Police: Break In Missing Girl Case Soon

AP/Yahoo! ^ | Friday February 15 11:56 AM EST

[MizSterious]

Police: Break In Missing Girl Case Soon

A high-ranking San Diego police official said in remarks published Friday that he is confident there will soon be a break in the case of missing 7-year-old Danielle van Dam.

"We will solve this case sooner rather than later," Assistant Chief Steve Creighton told The San Diego Union-Tribune. "We have a ton of evidence that we are meticulously going over. We are making progress."

Creighton's remarks were published only two days after police, for a third time, searched the home of David A. Westerfield, who lives just two doors from the van Dam home.

Police refused to say what they may have found in the home of the 50-year-old, who has been the focus of the investigation into what police say was an apparent kidnapping.

Twice before, detectives took service dogs through Westerfield's house, and he has been under 24-hour police surveillance in the days since Danielle's disappearance.

In addition, Westerfield has submitted a sample of his DNA to authorities for analysis.

During the initial searches, officers carted off boxes and bags full of household items. Police also impounded his sport utility vehicle and the motor home he took to the Imperial County desert over the weekend the girl vanished.

Still, authorities have referred to the neighbor only as a "potential suspect" and have not taken him into custody.

Danielle's father, meanwhile, said he plans to join concerned citizens in scouring arid wilderness areas around Glamis, Borrego Springs and Ocotillo over the Presidents' Day weekend.

The search for the girl has included those vast open areas because Westerfield took a trip there around the time Danielle vanished.

Brenda van Dam said her husband's plan to help comb those wastelands was helping him cope with the ordeal of his child's disappearance.

"You know, it's harder for me to have to stay here in the house. But I know that's what I have to do, just in case I'm needed by the investigators," she said. Rewards offered in connection with Danielle's disappearance now total $185,000. Some are offered for her safe return. Others are payable in the event of an arrest and conviction.

[MizSterious]

Let's hope he's right, that it is sooner rather than later.

[My2Cents]

"We will solve this case sooner rather than later,"

Uh oh...Clintonese for "We'll never solve it at all."

[MizSterious]

In another article, from the L.A. Times (which can't be posted here, unfortunately), the mystery of the public relations firm has been solved: the services are free. Many of us wondered how this family could afford such high-powered and expensive help. click here for the LA Times story, which has many other interesting tidbits as well.

[DJ88]

This story reminds me of that little girl who was kidnapped a few years ago in CA...and her father became an activist..do you remember that story??? She was abducted from her bedroom through a window...and later found dead.

I hope we don't have the same outcome here.

Prayers for Danielle, her family and that JUSTICE will soon be served.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

I have a feeling that this isn't going to end happily.

[rintense]

Sounds just like Jon Benett Ramsey to me.

[Kerensky]

Today, the John and Ken show (Los Angeles KFI 640 AM ) will visit the San Diego neighborhood of Danielle van Dam.

http://www.kfi640.com

[Saundra Duffy]

I had a strange reaction when I saw the little girl's parents. The little girl's Mother is truly a beautiful and apparently wonderful woman. I started wondering if some whacko nut - jilted lover from long ago - kidnapped the little girl or something like that. If that's the case, maybe there's hope she's still alive. Otherwise, the little girl appears doomed to the fate of so many unfortunate little ones. God help us all.

[MizSterious]

Do you mean Polly Klaas? I think her father recently visited with the van Dams to offer support.

[Bigg Red]

Their smirking faces don't match the gravity of this story.

[Travis McGee]

The John and Ken Show today is going to be incredible! "Must Hear Radio!!"

[Redcloak]

...scouring arid wilderness areas around Glamis, Borrego Springs and Ocotillo...

I've been all over that area. That's a lot of really desolate country. The badlands below Borrego Springs alone would take a long time to search. The other areas off towards the Chocolate Mountains are even more desolate. Even the farming areas of the Imperial Valley would take a long time to search. There are irrigation ditches every few hundred yards; lots of places to stash a small body I'm afraid.

[MizSterious]

Actually, I thought she seemed a little cold. Her interviews reminded me just a tad too much of that Smith woman who, it finally turned out, had drowned her children. As for her being a "wonderful" woman, there is some doubt about that--see post #3 on this thread.

[Amore]

The little girl's Mother is truly a beautiful and apparently wonderful woman.

Boy, from everything I've read on all the threads, you're the only one to have THAT reaction.

[MizSterious]

I, too, saw elements of that case in this one. This is all so very sad.

[connectthedots]

I have a feeling that this isn't going to end happily.

I'm afraid you are correct. If she were still alive, the police would have announced that she has been found and there would be celebrating. This announcement is a clear indication that the police know she is dead.

[MizSterious]

Well, other than Luis Gonzalez and EricOKC...

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

"The little girl's Mother is truly a beautiful and apparently wonderful woman. "

I believe that you are alone in this assessment.

[Amore]

Yep, I know EricOKC is a big fan, and there's a ringing endorsement!! Here's a quote from the LA Times story that I love:

"Our home had been breached," said Damon van Dam.

But no reason to actually go check on the kids apparently! Too busy with that irrelevant wife-swapping.

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Check out the link at this post.

This mother is suspicious and I don't care what anyone says. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. But right now I can only judge by what she says and does.