Apparent Remains Of Danielle Found: (11:00 P.M. Update)

Union Trib ^ | February 27, 2002 11:00 P.M. | Jeffrey J. Ros

[Terriergal]

Hmmm... curiouser and curiouser...

[Terriergal]

Somebody tried to pin him but good, seems to me.

My thoughts are leaning the same way... but then again, I'm open to learning new facts that will change my mind.

[Terriergal]

Been said on the KFBK, Tom Sullivan show, that the Van Dam's were swingers

Ok well *now* I am not ruling out the husband's involvement...!

[Alissa]

I remember all the bandwidth used up by Freepers thinking Daniel Pearl's wife wasn't acting "normally" too. Having lost my mother recently, I went through all kinds of different emotions. Had a camera caught me at any number of times, especially smiling when people were trying to cheer me up, then there would have been busy bodies out there saying I wasn't acting normal - and I was perfectly normal. Just because these parents may not be showing tears and anquish publically, doesn't mean they aren't there.

[Redleg Duke]

Party on, Dudette!

Each time I think of this, I go into my son's room and check on him, grateful that I grew up before I became a father.

So much for the famed "Open Marriages" spawned in the 70's and the "Trophy Children" of the 90's. I think I'll stick to the values of the 30's and 40's that my Mom and Dad and Grandparents taught me. They might be square, and they might not be the latest "new age and crystal religion" thing, but they worked and I grew up safe and loved, as will my son.

[Terriergal]

I remember back in 1988 some Texas couple was out for the evening and when they came back, around sunset, they found police cars all over and the police wouldn't let them in the house. Apparently the teenage daughter's ex boyfriend had come over and stabbed them all to death (I think four kids, one of which was very very young -toddler age). They showed the reaction of the father. It was NOTHING like this Van Dam's reaction. He was SCREAMING "THEY ARE ALL DEAD?!??! WHAT??!! OH MY GOD?!?!?" And the police could hardly hold him back. His wife just kind of crumpled to the ground. That is an authentic reaction. I was instantly in tears and just wailed for about 20 minutes at the sight.

[spectre]

Having bought real estate a few times on my own horse, I can certainly understand your husbands reactions. My parents acted the same way...:~)

If Westerfield is guilty, he will tell us all the sorted details about that evening....starting at the Bar.

But I have a gut feeling he is going to reveal more than the van Dams want the public to know about themselves. We shall see.

sw

[mommadooo3]

I guess what makes it so hard to believe about this dad, is that the child was 'snatched' from her own home, while he was there. If that could happen at our house, hubby OR I would be eaten UP with the 'if only's'. If it happened on hubby's 'watch', wife would be eating hubby up with the 'why didn't you's'.

Hopefully your daughter has healed and y'all are fine.

[Freedom2specul8]

Did you see the reaction of these parents (the van dams) when they found out? I guess I must have missed it.. When and if the husband quiets his wife it's probably a good thing. I heard her repeatedly say that they didn't want to say anything to hurt the investigation.

[Terriergal]

I hope the cops somehow see past their 'easy target' and dig a little deeper.

You gotta think they suspect something at least. But unless they find his DNA *inside* her body I doubt they are going to be able to do anything.

[isthisnickcool]

I have never seen a sad or remorseful look on the father's face

There is no standard reaction to something like this. You can't presume to have any idea what the parents are thinking or feeling based on the media snapshots you see. And some parents will do oddball things after a child's death. Russell Yates is a good example of that.

One thing is certain. The truth will come to the top on this case. There will be no secrets at the end of this story. If the parents are involved in any way it will come to light. The fact that they filed charges before the body was found says a lot. So there is a lot more here than meets the eye.

Bless this little child. May all that is hell descend upon whoever harmed her.

People can do something. Get involved with any local groups in your area that try to help find missing or exploited children. This is a very big problem in America. People grouse about us not being able to find "terrorists". Goodness! We can't even find our own children in this country!

If you want to help start here.

[Terriergal]

Or child porn in his (the dad's) belongings as well.

[Terriergal]

Oops never mind....

[Terriergal]

Hmm Hmm Hmmm. My guess is that if the dad was involved, that he knew about Westerfield's contact with her, maybe even joined in... and Westerfield was so shocked that everything turned out the way it did, that he is a basket case while Dad is still "in control." I don't know but it is just strange ... something VERY weird is going on here...

[Freedom2specul8]

Oh man, I'm telling ya, the first thing would be ''to search for the daughter''... I understand...and in a nice neighborhood ..one may have their guard down a little, I simply don't know. I bet they are going through the if onlys, don't you think? The mom said repeatedly that she could not say much to jeapordize the investigation. Personally, my daughter made some bad choices that winter..she had just gotten her car and extra freedom. Oh yes, after it was over, THEN I had the ''what ifs'', and the ''if only's''...

Thank you for your kind words. Those three days (last spring) were the worst of my life. I couldn't sleep, or eat. My daughter is 19 now, she didn't handle it well, turned to alcohol. I got her in a treatment center, and had her in touch with a Christian counselor (he had a phd and his thesis was women and hormones)..but her anger was getting out of control. She moved out in November.. :( It's been a very sad time for us. All of our hopes and dreams squashed. She's not been in contact with us .. :( Oh and btw, the law is not really on your side after they turn 18. They're considered adults and parents rights are terminated. I couldn't do anything.

[Freedom2specul8]

There is no standard reaction to something like this.

DITTOS and AMEN..

That's exactly what I've been trying to say. You summed it up quite nicely!!

[Terriergal]

No you're right. It just seems weird. And the idea of them being swingers brings up all kinds of related topics.

[Terriergal]

I heard her repeatedly say that they didn't want to say anything to hurt the investigation.

Weird phrase... how would speaking the truth hurt? hmm...

[Terriergal]

Russell Yates is a good example of that.

Russell Yates was living with a mentally ill/deranged family member... he had to be worn out or half in denial or something. I still think he's a bit mixed up.

[twigs]

Maybe this wasn't his first victim?

Right after this body was found, Fox reported that the police were investigating another child disappearance that occurred decades ago just a little ways from where the VD's lived. Yet, I have not heard any more about this. Has anyone else?