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Van Dam Updates: (2-28-02 - Noon) POSITIVE ID EXPECTED SOON
KOGO News Radio 600 ^ | February 28, 2002 | KOGO

Posted on 02/28/2002 11:20:03 AM PST by FresnoDA

ImagePOSITIVE IDENTIFICATION ON GIRL'S BODY FOUND IN DEHESA EXPECTED TODAY
Authorities expect to determine conclusively today that the body of a young girl found dumped off a road in East County is, as law enforcement officials already believe, that of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam. The medical examiner took custody of the body and ``it was brought in around 11:30 p.m. last night,'' San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office investigator Chuck Bolton said early this morning, adding that dental records will likely be used to make a positive identification later today. San Diego District Attorney Paul Pfingst said last night that all the evidence points to the body being that of the second-grader who had been reported missing on Feb. 2. ``We believe that Danielle van Dam's body has been found,'' he said during a news conference with San Diego police Chief David Bejarano.

Susan Wintersteen, a family friend, said this morning that the Van Dams are ``going through unspeakable pain and loss right now.'' But she said that the discovery of the body ``has provided them with the closure that they so desired. Not knowing would probably be the worse.'' Wintersteen, who was interviewed on ABC's ``Good Morning America'' and NBC's ``Today'' show, said finding Danielle is what volunteer searchers had been working for in the past three weeks. She said the discovery of the body actually brought ``a sense of relief,'' and she confirmed that further searches have been called off.


Police think girl was abducted for attack, documents indicate


By Alex Roth 
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

February 28, 2002

In the days after 7-year-old Danielle van Dam vanished, police searched a neighbor's house for child pornography, blood, Mickey Mouse earrings and any writings "relating to juvenile abduction," according to documents released yesterday.

Investigators believe David Westerfield kidnapped the Sabre Springs girl with the intent to sexually assault her, law enforcement sources said. With this theory in mind, police scoured his property for evidence of his sexual proclivities, and for any trace of the girl, the documents reveal.

At the urging of The San Diego Union-Tribune, a judge opened to public view yesterday parts of search warrants obtained by police investigating Danielle's disappearance. Other search-warrant material, including lists of what the police found and the justifications for the searches, remains sealed.

However, the owner of a Poway dry-cleaning business said police seized clothing and bedding that the 50-year-old, self-employed engineer brought in two days after Danielle was reported missing Feb. 2.

Many, if not all, of the items had been cleaned by the time police seized them from Twin Peak's Cleaners & Shirt Laundry. However, DNA tests identified Danielle's blood on one of the items – a jacket – a law enforcement source said yesterday.

Investigators haven't ruled out the possibility that other items seized from the dry cleaner might still yield evidence, said the source, who like others confirmed details in this story on the condition of anonymity.

Exactly what the investigators found in Westerfield's house, sport-utility vehicle, motor home and computer was kept sealed on orders of San Diego Superior Court Judge Cynthia Bashant.

The judge said she was leaning toward opening much, if not all, of the information, along with affidavits outlining why police had probable cause to believe the searches would turn up evidence in Danielle's disappearance.

Bashant said there were more than 100 pages in those documents and that she would rule Monday on what information should be made public.

In a case that has garnered this much publicity, keeping such information sealed "leads to distrust of the system, and it leads to innuendo and rumor rather than actual fact," the judge said yesterday.

The hearing before Bashant came hours before volunteers searching a rural area east of El Cajon found a body that authorities believe is Danielle's.

The judge acted on a motion filed by the Union-Tribune, which sought to unseal the documents, citing California law and the First Amendment. She gave Westerfield's attorney until tomorrow to argue why the documents, or portions of them, should remain sealed.

During the hearing, defense attorney Steven Feldman expressed concern that releasing such information might affect his client's right to a fair trial.

"We don't want this case tried in the press," he told the judge.

Bashant said she might keep secret some of the exhibits in the documents. A law enforcement source later said at least some of those exhibits are pornographic images of minors apparently found on Westerfield's computer.

Westerfield, a twice-divorced father of two grown children who has no known criminal record aside from a drunken-driving conviction, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of kidnapping and killing Danielle. The girl's parents have described him as a neighborhood acquaintance.

Westerfield is also charged with misdemeanor possession of pornography depicting minors engaging in sex acts.

He could face the death penalty if convicted of the most serious charges, although prosecutors haven't yet decided whether to seek it.

The documents the judge did unseal showed exactly what police searched in the days and weeks after Danielle's disappearance.

The documents reveal that police obtained warrants to search Westerfield's Mountain Pass Drive home, two doors from the van Dams. They also searched his sport-utility vehicle, motor home and computer. They obtained a search warrant for the dry-cleaning store and for Westerfield's cell-phone records from 9 p.m. Feb. 1, the day Danielle was last seen, to 5 p.m. Feb. 4.

Westerfield told police he drove his motor home to the desert Feb. 2. Danielle was reported missing that morning. Westerfield said he returned home on the morning of Feb. 4.

Police later learned that Westerfield drove his motor home to Silver Strand State Beach near Coronado that Saturday before heading out to the Imperial County sand dunes.

The unsealed documents also reveal that police placed a trace on the home phone of Danielle's parents to monitor incoming calls.

Police obtained warrants to search Westerfield's house Feb. 5 and Feb. 13. The warrants, signed by Bashant, gave them permission to seize any of the following items that might be found inside the house:

Blood, children's pajamas, Mickey Mouse earrings, leather or rope necklaces or collars, videotapes, diaries or letters "relating to juvenile abduction," any publications "which tend to demonstrate a particular sex and age preference of juveniles," and numerous other items.

One of those warrants gave police authority to take samples known as "tape lifts" from all footwear on Westerfield's premises.

On Feb. 7, five days after Danielle was reported missing, the judge signed a warrant authorizing police to search Twin Peak's Cleaners & Shirt Laundry on Pomerado Road.

The owner, Sung Choi, said yesterday that Westerfield showed up Feb. 4 – the Monday after Danielle's disappearance – with two pillowcases, a comforter, a comforter cover and a casual jacket.

Barefoot and wearing a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, Westerfield told the employee who helped him he had just returned from the desert, the owner said. Westerfield was a regular customer of the establishment, where a photo of Danielle is posted in the window.

Later that afternoon, Westerfield came back with a pair of pants, a sweater and a shirt, asking if he could get same-day cleaning service, Choi said. Employees told him it was too late in the day.

Choi said they didn't notice any blood on the clothing or bedding, and that Westerfield didn't ask for any stains to be removed.

Before Westerfield could pick up the clothes, police came by with a search warrant.

"Whatever he dropped off, they took," Choi said.

Choi said most, if not all, of the items had been cleaned by the time police arrived. A law enforcement source confirmed that.



TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events
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1 posted on 02/28/2002 11:20:03 AM PST by FresnoDA
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To: FresnoDA
KGO Expecting announcement soon......developing.....

Freeper updates requested.....

2 posted on 02/28/2002 11:20:51 AM PST by FresnoDA
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To: FresnoDA
bump!
3 posted on 02/28/2002 11:25:30 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
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To: FresnoDA
Well done, Fresno DA.
4 posted on 02/28/2002 11:27:44 AM PST by codebreaker
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To: FresnoDA
The daniellemissing.com webpage is an "In Memory" page now.
5 posted on 02/28/2002 11:29:03 AM PST by 2Jedismom
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To: FresnoDA
I hope the County Prosecutors are better than the bozos from the OJ case.
6 posted on 02/28/2002 11:30:26 AM PST by Semper Paratus
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To: FresnoDA
You've done another great job in keeping us updated, FresnoDA. I've been reading pretty much everything you've posted. Really didn't have anything to add.

Hopefully, soon we'll know what happened to this beautiful little girl. May God rest her soul.

7 posted on 02/28/2002 11:30:44 AM PST by Slip18
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To: Slip18;golitely;spectre;Amore;Bigg Red;Travis McGee;BunnySlippers;Doughtyone...
Thanks...may I use your post to .......PING)))))
8 posted on 02/28/2002 11:35:29 AM PST by FresnoDA
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To: FresnoDA
Even if the dry cleaner didn't notice any blood spots on the clothing, it could have been found microscopically.

I just hope this family can bring their daughter home soon and give her a proper burial.

9 posted on 02/28/2002 11:39:00 AM PST by Catspaw
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To: FresnoDA
bump
10 posted on 02/28/2002 11:47:29 AM PST by nicmarlo
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To: Catspaw
They may not be looking for blood.....evidence of seminal fluid comes to mind.
11 posted on 02/28/2002 11:48:11 AM PST by nicmarlo
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To: FresnoDA
I'm confused. Did Westerfield also bring in cushions to be cleaned? What a dope. Why didn't he just throw everything that might have evidence on it away or bury it in the desert? Thanks for all the info you're giving us, Fresno.
12 posted on 02/28/2002 11:50:08 AM PST by tippytoes
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To: nicmarlo
They may not be looking for blood.....evidence of seminal fluid comes to mind.

That, too--but the news stories said that Danielle's blood was found on Westerfield's clothing. Of course, they may well have found his seminal fluid on his own clothing, but that'd be explainable by his lawyer. Finding his blood, tissue, hair or seminal fluid (or fiber evidence) in or on Danielle would seal the case.

13 posted on 02/28/2002 11:57:58 AM PST by Catspaw
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To: Catspaw
Agreed Catspaw....maybe they are reactivating their membership in the local Episcopal Church, who knows....there are always events in peoples lives where they reach a turning point. 

I had such an event 5 years ago when I was arrested for DUI. I was always a casual drinker, but I decided, if I am out of control to the point where I get arrested, instead of making excuses, I will simply change. And I did, I have abstained from adult beverages since 1992, and it has been an absolute blessing. Improved all aspects of my life. Business, personal and mostly spiritual levels. 

I pray the van Dam's reach a similar pivotal life changing course, if as alleged their "alternative lifestyle" choices are correct.Girl's Parents

Sorry to get so deep, but I wanted to share that.  Over the past week, some hard shots have flown my way for riding these threads.  But it is deeply personal with me.

I continue to read this definition.

 Brenda and Damon van Dampar·ent   Pronunciation Key  (pâraltaltnt, paltralt-)
n.

1. One who begets, gives birth to, or nurtures and raises a child; a father or mother.

2. An ancestor; a progenitor.

3. An organism that produces or generates offspring.

4. A guardian; a protector.

5. A parent company.

6. A source or cause; an origin: Despair is the parent of rebellion.

 

14 posted on 02/28/2002 12:01:33 PM PST by FresnoDA
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To: FresnoDA
Link to Search Warrants Served on David Westerfield and Van Damms
15 posted on 02/28/2002 12:06:30 PM PST by Mrs.Liberty
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To: FresnoDA
But she said that the discovery of the body ``has provided them with the closure that they so desired. Not knowing would probably be the worse.''

So much closure they were going out to dinner last night (per their press conference yesterday).

16 posted on 02/28/2002 12:06:59 PM PST by newzjunkey
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To: Catspaw
Finding his blood, tissue, hair or seminal fluid (or fiber evidence) in or on Danielle would seal the case.

And if he did do this, I hope that is the gruesome find, for obvious reasons. Poor little girl.....I have two daughters, I can't imagine them being used like this, then killed, and burned (although I've been reading she might not have been....)

17 posted on 02/28/2002 12:09:14 PM PST by nicmarlo
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To: newzjunkey
re: dinner. I do not think they did go out to dinner.

WHen I heard that on the news ( I was watching local coverage)..my jaw just dropped when I heard the reporter say they were going out to dinner. I could not imagine that!

However, it was later clarified that the children were going to be taken out to dinner, by a family friend.

18 posted on 02/28/2002 12:11:02 PM PST by Mrs.Liberty
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To: FresnoDA
You took the words right out of my mouth FDA. I would very much like these parents to step back from that life, and do the right thing in their lives, become more spiritual. Repent, actually.
19 posted on 02/28/2002 12:11:08 PM PST by I_Love_My_Husband
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To: FresnoDA
"They obtained a search warrant for the dry-cleaning store and for Westerfield's cell-phone records from 9 p.m. Feb. 1, the day Danielle was last seen, to 5 p.m. Feb. 4."

"The unsealed documents also reveal that police placed a trace on the home phone of Danielle's parents to monitor incoming calls."

I find these two items especially intriguing. I have long been of the opinion that Westerfield and Mrs. VD were closer than what we're being told. If so, one would suspect a phone record trail.

20 posted on 02/28/2002 12:13:51 PM PST by MizSterious
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