Running transcripts of Van Dam hearing: SDPD describes scene where Danielle was found! (Graphic)

Union Trib ^ | March 11, 2002 | Jeffrey J. Rose

[MizSterious]

There are a lot of "follow the money" questions in this case. The van Dam's house, for instance, is said to have cost about $400,000. (The neighbors' might be similarly priced.) Yet Mr. VD supposedly works as a contract worker at around $50,000 to $75,000 a year--plus they drive a pricey SUV and live a pretty plush lifestyle, including a trip to Europe that had been planned before their daughter was killed.

[Mrs.Liberty]

Is there a mention of scratches on DW's hand? This was on the local radio news tonight..that he had odd scrathes on one of his hands or arms. If the body has any fingernails left, a scraping underneath could reveal DNA.

[Freedom2specul8]

Mr VD is an engineer who traveled abroad frequently. They were going to Italy, with Danielle in February. They have one income..there's no way he made that small amount of money and lived in that neighborhood unless they received a large inheritance..??

[Freedom2specul8]

Hey, are you going to tell us where ya got the transcript? I asked earlier..you must've missed it.

[wonders]

Thanks, golitely. Lots of things to make one go "hmmm." Poor child. Such a sordid story. Only got interested in it today, because I got a call from an old friend in SoCal today who's scared because she has a daughter about the same age, and she doesn't think they're interested in "cleaning out all the sickos" who are a danger to children in the area. So sickening.

At the time, I thought perhaps my friend was getting nervous over too much publicity of the case or something (and a mother's natural worry over such a pretty little girl), but it does look like there might be cause to think this is bigger than just the Van Dams and such. How do they afford all this? How does Westerfield, as well? You can be living in the dirt and have patents, having patents doesn't mean anything, really. Perhaps he/the Van Dams/the CHP & dispatcher wife did come by all that much money honestly. Still, makes you go "hmmm."

[wonders]

Where did he travel abroad? If Thailand or some such place, it will be held against him.

[MizSterious]

Here's some excerpts from one of the articles posted here (See post #150):

"Brenda and Damon van Dam, both from south Florida, married 13 years ago. Danielle was born in Texas, and the family lived in a suburb of Dallas while she was a baby. They moved to Arizona and stayed less than a year before Damon van Dam found a new job in California. "

(SNIP)

"Damon van Dam, the son of two teachers, spent the past nine months working as a contractor for Qualcomm.

Before that, he worked for Nuera, a high-tech company in Sorrento Valley.

Damon travels regularly for business, and the family was planning to accompany him Feb. 11 on a two-week trip to Italy."

Brenda was apparently a stay-at-home mom, and folks who work in California and know the job market say that for what Damon does, he should only earn about $75,000.

As for Westerfield, his patents do pay off, apparently. They are for medical devices that have found a good, paying market.

[Newkid]

A local talk show host in Phoenix, a few days ago, expressed his disgust of the Van Dams, indicating that they were a "swinging" couple and may have been out all night with the suspect, and others. He quoted sources saying that the Van Dam's left the home after 10PM, leaving their daughter alone, in bed, and didn't check on her until the next morning, having arrived back from the party they'd gone to around 2:30AM.

Any truth to this allegation? Any confirmation about the Van Dams being a "swinging" couple?

[wonders]

Thanks again. Hmm. Maybe I should move to California and live the high life on a lower salary? On second thought, naaaah! Still, there is the question of WHERE did Westerfield go on these frequent trips abroad?

[MizSterious]

See this article for some of the milder treatment of their lifestile, from Newsweek.

[MizSterious]

I think it was Damon Van Dam who did the frequent traveling abroad--at least from what I've read. Westerfield seemed content with taking his motor home to the desert and/or the beach for weekends. The article I quote above for New Kid--it gave Damon van Dam's occupation as an engineer for a cell phone maker, for the record.

[FresnoDA]

Hey, are you going to tell us where ya got the transcript? I asked earlier..you must've missed it.

From today's Preliminary Hearing.......:0)

[tutstar]

bump

[FresnoDA]

Any truth to this allegation? Any confirmation about the Van Dams being a "swinging" couple?

And here is a bit, harsher treatment.....LOL

RICK ROBERTS’ SOURCE, HIGH-PLACED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL’ TOLD RICK

The comments of Rick Roberts source (a high placed law enforcement official) are in bold type. Additional information from other sources (press, etc.) are in italics.

• Rick Roberts’ high-placed law enforcement official said that the van Dams were involved in "swinging, lots of wife swapping."
• Rick Roberts’ high-placed law enforcement official said that before Danielle’s disappearance, the van Dam’s neighbor, David Westerfield "found out about the family’s (van Dam’s) swinging lifestyle and approached them to host an adult party at his house."

David Westerfield has been quoted in the press as saying that he was a friend of the van Dams.

The van Dams have denied this, stating that their only contact with him was when Brenda and Danielle came to his home to sell girl scout cookies, and when they exchanged greeting as they passed by.

• Rick Roberts’ high-placed law enforcement official said that on the night of Danielle’s disappearance, "Brenda van Dam was at a local Poway bar where she was grinding away on the dance floor and possibly ‘did’ a guy in the parking lot."

The bar has been identified in the press as "Dad’s Café and Steak House."

David Westerfield openly admitted that he was at the bar that night. He claims that he danced with Brenda van Dam. Brenda denies this.

• Rick Roberts’ high-placed law enforcement official said, "Brenda left the bar with 2 girlfriends and 2 guys and went back to the van Dam’s house."
• Rick Roberts’ high-placed law enforcement official said, "One timeline given in police records shows Brenda coming home from the bar to find the light [on the alarm] flashing and a door open. [She closed the door]."
• Rick Roberts’ high-placed law enforcement official said that Brenda "‘gave’ one of the girlfriends to her husband Damon ‘as a present,’ and made sure to shut the doors on all the bedrooms so the kids wouldn’t be awakened by loud lovemaking. She did not look to see if the kids were in their rooms."
• Rick Roberts’ high-placed law enforcement official said, "the adults locked themselves in the van Dam’s garage – they have special inside locks so the kids can’t come in – and started smoking marijuana and ‘fooling around.’ The adults in the garage were Brenda, Damon, 2 girlfriends, and 2 guys from the bar."
• Rick Roberts’ high-placed law enforcement official said, "after everyone had sex, Damon noticed the [alarm] light blinking and a door open. They were busy with their adult party, so they never checked on the kids."

[MizSterious]

PS--I happen to think the rumors about them being swingers is true--but that's an opinion, for now, and one that can sometimes spur flame wars, which is why I stress, it's my opinion that it's so. I suspect Westerfield's lawyer will blow the lid off, if it's true.

[Bonaparte]

"Was the son polygraphed I wonder."

Heard somewhere that DW was and that he failed it. Seems unlikely, since he got himself an attorney, but could be true.

[Freedom2specul8]

WEll yah! I meant website.. :)

[wonders]

Thanks for setting me straight. Yes, it was Mr. Van Dam with the frequent trips abroad.

Anybody know how old Mrs. Van Dam is? I know photos can be so unflattering, especially when the person is under duress. Does she look older than her years, or...?

[Freedom2specul8]

If ya aren't careful, I may have to start posting my posts all colorful... :)

[Bonaparte]

This should clear up some of the confusion in the transcript concerning anatomy of the neck.