Anatomy Of A Murder: Westerfield vs. Van Dams (A Mother's Story)

San Diego Online ^ | June 27, 2002 | Kevin Cox

[Freedom2specul8]

I'm glad you're still here..so since you are, I'll start posting to you again.. I've missed you!

[Jaded]

I think he's going after witnesses who have changed their stories. He's gone after SDPD for the way they handled certain aspects of this case and rightly so. We still have a couple of weeks left.

What are we gonna do when this is over?

[Jaded]

Check the enquiring minds page there are alot of questions. If there's a question or comment you'd like to add, let me know. Stealth Ninja Dave

[Jaded]

It may not be our business because of the nature of the "event", however if she was killed in DW's house or the RV, it would be relevant in that it would prove that's where she was killed. I don't think a plastic sheet would have solved this problem, nor do I think David would have gotten one for this reason depending on which motive you want to go with. IMO.

[pinz-n-needlez]

Two pieces of testimony stick in my mind....

The girls started home from Dad's, remembered Barb's cigarettes, went back to get them, got home after Rich and Keith. With all of the stuff they 'forgot' or seem to have fabricated, why is this so consistent? (Other than the obvious, "that's what happened!" Think outside the box for a moment, please.)

The ME found no marks on the body, and the teeth were not traumatically knocked out of the gums, so I think that would rule out getting hit by a car.

What if the pizza party folks ARE into other things than 'swapping'? (Denise and Brenda both waltzed to the perjury line to deny group sex.) What if Danielle knew and spilled the beans somewhere? Could that be the reason behind the journal entry? What if they had to shut her up in the wee hours of Saturday morning?

If they were playing with LE muckety mucks, that would explain the quick dismissal of VDs as suspects. It would also account for BVD and DVD's missing appropriate reactions to situtations continually. They're having to think about what regular parents would do, rather than just BEING greiving, angry, upset parents.

I realize I'm accusing them of unspeakable behaviors as parents, but it's one of the few scenarios I can think of that accounts for testimonies and attitudes on the witness stand, and for the manufactured, but flimsy, evidence that was presented against Westerfield.

Have at it! :-)

[Jaded]

Doesn't it seem odd that she only bled on the left cuff of more that one item strewn about the floor? Wiping what ever is bleeding with her left wrist, perhaps.

[juzcuz]

Interesting conflict in testimony between Pizza Guy's and Gal's--

Both Keith and Rich testified that they all traveled together. They were following girls as the girls pulled in to driveway. The guy's parked in front of the house and that they all went in the house together.

---Never had to wait for girls to get back--

[Jaded]

Get got the economy size and already had a refill.

[juzcuz]

Does anyone know the skinny on this journal Danielle was supposed to be keeping.

I once tried to find out about silver journals at Barnes and Noble's website. They described one as a journal of black pages that you write in with silver ink. It's supposed to be real popular with kids who are into the "Lord of the Rings" type wizard stuff.

[pinz-n-needlez]

Ooohhh, I forgot about that. This suggests that there IS a reason the girls made that point.

Had they agreed earlier on that, and the guys forgot the 'story?' Or was there back and forth travel other times from Dad's during the evening, and that would provide them cover, counting on some confusions about time?

I'm waiting to hear Feldman's take on the Dad's story. I think it is a crucial part of the story.

If DW was the only obviously guilty person, why would the DA even tell the story of the VDs on Friday night in such detail? Why not put on witness saying what was going on with DW earlier on Friday?

There's been so little testimony about DW before the 'incident'. And such focus on what he did afterwards. Perhaps after hair, lint, fibers were planted in his house/garage accessed by an open door (accident or B&E?). How come there was so much fiber and hair to connect to the victim, but no blood, feces, urine, fingerprints in the house? How would someone pull off an abduction/molestation/murder in one's home with a teenage son in and out all weekend? And how come we didn't hear any testimony from that perspective?

[Freedom2specul8]

If you try to not relate, you'll see the oddness. Yeah, we've all had our moments, but when you point out what what you ''didn't'' do..from saving/collecting and enjoying child pornography that depicts savage violence (that's what it is), to hanging out at bars all night while married, and being a loner that might think kids are less intimidating or judgemental, there's something not right about it. I agree rejecting organized religion is not uncommon. Does it mean he is an atheist? Does it mean he still is a God believing soul who nurtures his spirituality? Does it mean he is conveniantly ignoring God so he can continue his sick behaviour? While I think his mom has some issues.. (*ie, why would she publicly say those things?), unless she is an habitual liar..she's brought some insight that we wouldn't have had. We'd still be hearing what a wonderful guy he was..had patents, and a great career. Also, I'd like to know if it's true whether he really had adult or kid parties at his house..so far, we've not had neighbors to confirm or deny..

[Freedom2specul8]

According to reports, DW (the horndog) has changed points in his story as well. I'd sure like to know whether DW will be put up on the stand..but me thinks he won't. Rebuttle witnesses and testimony will be interesting...the last words the jury will hear will be duseks...unless dusek desides to not split his closing arguments.

What'll we do afterwards? Replace our keyboards for one thing..I can't see the letters on a couple of mine. :)

[Freedom2specul8]

LOL I can't see the letters on a couple of mine. :) should have read I can't see a couple of letters on mine. I need coffee!!!

[juzcuz]

I think the he said /she said conflicts on details are part of their cover and they probably will get away with,

---

because they were SOOOOOOO - --HIGH!!!!!! How convient.

They could have traveled over to DW while they were in the parking lot, getting SOOOO HIGH. While DW was in the bar, and they knew DW was in while they were outside.

The DA is using them as quantatative witness, not qualatative their -power-(for lack of better word)is that he has four witness that are not related to the family, that testify to the whereabouts and activities of the Vandam's during the majority of the time.

However, this does not help Damon who had a four hour window of opportunity to do the deed, or set up the deed.

[KLT]

Personally, I think Westerfield is guilty as sin.....he had not only lots and lots of child pornography in his house, I believe he has a history child molestation...

But the authorities have to prove this beyond a reasonable doubt, that is the legal standard...can they? Who knows? I remember OJ...

[Freedom2specul8]

Courttv just displayed the necklace Danielle was wearing on an evidence bag.. I missed that during live testimony. It had her hair, sticks and debri stuck in it.. That was horrible..

[pinz-n-needlez]

They're either four witnesses, or four accomplices, depending on how this plays out, I guess.

I can't quite bring myself to believe it, but several times during testimony, it seemed uncanny that Brenda took Danielle to DW's at just the right time to provide opportunity to spread 'contaminants' that could damn him later. And she is the one who pointed the police at him. I wonder when she did decide to pin this on him.... before Friday, or sometime on Saturday? Was it opportunity on her part, or forethought?

But it's too hard to postulate that she knew what was coming.

I wish I could believe that the VDs were distraught, but their behavior has just been so calculating -- What's been happening in court, the new car, the re-do on the house. Is Danielle's room now cleaned out, with new paint and carpeting and turned into a home office or playroom? It wouldn't surprise me.

DVD's testimony about the gate across the door screamed at me that all the evidence of what happened to her was somewhere else. He was sure of that, he could afford to keep the room. I'm a believer in cremation, but I think I'd wait to cremate my child's body until I knew her killer was convicted, just in case. The VDs certainly have the right to make whatever arrangements they like, but I know I'd do differently.

I'm watching to see how Feldman deconstructs the 'Loaves and Fishes' pizza, and the world's biggest joint. These folks weren't temperate about anything in their lives. Denise's and Branda's cockiness in the stand will come back to bite both of them, I'm sure.

I hope the boys are safe. Their Guardian Angels must be exhausted!

[Freedom2specul8]

Have you read the article covering dw's mother's interview? What do you think? The dad and dw were horndogs, dw was a loner who partied all night at bars while married, brother was openly gay and died of aids. Sounds like dad might have been abusive or at least negligent and there was the problem of alcohol.

[Jaded]

...he had not only lots and lots of child pornography in his house, I believe he has a history child molestation...

In the trial it was specified that there were 85 pictures that were questionable out of 8000. While even 1 is too many, it is not lots and lots. Some of the pictures shown in court Tuesday afternoon were downloaded on his son's computer. I realize that this doesn't fit the story, but these be the facts.

He has NO HISTORY of child molestation anywhere. The girls who have lived under his roof have been interviewed by police and stated that he showed no interest in them.

[Freedom2specul8]

Did the mom's interview carry any weight with you? Did it make you think to yourself..well hey, the VD's aren't the only one's with problems here? I gotta lot of things to do today...shopping etc. Will see ya when I get back.