BREAKING NOW: Detectives Arrive at Danielle Van Dam Residence for 4:00 P.M. Announcement.

KOGO News Radio 600 ^ | February 28, 2002 | KOGO

[FresnoDA]

BREAKING NOW, KOGO........Unmarked Police Car just arrived at Van Dam's residence, breaking now.....reporter says very grim faced.....expecting that reason for visit is warning VD's of positive ID.

DA HOLDS NEWS CONFERENCE THIS AFTERNOON
Authorities expect to announce 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. Dental records will likely be used to make a positive identification. 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."
Stay tuned to KOGO for live coverage of the DA's news conference this afternoon between 4pm and 5pm.

[FresnoDA]

Police Identify Body as Danielle van Dam's

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Body is Danielle's
-->  WITH REALVIDEO
A medical examiner confirms that the body of a girl found Wednesday is that of missing 7-year-old Danielle van Dam. The cause of death cannot immediately be determined.

[Amore]

It's difficult to think about. At least she's not suffering anymore.

[BunnySlippers]

Did you notice that they refused to answer whether the Van Dams invited Wedsterfield into the home!!!!

[nocommies]

may we support the death penalty, to speed his voyage to hell! i dont see why tax money should go to support, feed, house, give medical care, educate, counsel, and protect the evil scum that perpetrated this undescribable act.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Interesting no cause of death...

When the body is in the bad shape that Danielle's was, finding the cause of death takes longer than simple identification. See that new CSI tv show if you want more information on forensic work on long-dead bodies, I, for one, do not want to think any more about this aspect of the case, among many aspects, other than obtaining justice.

[FresnoDA]

The VD's have a lot of questions to answer, now.  The careful handling will subside, and need for firm explanations of the events of February 1 and 2 will become the focus.

They have paid a terrible price.....but the child paid the ultimate price.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Body positively identified as missing 7-year-old San Diego girl

Thursday, February 28, 2002
©2002 Associated Press

URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2002/02/28/national1916EST0841.DTL

(02-28) 16:16 PST SAN DIEGO (AP) -- An autopsy confirmed Thursday that the body of a child found by a rural road is that of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam, who disappeared from her San Diego home nearly a month ago.

Based upon a comparison between the missing girl's dental records and X-rays taken from the body, "the identification of Danielle van Dam was made certain," San Diego County District Attorney Paul Pfingst said.

The cause of death could not immediately be determined because of the body's state of decomposition, he said.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Autopsy Confirms Body Found Is Danielle's
	An autopsy conclusively determined that the child's body found yesterday in the East County is that of Danielle van Dam. More Details Body Removed From Crime Scene Hear From Sabre Springs Neighbors Dehesa Residents React Watch Danielle Video Montage Share Your Feelings, Thoughts For van Dam Family

[BunnySlippers]

Notice that the casino just 2 miles from the body dump has come forward. Westerfield was a member ... wonder if he stopped there that night!

[CheneyChick]

I keep thinking of the little siblings, friends and schoolmates of Danielle who are dealing with this horrific event. I pray that their needs and fears are being attended to.

[CheneyChick]

Did you notice that they refused to answer whether the Van Dams invited Wedsterfield into the home!!!!

Was this in the press conference? (Am TV-less here at work.)

[Roger_W_Isom]

Is there ANY possibilty that this MONSTER knew the killer of MARC KLAAS(SP???) Daughter?????Just a WILD THOUGHT......

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Autopsy confirms body is that of missing San Diego girl -AP Breaking News
SETH HETTENA, Associated Press Writer
(02-28) 16:29 PST SAN DIEGO (AP) -- An autopsy confirmed Thursday that the body of a child found by a rural roadside is that of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam, who allegedly was abducted from her San Diego home nearly a month ago. B...

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Yes, the DA held a brief press conference.

[MizSterious]

What a horrible thought: did he dump little Danielle, then go play casino games? Oh, this is just too awful.

[BunnySlippers]

Was this in the press conference?

It was in A press conference I viewed just minutes before the press conference mentioned here. I'm watching KCAL 9 in Los Angeles. One of the authorities was asked if the Van Dams had actually invited Westerfield into the home or if he BROKE in ... the man conducting the interview declined to answer. I tuned into the interview mentioned here and channel 9 had video problems so (I guess) I missed it.

[Mrs.Liberty]

Did you notice that they refused to answer whether the Van Dams invited Wedsterfield into the home!!!!

What he said specifically in answer to that question was that he was not going to discuss any evidence in the case!! hmmmmm...

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

Did you notice that they refused to answer whether the Van Dams invited Wedsterfield into the home!!!!

This and other circumstances will be most interesting in the trial and the rumor mill preceding it.

I'm no lawyer, but it seems that the defense has a gold mine of garbage to dig in. What a shame !!!!!! If defense wants to make a case for a frame up or reasonable doubt, the van Dams may possibly give him the tools. Ugh !!!

[BunnySlippers]

What a horrible thought: did he dump little Danielle, then go play casino games? Oh, this is just too awful.

I don't know. The local Los Angeles channel 9 mentioned that Westerfield was a private member of a casino located 2 miles from the body dump. They interviewed one of the staff who said they came forward to offer information to LE about Westerfield. I do not know if he was or was not there that night ... but he certainly knew that alternative road.