Mourners gather at site where Danielle's body was found
Posted on 03/01/2002 4:04:47 PM PST by FresnoDA
Mourners gather at site where Danielle's body was found
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 By Seth Hettena ASSOCIATED PRESS March 1, 2002
"The memory of her soul compelled me to come down here and say a last goodbye," Davis said Friday, cradling her 7-month-old daughter and wiping away tears. "To actually see the place where her innocent sweetness was lying under a tree." Davis, 26, added white flowers to a growing memorial of messages, bouquets, a pink teddy bear and a stuffed blue bunny that marks the place where authorities believe a neighbor dumped Danielle's body weeks ago. Dental records confirmed Thursday that remains found by a rural roadside 25 miles east of San Diego were those of the little girl, who vanished from her bedroom Feb. 2. The cause of death could not immediately be determined – and may never be – because of the body's state of decomposition, said Police Chief David Bejarano. Further tests were under way. Danielle's parents, Brenda and Damon van Dam, said the unflagging efforts of more than 2,500 volunteers who searched a vast area stretching from the ocean to the desert left them with "an overwhelming sense of gratitude and closure." "With love for an innocent child and for one another, the community has brought her back to us, and for that gift we offer our most sincere and heartfelt thanks," the van Dams said in a statement. "Even though the final outcome is horrible, we could not have imagined the rest of our lives without this closure." A memorial service is expected later this month. A neighbor, David Westerfield, 50, was charged Tuesday with murder, kidnapping and possession of child pornography. He has pleaded innocent and is being held without bond. Authorities said they found traces of Danielle's blood in Westerfield's motor home and on an article of his clothing. The self-employed engineer spent the weekend of Danielle's disappearance traveling in his motor home, stopping in the desert east of the city, authorities said. A hunch led volunteers to the area – the remote road was one Westerfield might have taken the weekend Danielle disappeared, said Bill Garcia, a private detective who coordinated searches. Nearby residents said they were unsettled by the discovery of Danielle's body so close to home. "It kind of sickens us," said Charles O'Neill, 28, who lives about a mile away. "We've been driving by this road every day for the past month and knowing she's that close is something we never would have imagined." |
Inquiring minds want to know. Oops.....wrong tabloid...lol
The facts are this:
1. The VD's did not check on their children for 11 hours.
2. It has been established that the VD's are sexual swingers.
3. The alarm went off twice, father nor mother checked on children when the alarm went off. They have said so in the press.
4. The mother brought home strangers, allegedly to have sex with, possibly do drugs with.
5. The father, joined them at 2:30 a.m. when mother brought home the strangers. Again, allegedly, to have sex.
6. The mother is very concerned about her appearance on television.
7. The parents hired a public relations firm a la the Ramsey's.
8. Westerfield, their neighbor, and the one charged with the crime, might have had sexual relations with the mother.
113 posted on 3/1/02 9:54 AM Pacific by grlfrnd
Freepers were on the case days ago.....
Yep !!!
Ken was asking Brenda "but do you think she was already missing after you got back from the bar?" and "you said you got back at 230?": in the background you hear Damon clearly whispering directions to Brenda (NOT meant to be heard!!) "Don't talk about the timeline! Stay away from the timeline!"
It's an incredible interview, after they got "burned" by the very sharp John and Ken they got the PR firm and stopped dealing directly with media.
This was the same interview where John and Ken asked about her dancing with Westerfield at Dad's: Brenda was shocked, like she did not know this was known. Her "denial" was purely Clintonian: she only said "I don't recall dancing with him, he may have danced with one of my friends". That is a very close paraphrase.
I hope that there is a tape of that John and Ken interview on KFI, in retrospect it is EXPLOSIVE
You called Travis.......LOL.....FresnoDA
| Brenda and Damon van Dam | 02/07/02 | 11:05 |
| Brenda and Damon van Dam join the John & Ken show via telephone to discuss their efforts to find their missing 7-year-old daughter. | ||
| van Dam neighborhood | 02/15/02 | 16:13 |
| Excerpts from the live broadcast on the street where Danielle van Dam was abducted 2 weeks earlier. John is accosted by members of the Psychic Friends Network, David Westerfield leads undercover cops to fried chicken, then slams the door in John and Ken’s face. Neither Mr. Westerfield nor Mr. Kobylt were arrested over the course of the broadcast. | ||
In review...from the Tribune, this will track closest with what SDPD is releasing, and with what the VD's have told them.....note the date, 2-5-2002
Parents Appeal For Daughter's Return
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 5, 2002
The parents of a missing 7-year-old girl who police believe was abducted appealed for her return Tuesday.
"Please drop her off safe somewhere," Brenda van Dam said on NBC's "Today" show. "Just drop her off and leave and let her come home to us. Our only concern is getting her back. We just want our baby back."
Brenda and Damon van Dam and daughter Danielle (CBS/AP)Danielle van Dam, who has blue eyes and shoulder-length blond hair, was last seen Friday night when her father put her to bed in their suburban home. Her parents said they discovered she was missing Saturday morning when her mother went to wake her up.
Investigators say they have no suspects and few leads. "We have no reason to believe she walked away," police spokesman Dave Cohen said. "We would have found her already if that was the case."
Police said Danielle's parents were not considered suspects.
Investigators questioned registered sex offenders in the area, and the FBI was offering assistance but was not actively investigating because there was no evidence Danielle had left California, spokeswoman Jan Caldwell said.
Authorities believe Danielle left her home between 10:30 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. Saturday, when her older and younger brother woke up.
The girl's father, Damon van Dam, told investigators he woke up around 1:30 a.m. Saturday to let the dog out and noticed a burglar alarm light was blinking. He discovered a sliding glass door was open and he closed it. He said he did not check Danielle's room at that time.
Brenda van Dam, who came home from a bar around 2:30 a.m. and stayed up for an hour with her husband and friends, said she made sure the children's bedroom doors were closed to keep from disturbing them, but she said she didn't check on them.
The family moved three years ago from Florida to Sabre Springs, about 20 miles north of downtown San Diego. Their quiet neighborhood has immaculate subdivisions and a new elementary school.
Neighbors found it hard to believe a stranger could have seized the girl from her bedroom.
"For the peace of mind of the neighborhood we need to know if this was random," said Gretchen Barnett, a mother of three who lives nearby. "It would put us at ease to know that there's not somebody scoping out the neighborhood looking for the next kid."
No, her words. She saw him at the bar earlier in the week and told him she would be back on Friday with her girlfriends if she could get a sitter. Of course then she turns and acts like she didn't pay much attention to him when he bought them drinks.
It sure makes Fresno's post #343 conceivable.
What is a married mother of three doing at a bar so often and why does she plan to meet back up with the neighbor that she does not know?
It would appear that many cases of father-child incest appear to be a reaction to stresses and losses that threaten the fathers masculinity, other cases have been seen as an expression of anger A child molester can be classified into three sub group depending on the motivations behind their crimes. The first group is the pedophiles. A pedophile is attracted to children sexually and receive gratification by their actions. They often seduce children with attention and gifts. A second group can be classified as the child haters - sociopaths. While gratification may occur from molesters with this motivation it is more an issue of power then it is sexual desire. These offenders are similar to the 'power' motivated rapists seen in other sexual crimes. The primary difference is the target of their actions. The final group is those who are profiteers of child pornography or child prostitution. While this group may also include members of the above, the primary motivation is financial. While the above information represents the typical child molester it is important to realize that there is a significant number of offenders that do not fit this mold. This is particularly true for male victims. Where the offender though often known to the victim is not related but rather a person in a position of power. However, when approaching a evaluation it is important to recall what is typical and make alterations from there by observing all the evidence that makes each case unique.
According to the American Humane Association, the natural parent was the major abuser (42 percent of the cases), but other relatives accounted for much of the sexual abuse (23 percent). Other close people, such as adoptive and foster parents, as well as step-parents, accounted for (35 percent) of sexual abuse cases. Despite newspaper reports concerning sexual abuse in daycare centers and of children being abused by strangers, these abusers make up a small number of cases. In addition, the American Humane Association found that the abuser was usually male (82.4 percent of the time
Of course, if it's a bar that sells dive hamburgers..that's one thing. But I seriously doubt it considering the kind of money they made.
ALL accounts and reports of neighbors, friends, family and school mates say that the kids were well taken care of , that the mom was extremely active in her kids lives as most moms in that area are..so... I don't see a problem yet.
I know exactly what you mean. I had similar thoughts.
I chalked it up to Walsh's own experience and his seeing the van Dams in the same position he was in. He probably feels like he can relate to them and isn't really scrutinizing as much as some others.
It sure makes Fresno's post #343 conceivable. Ah shucks!!! FDA
What is a married mother of three doing at a bar so often and why does she plan to meet back up with the neighbor that she does not know?
Uhm...I think it is because she is out selling Girl Scout Cookies. When she went to Westerfields house with Danielle, isn't that the story? So, I guess while at Dad's Cafe during the week, she was delivering Girl Scout Cookies..../sarcasm off. FDA
I don't know your morals or norms, but I find it less than admirable that a married mother of three is frequenting a bar without her husband and meeting other men.
I don't care if she says it was to introduce her girlfriends or not. Good mothers are usually home with their children except for an occasional social outing. The bar trips seem more than occasional and less than innocent.
Excellent point and observation. You are right !!!
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EL CAJON – Laura Davis said she felt drawn to the quiet patch of shade under an oak tree where searchers this week found the body of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam.