen you since that auto pile up.

Here's another Klass story, with more general details. Police and volunteers are searching the desert, where the neighbor went.

Marc Klaas Lends Support To Van Dam Family

DanielleMissing.com

[Shermy]

The story says one of the areas being searched is Glamis, California. mapquest shows that such town is aside the "Imperial Sand Dunes Recreational Area." Perhaps FR's out there can help or fill us in on details.

[DoughtyOne]

What bothers me about these animals is that appearantly they were actually bringing their fellow swappers into the home, just feet away from these kids.

You know how noise travels through a house. Imagine the depravity these kids were being subject to, if what is being speculated about was true.

This leads me to ponder if some child involvement might surface at some point. This is one case where I'd seriously consider removing the other children from the home. Of course I don't know for sure what was going on, so I may be off base here. I sure have my suspicions.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Frankly though, I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop in this case.

Same here.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

As a Californian, but not a sand-sport enthusiast, all I know about Glamis is that it is a popular place for dune-buggies, ATCs, etc. I've never heard anything else about it.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

ATCs........ Oops.......... I think it's ATV.

[DoughtyOne]

It's really a sad situation for the kids. What chance have they had for normalcy? My childhood wasn't perfect, but it sure beat the hell out of this situation.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

It's really a sad situation for the kids.

It is heartbreaking !!!! I can't imagine a situation even remotely close to what these children have been exposed to happening on my childhood.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

"on" should be "in". I'm typing and spelling impaired today......

[Doc Savage]

I will stake my personal reputation as a god-like savant that the parents are involved. I have five daughters. If one of them was missing I would be hysterical with grief and unconsolable. I would also immediately offer to take a lie-detector test since I know they immediately suspect the parents.

These two are clowns. This guy looks like every interview is just another stroll in the park. She is obviously a blond bimbo. Somehow these two are involved. It's a Susan Smith job all over again.

Klass is an idiot for even getting near these creeps.

[DoughtyOne]

No problem guy. I read it so fast that I got your meaning without noting the on/in switch. Guess we should be thankful hugh.

[FresnoDA]

Absolutely agree Doughty, these degenerate parents should be relieved of their parental duties. If they were a couple of color, I GUARANTEE the pendelum of justice would have already SWUNG against them. (Pun intended, of course!)