Posted on 03/31/2002 1:52:12 PM PST by FresnoDA
Account set up for Danielle's search still has about $24,000
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BTW, if one is interested in how the money is being distributed out of the "rescue fund," one might want to check how BVD's recent charges at the local Nordstrom's store are being paid. Got to look nice for those upcoming court appearances, doncha know.
I don't know how much the cremation cost, but not a whole lot.
I wouldn't want anything to do with money collected for the "Fund" if it were my child. They should have it in control of "The Center for Missing Children" for advertising or something like that.
Seems money was no problem in the past for the van Dams?
Damon is a real piece of work basically saying "SEE, this is how could have been done!"
Lots of ways it could have been done in that house that night.
sw
This whole situation is mighty peculiar, to say the least.
All one has to do is read the lyrics to the photo montage of Danielle (Sarah McLachlan's "Angel") - a lyrically dark song to choose, when a precious child is MISSING!!! sounded to me like they already knew she was dead. Would be interesting to find out why they chose that particular song.
Anyhow, I don't see Damon VD as a wholesome family man in the slightest. I don't have any 'proof' of any of this because I am not an investigator privy to the evidence. But if I was, I'd be taking my gut instincts and following them up to see if they panned out.
I'm sorry, I've been sick and away from the computer for several days.
[16:52] lay print examiner
[16:52] on the stand
[16:53] description of fingerprint comparison process
[16:54] latent is invisiable or nearly invisible print
[16:55] finger print from cabinet on side of bed in motorhome being discussed
[16:55] he was proved 200 prints
[16:55] drivers side of the bed
[16:55] provided for comparison
[16:55] evidence #
[16:56] has known prints of 18 individuals
[16:56] hands mummified he took the hands to his office for attempt to rehydrate hands so he could gather prints
[16:56] dani's hands
[16:57] went to ME's office and collected prints
[16:57] too far mummified and took them with him
[16:58] rehydrated hands and compared print found in motor home with the print recovered from Dani
[16:58] so he was able to develop known prints from severed hands
[16:58] wood cabinet print was nade by Danielle Van Dam
[16:58] verified by second examiner
[16:58] no dissimilarities
[16:59] he is absolutely no doubt in his mind that Dani made those prints
[16:59] he is a ridgeologist not point counter
[17:00] not a point counter
(snip)
[17:04] discussing contents of his notes
[17:05] review fingerprint card (xerox) of dani's fingerprint
[17:05] orientation of print: as it appears on item, which way is up on the hand
[17:06] orientation of print from motorhome cabinent (did you see Titannic? that will give you the orientation)
[17:07] location on lower end of cabinet
[17:07] he didn't see print in life, saw photo and sketch
[17:07] 1.5 to 2 feet up from the bed
[17:08] as if someone was playing on the bed? objection susutained
[17:08] doesn't know age of print
[17:09] several prints: 2 to Danielle Van Dam simultaneous touch
[17:09] left middle and left ring
[17:09] two other individuals, two prints each
[17:09] these were in RV, window, bedroom area of RV
[17:10] yes in the RV
[17:10] other prints belonged to Danielle (girlfriend's kid)
[17:10] and another young girl--Jennifer
[17:10] finger prints in van dam house unidentified? objection sustained
[17:11] no way to age prints, could have been there a year
[17:11] witness has no idea
[17:11] Jennifer and his girlfriend's kid Danielle
[17:11] how long
[17:11] he cant say when the fingerprint was placed
From this, it appears to me that they were specifically talking about the motorhome--could you check on that again? Thanks!
I would venture a guess that it has more to do with not wanting to seem to offend grieving parents than anything else. I know that on this board as well as some of the San Diego message boards pointing fingers at the van Dams was at least frowned upon, and in some cases, even stronger measures were taken to prevent even the slightest criticism of the van Dams.
Those that allowed such postings at all saw terrible flames directed at those who posted (she said as she dusted off the ashes from the last barrage). Pierce did not "go along to get along" but (apparently) told it like it was--along with Rick Roberts and several others. So the press unloaded on him--how dare they?
In these times when political correctness trumps searching for and then telling the truth, I suppose we should not be surprised, but we should be dismayed.
By Joe Hughes
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
March 30, 2002
One officer spent more than 40 years with the San Diego Police Department, a record for the agency. Another spent 34 years on the force and oversaw the Danielle van Dam investigation.
In all, eight senior San Diego police officers will be turning in their badges within a week, taking with them about 300 years of experience.
Police officials cannot remember another instance when so many veterans with so much experience left the department at the same time.
More retirements of longtime veterans may soon follow.
The reason for the exodus, police say, is an enhanced retirement policy that allows officers to retire with up to 90 percent of their salary after 30 years of service.
"There is some concern because we are losing an awful lot of good people," said Bill Farrar, president of the San Diego Police Officers Association. "You can teach people how to do the job, but so much of it is experience."
Capt. Cheryl A. Meyers, who supervises the department's personnel division, said police must become more aggressive in recruiting and may have to start looking for officers beyond state lines.
"We also are considering bringing back some of the people who have retired, under a provisional officers program, to work 90-day periods in some departments," Meyers said. Similar programs have been tried elsewhere.
San Diego's isn't the only police department facing a loss of leadership. Police agencies throughout California have implemented similar retirement plans, lest they become less competitive in recruiting.
The California commission on Police Officers Standards and Training, a Sacramento-based organization that sets statewide standards on training and advises departments on policies, is working with local officials in developing strategies to improve recruiting and retention.
Recruiting is expensive. San Diego officials estimate it costs about $100,000 to recruit and train an officer.
Officers who are leaving say the lure of retirement was too strong to ignore.
"I'm going to play golf, spend some time with the grandkids and smell the roses," said Capt. Ronald G. Newman, 60, who left yesterday.
Lt. Richard Bennett, 58, also left yesterday. He has spent more than 40 years with the department, surpassing by 12 days the record for longevity held by Officer George Pringle, who retired in 1936, according to Steve Willard of the San Diego Police Historical Association.
A graduate of Mission Bay High School, Bennett said he made his move into law enforcement through journalism.
During a high school journalism class, he was assigned to do a story on a now-defunct police cadet program. As part of the story, he applied to become a cadet and was accepted at the age of 18.
He later became a sworn officer.
"I never dreamed I'd be here 40 years," said Bennett, a supervisor in the narcotics division. "It's been a great ride."
Newman headed the Danielle van Dam case and has been involved with more than 900 homicide cases during his tenure. The soft-spoken, Hoover High School graduate who now lives in Escondido also has been the department's spokesman in explaining the recent rash of officer-involved shootings.
He never shot anyone in his career. Last month, however, he had his gun in hand in the middle of a busy downtown freeway, facing an ex-con begging him to shoot. The matter was resolved peacefully.
Co-workers said Newman's forte was getting homicide suspects to talk. He became one of the best in the business at obtaining confessions.
"About 80 percent of all homicide suspects give incriminating statements during police interviews," Newman said. He would use those statements to get suspects to divulge more information.
Newman's peers said the veteran detective's secret was his compassionate personality. Simply put, he got criminals to relax.
Newman said his approach invokes common sense.
"People would be surprised at the number of times just getting someone a cup of coffee brings results; it's more difficult for you to turn down someone who is decent to you."
Others retiring are Lt. Bill Hoover, 58, who spent 34 years on the force; Sgt. Wesley Ashcraft, 60, who spent 33 years on the force; Detective Phil Cooper, 60, who spent 35 years on the force; Detective Gary Reichle, 56, who spent 34 years on the force; Detective Eduardo Medina, 57, who spent 29 years on the force; and Gary Yoshonis, 59, who spent 35 years on the force.
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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.