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.

[merry10]

Why does it matter what Damon's reaction was? Why are you looking to put issues on him?

[angcat]

mabey he was in the house with the mother they did like to "swap", she probably brought him home for a quickie. how can you not hear your child being abducted, i just don't get it i hear my cats luking in the middle of the night, a child is being taken out of the house, dosen't she scream and make some noise it's jonbenet all over again.

[merry10]

The SP police were interested because the dog went there, and because westerfield had left.

[merry10]

Polly Klaas's mom didn't hear her being abducted either.

[sneakypete]

I have been wondering about this all along--what kind of a security system has nothing but a flashing light that could go unnoticed or simply ignored?

I don't know this to be a fact,but chances are they had been having a lot of false alarms with it. Otherwise the security people or the police would have come to the house to check it out.

[sneakypete]

that the family went to Disney World, Orlando (sneakypete's country)

Huh? I don't live in Florida. Never even been there.

[merry10]

NOPE.

[Eva]

The only believable explanation is that the parents continued the party from the bar and were too busy socializing or whatever, to hear anything. There are many plausible possibilities, but it is pointless to speculate at this time.

[FresnoDA]

The neighborhood may be good, but I think with small children around, it wasn't THAT good...read item #3 below....you may change you opinion..

1.

Danielle's Parents React To Neighbor's Arraignment

Danielle was first reported missing Feb. 2. Her father, Damon van Dam, told authorities that the last he'd seen of his daughter was when he had put her to bed after 10 p.m. the night before.

On that night, Brenda van Dam had gone out with several female friends and came home around 2:30 a.m. She then stayed up for about an hour with her husband and friends, according to 10News.

She said she made sure the childrens' bedroom doors were closed to keep from disturbing them, but didn't check on the children. Danielle has two brothers.

Westerfield previously told reporters that he saw Brenda van Dam at a bar near their home the night before Danielle was reported missing. The design engineer told 10News that he danced with his neighbor; she later denied that story.

Since then, the case has drawn national media attention and drawn hundreds of people, including a group of Miramar Marines, into searches of the desert and various rural areas in San Diego County.

A hearing to unseal search warrants in the case is scheduled for Wednesday.

---

2.

Several posts over the past few days have mentioned the peculiar knowledge that Westerfield had of the van Dam's comings and goings.  The inference being that Brenda and David Westerfield may be more than the casual acquaintance she has told the general public.  This may come out to be a love triangle, or paragon, or octagon, or who knows??

Carmen Genovese	02/26/02	15:43
Carmen has known David Westerfield, the accused kidnapper and killer of Danielle van Dam, for over 20 years. He claims that rather than being a brutal psychopathic murderous pedophile, David’s actually a sweet puppy dog (accused of being a brutal psychopathic murderous pedophile).

One of the only character witnesses for Westerfield........Interesting.

---

3.

Just listened to the Carmen Genovese interview (Post #137).  He said that there are big rumors swirling around the entire neighborhood in Sabre Springs, with regards to "alternative lifestyles".  Weird....

Genovese claims that Westerfield was home around 10:30 P.M.  He woke the next morning, and loaded up his Motorhome.  He left his house for the desert around 9:45 A.M.  He said that Westerfield is a clean freak, and that he always cleaned the Motorhome like he did when he returned.  He had no comment about the DNA and Blood evidence however....

He does imply that Westerfield was framed.  Guy sounds fairly credible, but hard to tell.  Need more Freeps to listen and post their spin on the interview.

Genovese denies that Westerfield is a member of Mensa!  Fascinating interview, especially in light of today's tragic events.  Does San Diego Law Enforcement have the right guy?  I want to read that diary......

[sneakypete]

us and are fed by the growing porn industry.

Wrong. THEY are the ones who create and keep alive the child porn industry,not the opposite. If you have no interest in or find this stuff repulsive,no force on earth will make you buy or watch it,

[It's me]

...is that Diary of the little girl...

How many 7 year old girls do you know who have a diary? They can barely write at that age. This just seems strange to me.

[FresnoDA]

Vall, look at post #229, item 3. Genovese claims that DW left around 9:45 A.M. Was in his driveway loading up his motorhome. Did he drive by the VD house, while the police were there interviewing?? Incredible if so.....what is the real story here.....

[merry10]

Carmen has known David Westerfield, the accused kidnapper and killer of Danielle van Dam, for over 20 years. He claims that rather than being a brutal psychopathic murderous pedophile, David’s actually a sweet puppy dog (accused of being a brutal psychopathic murderous pedophile).

Ted Bundy was a sweet character too who even worked the suicide hotlines with Ann Rule.

[sneakypete]

I have thought on this a great deal. My conclusion; the search dogs turned them on to him.

It could have just been the result of good basic police work,too. They asked the VD's who they had made contact with that day,if any of them acted strange,etc,etc,etc. His name was on the list,and it may have rung a bell none of us know about yet for fear of "poisoning the jury pool". Chances are this guy had been arrested for crimes involving children in the past,but the charges were dropped.

[FresnoDA]

Eerie shot of the Dehesa site last night...

[It's me]

About the security system-
When Brenda VD was interviewed on John and Ken (am 640 - Los Angeles) she said that she lived in a very safe neighborhood and some people don't lock thier doors at night. That's why she wasn't concerned about the opened door.

Uh, no way! I don't know of anyone who doesn't lock their door at night. It would be tantamount to -- child endangerment maybe???
Why even have a security system, then??

[FresnoDA]

Van Dam Family Coping With Discovery

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 called him and asked him to go to their home Wednesday.

"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 Wednesday night.

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."

[GussiedUp]

It doesn't bode well for our society when the prosecutors have to "mull" over whether or not to give that piece of **** the death penalty. I'd eagerly volunteer to be the one to kill him. Send him back to Satan where he belongs.

[It's me]

The evidence so far released seems to show that LEO's got their man. It also appears that the VD's are working closely and cooperatively with LE and that LE was taking time to keep them apprised of events and pending arrest. Not likely if they were under suspicion, and not likely if RR's allegations had held any water.

Apparently, the VD's have told the police about their "lifestyle." That's how Rick Roberts found out about it in the first place.

Look, if this happened to me, the first person I would call would be a priest, NOT a PR person. I wouldn't care what I looked like to the public. I would need the spiritual guidance of a religious.

But, of course, that's just me...

[merry10]

How do you know the first person they called was NOT a priest?