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

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

[FresnoDA]

Apparent remains of Danielle found

'It is a high probability it is her,' police say

By Jeffrey J. Rose
SIGNONSANDIEGO

February 27, 2002

EL CAJON – The remains of a young girl were discovered Wednesday afternoon off Dehesa Road near the Singing Hills golf course by searchers looking for 7-year-old Danielle van Dam, missing from her home for more than three weeks.

"It is a high probability it is her," said Lt. Jim Collins, a San Diego police investigator at the scene.

Forensic investigators photographed the scene, and other evidence collection was expected to continue through the night as lighting equipment and generators were brought in. Authorities said it was likely that the body would not be recovered until Thursday.

The remains were found 25 to 30 feet off the road among a cluster of oak trees in a grassy area, across from a quarry east of the Singing Hills Resort and Country Club.

A group of searchers from the Danielle Recovery Center discovered the body after 2 p.m. and immediately called sheriff's deputies, saying they believed they had discovered the girl, Collins said.

"Obviously we appreciate the effort of the volunteers," he said. "This shows the volunteers are a very vital part of the overall process. They can cover much more area than we can."

Jeff Dusek, the lead prosecutor in the case against David Westerfield, the man accused of kidnapping and murdering Danielle, went to the scene. The primary police homicide unit investigating Danielle's disappearance had been in the desert during the day but traveled to the discovery area.

Authorities closed Dehesa Road for a time, diverting traffic at Willow Glen and Harbison Canyon roads.

Capt. Ron Newman, head of the San Diego police homicide unit, visited Danielle's parents, Brenda and Damon van Dam, at their home in Sabre Springs. Later, a priest visited. The parents made no immediate statements.

San Diego Police Chief David Bejarano described the body found as that of a 3- to 4-foot white female with blond hair visible from the back, wearing a plastic necklace similar to that seen in photos of Danielle. One earring was visible, which appeared to be the same type of earring Danielle was reported to be wearing the night of Feb. 1 when she disappeared.

Bejarano, speaking at a downtown news conference Wednesday night, said it likely would be at least 24 hours before a positive identification was made using dental records, and if that wasn't possible an identification using DNA would take three to four days.

No weapons that might have been used in the victim's death were apparent at the scene, Bejarano said.

District Attorney Paul Pfingst, who joined Bejarano at the news conference, said the investigators' preliminary assessment was that the victim had been killed elsewhere and the body dumped at the site.

DAVID HARDMAN / Union-Tribune

Parts of the body were in an advanced state of decomposition, Pfingst said, and earlier reports that the body may have been partly burned likely were in error.

Discovery of what likely is Danielle's body changes the nature of the case against Westerfield, Pfingst said.

"The body is the most fertile source of clues," he said.

The district attorney said the investigation at the scene would take time.

"At this point speed is not an issue," Pfingst said. "We'd rather do it right than do it fast."

Westerfield, 50, a neighbor of the van Dams, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of murder, kidnap and possession of child pornography in connection with Danielle's disappearance. A judge Wednesday morning ordered the search warrants in the case unsealed.

Westerfield, a self-employed engineer, was arrested Friday outside his attorney's office after weeks of being labeled a potential suspect in the case by police. He is being held in the county jail downtown without bond.

[FresnoDA]

There have been many updates to the forensic side of this story since the earlier 7:00 P.M. posting.....

[FresnoDA]

Van Dam Family Coping With Discovery

Meantime, Joseph Acton, a priest at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Rancho Penasquitos, where the van Dams are members, said a friend of the family's called him and asked him to go to their home.

He arrived there about 5:50 p.m.

"We prayed together," Acton said. He was asked if the discovery of a body brought the family any closure.

"Closure is a difficult thing to talk about now," he said. "They're obviously in a great deal of pain. They are devastated by this."

Acton thanked "every single volunteer who has led to this point. I want to thank them on behalf of the family, because you've blessed them so much by your love and outpouring."

SDPD Capt. Ron Newman also conferred with the couple late in the day.

Afterward, as he walked to his car, surrounded by a mob of reporters and camera crews, he declined to comment on what had transpired, calling it a "family matter."

At the crime scene off Dehesa Road, sheriff's homicide Lt. Jerry Lewis said the SDPD has "made a determination that this is their case."

Authorities blocked off Dehesa Road, from Willow Glen Drive to Harbison Canyon Road, to allow for investigations, according to the California Highway Patrol. The closure may last through Thursday morning, sheriff's officials said.

San Diego police Lt. Jim Collins said that the body was found about 30 feet off the main road, on the north side behind an oak tree during a random search.

The Sheriff's Department got the report shortly before 2:30 p.m., sent out its homicide unit and alerted the SDPD, which also dispatched detectives.

Police put crime-scene tape around the area, which is across the street from Singing Hills Country Club and near a memorial park and cemetery. Some people use the area to illegally dump trash.

A member of a volunteer civilian search group came across the remains, sheriff's officials said. Such teams have scoured large expanses of San Diego County and its environs since the child disappeared nearly a month ago. No further searches are planned, even though positive identification is pending.

[FresnoDA]

Ping...)))

[GeronL]

very sad

[FresnoDA]

A Note from the Vicar

Our Mission is to restore people to unity with God and each other in Jesus Christ. (Book of Common Prayer, page 855) We pursue this mission through worship, prayer, the proclamation, sharing and study of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and loving servanthood in his name. We expect to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish this mission one day at a time. It is our dream that we become a community where people are transformed by joyful worship of a loving God. A community where people experience His presence in a powerful way, offering many opportunities for worship, and meeting the spiritual needs of people through their spiritual walk. Essential to our identity, in the very foundation of St. Timothy's, is the belief that the Holy Spirit of God is meant to be experiened as a reality in our lives and our transformation, both individually and as a community, is not only possible, but is expected. God Bless You, The Rev. Joseph (Josh) Acton josh@st-tims-church

[ppaul]

This is truly sickening, horrifying, and heartbreaking.
But what will end up happening to the monster who committed this gruesome murder?
We already know the answer.

[Cold Heat]

Thirty feet off the road in the open. Did this after trip to the desert where it likely would never have been found.

Got me?

[GeronL]

But what will end up happening to the monster who committed this gruesome murder?

Its California, it won't be what he deserves

[FresnoDA]

Thursday February 28 01:56 AM EST

DA: Danielle's Body Believed Found

The body of a young girl found dumped off a road east of El Cajon Wednesday is believed to be that of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam, San Diego County District Attorney Paul Pfingst said.

"Tonight, we believe that Danielle van Dam's body has been found," he said during a news conference with San Diego police Chief David Bejarano.

The district attorney said volunteer searchers found the body east of El Cajon, off Dehesa Road, and that a sheriff's deputy arrived on the scene at 2:40 p.m.

He said that the remains were of a 3-to-4-foot-tall white girl with blond hair, on her back and wearing a plastic necklace similar to one seen on a missing persons poster.

Pfingst said one earring was visible, matching the one the second-grader reportedly was wearing on Feb. 1, the night she was abducted from her home in Sabre Springs. He said investigators believe the partially decomposed body was dumped at the scene.

The district attorney said no instruments of homicide were found, and the cause of death was not immediately known.

A police captain and sergeant went to give Brenda and Damon van Dam the terrible news, Bejarano said, adding that a female sergeant remained with the couple this evening.

"They will continue to remain with the family as long as necessary," he added.

Bejarano said it would be 12-18 hours before the medical examiner arrives at scene, and it could be 24 hours before there is positive identification. If dental records cannot be used, he said, DNA identification could take three to four days.

But identification "will be accomplished as soon as we can," Bejarano said.

Pfingst said that the body does not appear to have been burned, as was initially speculated.

"Investigators are operating on the assumption that the body was dumped there," Pfingst said.

He would not say whether the defendant in the case, 50-year-old, self- employed engineer David A. Westerfield, took investigators by the area when he drove with them days after Danielle was reported missing.

Bejarano was thankful for the volunteer search effort that led to the discovery (news - web sites) of the remains -- even after Westerfield was charged Tuesday with felonies that could cost him his life if he is convicted.

"We would always prefer to have a body," Pfingst said, before going to trial. He said clues often can be found on or near the body.

"Hopefully, we will know what happened to this young girl," Pfingst said.

---

Only noted wearing the plastic necklace.  Channel 7 news at 11:00 reported that the body had no other clothing.  Only the necklace and 1 earring...

[FresnoDA]

It is crazy wire...as if the body was meant to be found.

[DoughtyOne]

I am sorry to hear that she has been found dead, but at the same time, I am glad she was found. This has been tough on the family. I hope the police have the perp. I hope he is convicted, mutilated, set on fire and then fried. EOS

[FresnoDA]

The Sheriff's Department got the report shortly before 2:30 p.m., sent out its homicide unit and alerted the SDPD, which also dispatched detectives.

Police put crime-scene tape around the area, which is across the street from Singing Hills Country Club and near a memorial park and cemetery. Some people use the area to illegally dump trash.

A member of a volunteer civilian search group came across the remains, sheriff's officials said. Such teams have scoured large expanses of San Diego County and its environs since the child disappeared nearly a month ago. No further searches are planned, even though positive identification is pending.

This report DEFINITELY rules out that Westerfield clued SDLE as to the location.  Note that reports say that when the call came in, LE swarmed the area.  Really lucky find by the volunteers.......did anyone get the names of them, or was there a TV interview????

[sneakypete]

"At this point speed is not an issue," Pfingst said. "We'd rather do it right than do it fast."

This is the only good news to really come out of this. It's EXACTLY what I wanted to hear,as it sounds like he has zero interest in cutting a plea bargain,and is going to go for the death penalty.

Those of you who live in San Diego County PLEASE send letters to this DA to tell him "no deals,death penalty".

[FresnoDA]

DA: 'We Believe Danielle's Body Has Been Found'

This is the most recent SDLE report.....Video stream....

[Cold Heat]

According to Cnn, the parents took and passed a lie detector test. The cops say they are not a suspect and infer that they got their man.

First, I would say that the results of the test are not usually given. The investigation is not closed yet. (could be their lawyer told them this) Secondly, cops generally exclude no body until they are done. They make everyone miserable for months.

I dunno?

[Redcloak]

...as if the body was meant to be found.

Would that not be typical of a sociopath? They often want evidence of their crimes discovered. This is meant as a challenge to law enforcement; their way of saying "Ha! I'm too smart for you to find."

[Cold Heat]

Nothing on the searchers.

[FresnoDA]

I agree, but Westerfield is not a Ted Bundy. Like many have noted tonight. He was shaking like a leaf during the prelims. They guy strikes me as dazed and confused. What do you think??

[FresnoDA]

David Westerfield pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and kidnapping.

Prosecutors mull death penalty in van Dam case by NBC 7/39 News Staff

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 27 –    A deputy district attorney says a panel of prosecutors is weighing the death penalty in the case involving the disappearance of Danielle van Dam.

[Cold Heat]

I think it is a good call. If the guy did it, he needs to be killed twice. I would not yet eliminate anyone else as a accomplice.