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Apparent Remains Of Danielle Found: (11:00 P.M. Update)
Union Trib ^ | February 27, 2002 11:00 P.M. | Jeffrey J. Ros

Posted on 02/27/2002 10:38:50 PM PST by FresnoDA

Apparent remains of Danielle found



'It is a high probability it is her,' police sayDanielle van Dam


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.



TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
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To: Amore
Re: Security Systems

Thanks for the information. I don't know squat about security systems, thus my curiousity.

201 posted on 02/28/2002 9:11:16 AM PST by scholar
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To: All
Can anyone forget the look on David Smith's face after finding out that his children had been drowned. Now compare this to the Vandam fathers cold,dead,emotionless eyes.
202 posted on 02/28/2002 9:11:33 AM PST by Retribution44
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To: FresnoDA
Wow, SDLE may not know which way to turn......

Indeed this case appears to have many potential "other" issues that will arise.

203 posted on 02/28/2002 9:13:02 AM PST by Southflanknorthpawsis
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To: Snow Bunny
Hey, Snow Bunny! How are things going for you and that FallGuy?? Dandy, I hope! :o)
204 posted on 02/28/2002 9:13:05 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
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To: spectre
PS...Did Damon van Dam set the alarm in the wee hours of the morning? Or did he forget? He's made such a big deal about the red light flashing, it's a logical question.

sw

205 posted on 02/28/2002 9:13:36 AM PST by spectre
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To: Southflanknorthpawsis
I have been wondering, who pointed the police towards Westerfield, so early in the investigation? Why were they searching his house, looking for an earring? Why did Westerfield voluntarily agree to the lie detector test, which he flunked. It all seemed strange. There must be alot that we don't know about what went on between Mrs. VanDam and Westerfield on Friday night.
206 posted on 02/28/2002 9:15:11 AM PST by Eva
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To: One4Indictment
That's how the State of Wisconsin (which has no death penalty) was able to dispose of Jeffrey Dahmer.
207 posted on 02/28/2002 9:17:13 AM PST by wideawake
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To: spectre
...no sign of forced entry, was there?

That does make sense.

208 posted on 02/28/2002 9:18:23 AM PST by scholar
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To: scholar
Most alarms, mine for example, can be set to a perimeter alert. In other words, when a door is opened, the Alarm Keypad sounds a beep, and the door which is ajar remains blinking, until you clear the keypad. My wife and I were visiting model homes this weekend, and the exact feature was enabled. When you entered the home, you could hear the beep beep of the keypad. When the door closed, the beeping stopped. I believe that is the scenario. If the alarm had been ARMED, and there was a trip, a couple of things would have happened.
209 posted on 02/28/2002 9:19:11 AM PST by FresnoDA
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To: Eva
There must be alot that we don't know about what went on between Mrs. VanDam and Westerfield on Friday night.

I find this one of the most intriguing details. I don't think the truth is yet revealed about that relationship and it may well tell a lot if/when explored.

210 posted on 02/28/2002 9:20:31 AM PST by Southflanknorthpawsis
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To: FresnoDA
That's what I love about FR--I get an education on something everyday! Thanks.
211 posted on 02/28/2002 9:22:46 AM PST by scholar
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To: Eva
I have been wondering, who pointed the police towards Westerfield, so early in the investigation?

I have thought on this a great deal. My conclusion; the search dogs turned them on to him. I found one tidbit (and photo!) at Primenews.com about giving the dogs his shoes to sniff and taking them back to the VD's, later they came and took the closet doors.

I wonder if the dogs on Saturday had shown interest in where the Motorhome had parked, but there was nothing the cops could do until he came back. For sure, it seems they were focusing on him from very early on.

Some have commented on him leaving so late on Saturday morning, but I thought he left at Sunrise. Does anyone else have a good article reporting the actual time he left?

212 posted on 02/28/2002 9:26:33 AM PST by Valpal1
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To: Valpal1
Actually, on Downtown last night, the bartender was interviewed. He said that he didn't remember if they danced but that they seemed very familiar to each other and were laughing and having a good time. Flame me if the quote is wrong, but the bartender did more to verify DW's story than BVD's.
213 posted on 02/28/2002 9:27:53 AM PST by Jaded
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To: Jaded
Actually, on Downtown last night, the bartender was interviewed. He said that he didn't remember if they danced but that they seemed very familiar to each other and were laughing and having a good time. Flame me if the quote is wrong, but the bartender did more to verify DW's story than BVD's.

Brenda never denied interacting with him, she denied dancing with him. I don't see that the bartender confirms anyone's version, "he didn't remember". Thanks for the post though, that's the kind of stuff I'm looking for.

214 posted on 02/28/2002 9:32:05 AM PST by Valpal1
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To: Valpal1
See if I can find the transcript later, it's not currently up.
215 posted on 02/28/2002 9:35:52 AM PST by Jaded
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To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
May God Bless you and your daughter. I pray she will find her way back home. A heart breaks so silently,none can hear.

Regards

216 posted on 02/28/2002 9:40:43 AM PST by BARLF
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To: scholar
It has been made plain in the VD case that this alarm system was just something built into the house, that they understood but poorly and chose to disregard. House often left unlocked, doors often left pushed to or even open. Even at night.

The neighborhood may be good, but I think with small children around, it wasn't THAT good...

217 posted on 02/28/2002 9:57:24 AM PST by crystalk
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To: crystalk
alarm system was just something built into the house, that they understood but poorly and chose to disregard.

I can understand that: (a) an alarm system such as that would make me feel like a prisoner in my own home; (b) they are frequently ineffective. My son's alarm system blared for an entire weekend while he was out of town--much to his chagrin and the unhappiness of his neighbors. However, there was no response from police or anyone else.

218 posted on 02/28/2002 10:11:44 AM PST by scholar
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To: Jaded
Great post Jaded. More and more, DW is looking a lot more than simply a casual aquaintance as Brenda VD has claimed....hhhmmmmmmm!!!
219 posted on 02/28/2002 10:28:25 AM PST by FresnoDA
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To: ecomcon
How do you feel about profiling?

I have mixed feelings about it. It is a useful tool in some circumstances,but not a excuse to go fishing.

220 posted on 02/28/2002 10:28:41 AM PST by sneakypete
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