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.

[My Favorite Headache]

You have been on this story all night. Good work.

[FresnoDA]

Damon and Brenda van Dam, parents of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam, are seen outside the Sabre Springs search center on Saturday, Feb. 23 in San Diego. (AP)

[Cold Heat]

What is it that bothers me about that picture?

[Redcloak]

Perhaps the coolness of a Ted Bundy comes with experience. This may be a serial killer who was caught after his first victim.

[FresnoDA]

Calif. Police Find Body, Believe It's Missing Girl

San Diego police and sheriffs' investigators gather near a stand of trees off of Dehesa Road in the eastern part of San Diego County after volunteers searching for missing seven-year-old Danielle van Dam came across what investigators are calling the burned remains of what appear to be a child, February 27, 2002. Police said there was a 'high probability' that the body was the missing girl. Photo by Reuters

[FresnoDA]

For sure Red, in fact, if what appears happened to the little girl, and if DW was the perp, then maybe his "normal" side is in meltdown, thus the leaf shaker everyone saw....

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Me too. Something weird. No tears. Something's amiss there with Mrs. Van Dam. She doesn't look like how other women would look about their missing child.

[truth_seeker]

A deputy district attorney says a panel of prosecutors is weighing the death penalty in the case involving the disappearance of Danielle van Dam.

With the dead body, and her blood on his clothes, and in his motorhome, I shouldn't think it would take long, at all, for this esteemed "panel of prosecutors" to opt for the death penalty. It couldn't be much more clear, unless someone witnessed it.

[FresnoDA]

DAMON VAN DAM COMFORTS WIFE BRENDA

Damon van Dam (L) and Juliette Bolton (R) offer support to Brenda van Dam when she broke down after David Westerfield arrived at his arraignment to answer to charges of the murder and kidnapping of the van Dam's seven-year-old daughter in downtown San Diego superior court, February 26, 2002. Danielle van Dam disappeared from her home on February 1 and has not been seen or heard from since. Photo by Pool/Reuters

[Cold Heat]

As a parent and a concerned human being, I have been touched by this story and it has unfortunately gotten personal.

I hope they have the guy. The doubt in my mind is that the child could have been taken to his RV by someone else.(and subsequently molested and killed) I hope the evidence gets better, now that they have the body.

I still can't get the negligent parents off my list.

[CindyDawg]

I don't know why but this necklace thing bothers me. Did she ever take it off? Even while asleep?

[crystalk]

No attempt at burial or concealment? Only 30 FEET off a fairly heavily traveled two-lane road, near golf courses and resort? Thirty FEET! Scrubby San Diego vegetation if that!

Am I crazy for thinking there is no way this can have been there for a month, with no jogger, cyclist, hiker, picnicker, trash picker or dumper, or just getaway and sit in the desert-person...finding it? Might it have been dumped there only just hours or a couple days ago?

Assuming Westerfield were guilty, doesn't this leave a lot of running around to desert, beach, sand dunes etc as being unrelated to the crime, ...whoever put this body there went to absolutely NO trouble to dispose of it, just drove to the nearest area without apartments and houses immediately by, and threw it out on the shoulder of the road. Had no fear of its being found, wanted it to be found.

Could someone ELSE have found it in some remote area, and brought it into town so it WOULD be found?

Cant figure it.

[Cold Heat]

Could someone ELSE have found it in some remote area, and brought it into town so it WOULD be found?

This would not be out of the question. I have heard of this before. The guilt makes the perp want for a proper funeral and they make it happen. Forensics will figure that out if true.

[Cold Heat]

Nite! I am going to sleep on this.

[FresnoDA]

There is an errie connection with the collar, and the demeanor of BVD. 
Also, note the final bi-line in this article.....

Authorities believe body may be that of missing California girl

Copyright © 2002 AP Online

 

By SETH HETTENA, Associated PressEL CAJON, Calif. (February 28, 2002 12:37 a.m. EST) - The naked body of a child found Wednesday in a rural area east of San Diego is believed to be that of a 7-year-old girl who disappeared from her home nearly a month ago, authorities said.

Volunteers who have searched for Danielle van Dam since her disappearance discovered the body near a cluster of oak trees.

A plastic necklace similar to one Danielle was wearing was found on the body. An earring matching the description of a pair the missing girl wore was also found, said San Diego County District Attorney Paul Pfingst.

"Tonight we believe that Danielle van Dam's body has been found," he said.

A positive identification of the body could take several days.

Authorities had not determined the cause of death. Pfingst said investigators believe the body was dumped at the site about 25 miles east of San Diego.

Earlier, a sheriff's deputy at the scene had said the body had been partially burned. But authorities declined late Wednesday to discuss the condition of the remains, pending an autopsy, except to say they were badly decomposed.

"At this point we cannot positively confirm that it is Danielle," San Diego police Lt. Jim Collins said. "However, we don't have any other young children missing in the county that have been reported. It's a high probability that it is her."

Danielle was last seen on Feb. 1, when her father put her to bed in her family's San Diego home. She was discovered missing the next morning.

Authorities have charged a neighbor of the family with killing the girl. David Westerfield, 50, pleaded innocent Tuesday to charges of murder, kidnapping and possession of child pornography.

Westerfield, a twice-divorced father of two grown children, has a 1996 drunken driving conviction but no violent criminal history.

He has said he was at the same bar where Brenda van Dam was spending time with friends the night Danielle disappeared. Her husband was home with their daughter and two sons.

Westerfield spent the weekend of Danielle's disappearance traveling around San Diego County in his motor home, stopping in the desert east of the city.

Police have received permission to search a dry cleaner in suburban Poway for Westerfield's bedding and clothing. Westerfield reportedly had taken seat cushions from his motor home and clothing in for cleaning after his weekend in the desert.

Police have also searched Westerfield's home and examined three of his vehicles. In warrants, police said they were looking for child pornography, children's pajamas or clothing and a set of Mickey Mouse earrings. Police also sought any "binding materials" such as tape or rope, leather or rope collars. (?)

[crypt2k]

I don't know why but this necklace thing bothers me. Did she ever take it off? Even while asleep?

http://www.castleofspirits.com/redribbon.html

The Red Ribbon

This is a very old story, that I heard when I was about 7 or 8 years old from my best friends grandfather, and have continued to pass the story on.

Kristi was a very good little girl, she always did well in school, and did exactly what her mommy told her, until one day, her mother told her never to go into the old stable on their ranch. Kristi was soon so curious that she couldn't help it. Kristi went into the stable, and came out with a red ribbon around her neck.

In elementary school, she had a little boyfriend named Jonathan. Kristi always wore the red ribbon, and never took it off. Jonathan asked her why she never took the ribbon off of her neck. All Kristi would say was "Time will come, and I will tell." Then, in high school, Kristi and Jonathan were still together, Jonathan asked again, "Why do you wear the red ribbon around your neck?" Kristi just said " Time will come, and I will tell." For years and years this went on, and Kristi always said the same thing. Finally, Jonathan asked her one more time, "Kristi, why do you wear the red ribbon around your neck?" Kristi then took another red ribbon out of her dresser, and tied it around Jonathan's neck, saying a weird chant. She told him that since he asked so many times, and would not except her answer, that he would live through it. "Watch carefully," she said, " for this will soon become of you." Kristi untied the ribbon, and her head came loose, and rolled on the floor. Jonathan was terrified, He replaced her head, and the ribbon. Kristi was dead, but they all say she died of natural causes. No one ever bothered to listen to Jonathan's story.

[crypt2k]

Could someone ELSE have found it in some remote area, and brought it into town so it WOULD be found?

There are coyotes and mountain lions in those parts...perhaps the killer buried her in a shallow grave, only to be dug up and dragged around by a wild animal...forensics will indicate if large animals have bitten into the corpse.

[dougherty]

Perhaps the coolness of a Ted Bundy comes with experience. This may be a serial killer who was caught after his first victim.

Maybe this wasn't his first victim? I have read about girls and young women being murdered in Mexico, maybe he was at work there as well. Anything is possible with someone who could commit such an act against a poor, defenseless child.

[today]

Body Found,

Possibly Danielle van Dam

	DEHESA, CA - Authorities say a body discovered Wednesday in the Dehesa area is possibly that of Danielle van Dam. Volunteer searchers made discovery around 2:20pm. The body was found in some trees, about twenty-five feet off of Dehesa Road. According to San Diego District Attorney Paul Pfingst, a necklace and an earring that appeared to be Danielle's were also found. complete story

[FresnoDA]

So true, good catch...