Account for Danielle's search still has $24,000 (What about money promised to Laura Recovery?)

Union Trib ^ | March 31, 2002 | Kristen Green

[FresnoDA]

Account set up for Danielle's search still has about $24,000

Van Dams undecided on how money will be used

By Kristen Green
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

March 24, 2002

After Danielle van Dam was abducted from her Sabre Springs home, neighbors, friends and even strangers volunteered to help out. Some put up fliers in storefronts around the county, and others joined the search party. But many also opened their checkbooks.

As of Friday, more than $33,000 had been donated by people from New Jersey to Oregon.

During the search for the 7-year-old, donations totaling more than $10,600 flowed into an account in Danielle's name. And since the discovery of her body in rural East County nearly a month after she was reported missing, an additional $22,800 has been deposited.

"We didn't go open an account and ask for money," said family friend Bill Libby, who handled donations for the van Dams. "I opened the account because people wanted to donate money."

Initially, the family expected to use the donations to pay for search expenses, like posters and fliers. After Danielle's body was found, the family Web site said additional donations would be used to pay memorial expenses.

But Libby said the family's expenses have been limited because of numerous donations, from fliers to cremation fees. So far, the van Dams have spent $4,200 of the donations to buy banners, posters and buttons.

And they are writing a $5,000 check to the Laura Recovery Center, which coordinated the search for Danielle.

The family hasn't decided how to use the remaining $24,000.

"I'm sure in due time that they will turn their attention to the appropriate and productive use of those funds, but right now they're really still dealing with the loss of their daughter," said family spokeswoman Sara Muller Fraunces.

Close friends have suggested the van Dams take their time considering how the money will be used. Libby has said the funds could be used to pay for counseling for the family, and the van Dams are considering establishing a local foundation to conduct searches for missing San Diego children.

After Danielle's parents realized she wasn't in her bed the morning of Feb. 2, people began donating money to cover search expenses. Libby tried to open an account at Wells Fargo on behalf of the van Dams.

But the account had to be set up by a nonprofit organization, and a family friend who attends Community Bible Church in Scripps Ranch asked the pastor if the church would sponsor the account. Even though the van Dams aren't members of his congregation, the Rev. Barry Minkow agreed.

Minkow, who was convicted of securities and bank fraud in the late 1980s and served a 71/2-year prison sentence, doesn't have access to the van Dam account, church treasurer Bruce Brown said.

Brown said he is the only person who can withdraw money from the account, taking requests for checks directly from Libby, who acts on the van Dams' behalf.

[Freedom2specul8]

Now don't go confusing someone with facts. ;-)

[MizSterious]

They asked the officer why they had focused on Westerfield so early, and that was his reply. He did not say, as you did, that they had a long list of people. No, was talking about one person in particular. David Westerfield. Listen to the videoclip, closely.

[Freedom2specul8]

I don't think so. Rick Robert's started in on the first Friday following her disappearance, and Pierce was there on a Saturday, so Robert's had already started before Pierce's first visit.

Obviously Pierce's tune changed when Brenda and Damon figured out what a cracked charleton he was and summarily through him out. There are mentally ill persons who continually try to insert themselves into major cases.I wish a little LEO birdie would give us the inside dope on this character.

Great point..

[MizSterious]

What facts? I posted the facts. From the officer's own mouth. Click on the link and listen for yourself. Val put words and meanings into that statement that were never there. He was asked a specific question, and he gave a specific answer--not the one that Val implied, but he was very specific. They focused on Westerfield because he had been pointed out to the police. Period. If you read more into that than what the officer said, that's making things up out of whole cloth. Sorry if the truth does not fit your theory, but them's the breaks.

[Freedom2specul8]

[MizSterious]

And your point is...what? Tying up a thread with off topic graphics?

[Valpal1]

I suppose one can trust the media (the same folks who told you Bill Clinton was such a nice guy, remember?) or you can use the sworn testimony--the transcripts of which have been posted on many threads--which states that he had 64,000 IMAGES, less than 100 of which were questionable. Val whines about Fresno's "screaming HTML" but honestly, Kim, you are the master of it. Especially if you're trying to repeat a lie (64,000 sexually provocative images) enough times that maybe people will think it's true.

The word questionable in this context means "possibly not legal". That of the 64,000 pornographic images, there where less than 100 that were questionable in a legal sense. It was not "less than 100 images were questionably pornographic, but "less than 100 were questionably legal pornography.

Westerfield did indeed have a large and organized collection of pornoagraphy. It is not a lie or a mistake, but a fact.

And Val was not whining, she was humorously pointing out FDA's penchant for drama in comparsion to John Walsh's very valid LEO experience. And she thought she was very funny too!

[Freedom2specul8]

Making it personal is off topic too, but that never stops ya now does it ya ol grouch. :) Why don't you go tell all the freepers who post "off topic'' pics..or better yet, make a new thread with your complaints.

[MizSterious]

The transcripts I've seen and the testimony I heard tell a very different story. 64,000 images, not porn images was what I heard, and what I read. I say it this way because I have yet to get the official court transcripts. Usually Court TV or a local newspaper will post them on the internet--so far, no one has done that in this case. The running transcripts are helpful, but not really exact. But I did hear "images" and not "pornographic images." Then again, since Court TV breaks for commercials, perhaps something was said that was not televised.

[MizSterious]

Posting slow-loading pictures is a well-known thread busting technique.

[afraidfortherepublic]

This case just makes me sick. Please put me on your ping list for updates on this. I don't know why the other children haven't been taken. This is not ahealthy household, even if the parents had nothing DIRECTLY to do with the disappearance and murder of their daughter, they surely provided a bad environment.

[mommya]

< but why a major PR firm would accept such an assignment. Because QWEST asked them to, and they are Damon's employer

I had been wondering about the PR thing - where did you find out that it was Damon's employer who advised PR?

[Valpal1]

If the DA had evidence why did they hold it back?

Because the PH is for limited evidence, only enough to bind over for trial. To un-needfully use all or the most damning evidence is to taint the jury pool. They used just enough and mostly that which had already been released at the PH. Very smart, very proactive in protecting the jury pool.

[mommya]

For a child with frequent nosebleeds (Danielle, as BVD attested to)

I've not heard this before - Brenda testified as to this?

The additional info regarding what Pierce observed is interesting to say the least - I just wish we could determine his credibilty a bit more.

[Freedom2specul8]

You spend way too much time worrying about the motives of people who post on these threads ...your fears are unfounded...but as usual, you won't listen if I say "trust me". Now, just don't look at my posts and you'll have a better time on the threads.

[Freedom2specul8]

I was looking at an older thread, from february..and the detective said they have tons of great evidence to go through. I'm suspecting they only released a fraction of it at PH. They don't have to release all of it then anyway..just enough for the judge to say..yeah, proceed with trial.

[MizSterious]

[10:35] Yes to all
[10:35] first 4 pages appear to be animals
[10:35] thousands of photos - - under 100 objectionable

(snip!)

[11:12] did not find that DW had renamed any files
[11:12] in attemp to hide files
[11:13] officer ?? examiled files ffrom all the computers?
[11:13] many thousands
[11:13] he said no child porn
[11:13] defense objecting
[11:13] not prepubescent girls in images
[11:14] not prepubescent girls in images
[11:14] according to the other cop
[11:14] Collins asked that this other cop look at them
[11:14] Mr. Armstrong
[11:14] is clear - - no one thought they were pre-pubescent girls
[11:14] 68000 images from the pc's
[11:15] Armstrong spent about 1 1/2 hours looking at photos
[11:15] no prepubescent females in photos
[11:16] do you disagree with his conclusions? "Not at all."
[11:16] back to the danielle pix..the daughter of a friend<---judge speaking
[11:16] from the files you downloaded,
[11:16] do you know when they were open? yes
[11:16] do you have a list of those times? yes
[11:17] talking about 6 photos of the real child
[11:17] Discovery page 14-54
[11:17] says when files were open?
resume at 20 til 11

[Valpal1]

And someone else here often claims that having any pictures whatsoever of children can be a sign of pedophilia. Proof of guilt becomes easier every day, doesn't it?

I posted some very well documented information of the well-studied phenomena about pedophile "collections" of child porn and child erotica. Please note that erotica is not illegal and normal people don't find it erotic.

Anne Gheddes does beautiful photography of infants and toddlers. Many people own some of her work (I do). It isn't illegal or erotic. But pedophiles think and act otherwise.

My questions about the nature of his non-pornographic collection are valid. There has been not one peep concerning child erotica, hopefully because there is none. But if there is, you can bet there will be expert testimony to the psychosexual implications of such.

[mommya]

Can anyone remember the first name of the det.(?) Kaiser that was mention during the PH? The surname stuck in my head cuz it is my family's surname. I think it was during the testimony of the female near the beginning - where Feldman was asking stuff about whether or not so-and-so went directly from the Van Dam's to the RV, etc...

[Freedom2specul8]

Well, their choices for recreation was horrible and disgusting..as most on these threads will agree.. at least what they admitted to in court was awful...But, according to all accounts, the kids were very well mannered, behaved and had/have lots of friends. The boys are under going counseling, grief, shock etc.., SO..if they are indeed abused, neglected and mistreated, any counselor worth a hoot, especially if they are trained in spotting children of alcoholics..they'll report their findings and proceed with action. They can get arrested for failing to report abuse..and so far, we've not heard if there have been neglect charges brought forth.