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Account for Danielle's search still has $24,000 (What about money promised to Laura Recovery?)
Union Trib ^ | March 31, 2002 | Kristen Green

Posted on 03/31/2002 1:52:12 PM PST by 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

altAfter 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.



TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: vandam; westerfield
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To: rolling_stone
Thank you.
441 posted on 04/03/2002 11:08:39 AM PST by Valpal1
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To: ~Kim4VRWC's~,spectre,MizSterious,Lucyredboots,Valpal1
"This makes me pity the parents as grievously wounded sinners. They know their behavior made it possible and it eats at them."

Oh, I know what you mean! It must be soooo crushing to have the world watching you, knowing that you are the parents of a child that you didn't bother to check on even when the doors were left open. Knowing that you will be in the spotlight and everyone will know about the back-rubbing, and dirty dancing and pot-smoking and child neglecting and the buying of disgusting rubber pizzas that feed five thousand. It must make one so fretful that everyone knows that Nordstrums opened up specially for you and even managed to have some mammoth sizes. It must make one so melancholy that everyone (except the apologists) understands your true character. Why, there is really nothing left to do but go buy that new car. The nice smell of leather and the plush feel of the upholstery will be such a comfort. It might even attract new "friends" that one can party with. It will be such a respite from these grievous times.

442 posted on 04/03/2002 11:14:46 AM PST by Lauratealeaf
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To: Valpal1
This makes me pity the parents as grievously wounded sinners. They know their behavior made it possible and it eats at them. Thus BVD's defensive aggression toward Feldman, a curious mix of grief, anger, guilt and self protective rationalization. The parent's left the gate open for the wolf, but their lamb would have been safe if there were no wolves and they are unsupprisingly angry at him and his attorney who appears to be planning to transmogrify their neglatory guilt into the perception that they perhaps committed the crime rather than created the climate in which it occurred.

I am of the opinion that Danielle was taken between 3-4 a.m. if it was done by an outsider. DW alleged alibi has him returning at the correct time to find a deeply slumbering household, ripe for plucking.

Great summary.

P1- Color me jaded, but I doubt it. DvD was his own alibi. He did that magnet thing. Their actions and statements under oath have contributed to the mounting questions.

P2- That's still part of that shifting timeline the VD's have going on. Rumors (yes I know) have suggested that the 3:00 is escape time was wrong. And what ever happened to he entered the house before Brenda came home and waited? If his alibi pans out, that theory goes as well. Then it's another fishing expedition. It's a long wait until May 17.

443 posted on 04/03/2002 11:18:13 AM PST by Jaded
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To: all
Something else is curios...I was looking at the transcripts of Brenda and Damon's testimony regarding the early friday timeline - when I came upon the part where Damon is saying (not very assuredly) that it was Bill Libby who wanted to go snowboarding on Sun. instead of Sat. - this struck me as odd because I have been doing some digging - trying to find out more about Bill Libby - and in the course of that snooping I found that his wife Dolly (Deloris) is actively involved in St. Timothy's Episcopal Church (recently heading the outreach program and part of the OSL(?) prayer team) - and that son Derek is a member of the EYC (youth group grades 6-12) Well it seems the EYC was having a superbowl party that sunday - wouldn't Derek have wanted to go to that? Also - don't folks who are active in a church usually attend the Sunday services? Would they just have gone home from church and then went to Big Bear for snowboarding? How far exactly is Big Bear and was it just to be a day-trip? Many people I know who attend church regularly - would probably plan something like that for Sat. rather than Sun. - many of them have routines for Sun. - go to church - maybe get brunch - spend a little quality time together as a family - what do ya'll think? I know catholics though - who if they have something important to attend to on sunday - will attend a Wed. evening service to accomodate.

I don't know - mostly just thinking out loud. Opinions please.

444 posted on 04/03/2002 11:27:58 AM PST by mommya
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To: Lauratealeaf, ValPal1
Are the immoral doper parent's capable of duping LE and framing DW. My experience with dopers is they can't plan their way out of a paper sack, much less a murder charge. "

LOL that's about the truth..but in all honestly....this couple was smart enough to get into a neighborhood that sells houses for $300,000 and up right? Addicts eventually hits rock bottom..andjudging from what they've done so far, if they are addicts, they've not hit rock bottom yet

445 posted on 04/03/2002 11:29:55 AM PST by Freedom2specul8
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To: all
NEW THREAD if you're not on my ''ping'' list.
446 posted on 04/03/2002 11:31:48 AM PST by Freedom2specul8
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To: all
...just continuing my line of thinking about the trip - Bill Libby - and church.

I'm thinking the trip was originally to be an overnighter - cuz Brenda said the "if she could get a sitter for friday night" stuff - and Damon says the trip was changed from sat. to sun. - so, I'm thinking they arrive the evening before - spend the night - get up early the next day and make a day of it on the slopes - then head home that night.

According to mapguest it would take like 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 hrs. to get from Poway to Big Bear - so I guess they could've changed it to a Sunday day trip - But why was Damon so confused as to why the trip schedule was changed? Should be clear-cut don't you think? What would be his reason to lie about this issue?

447 posted on 04/03/2002 12:32:45 PM PST by mommya
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To: Lauratealeaf;Jaded
Laura, I like your style, that summary was excellent and so tongue in cheek...

Jaded, I am with you, we will wait till the trial. Maybe by then, the van Dams will have their time tables coordinated, maybe.

sw

448 posted on 04/03/2002 12:35:12 PM PST by spectre
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To: spectre
He was "overly cooperative" like the van Dams were.

Yes, and that was brought out at the PH by the defense. I believe there was an objection, though.

449 posted on 04/03/2002 2:22:38 PM PST by It's me
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To: It's me;jaded;lauratealeaf;ALL
Larry King Live tonight at 8pm Central, John Walsh will be on. We should all come back on the forum to discuss any new details Walsh may accidentally give away, wink, wink.

sw

450 posted on 04/03/2002 3:12:22 PM PST by spectre
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