[cyncooper]

That they waited for David to return instead of conducting the search in the same manner the neighbors experienced. Wonder why?

Because, contrary to assertions made here, the police were not focused on DW as a suspect from the start?

[MizSterious]

Or, it could be some other reason, because contrary to your opinion, the evidence from the PH and trial transcripts, plus interviews police gave to the media before the PH--not to mention information in sworn motions--indicate that Brenda had pointed the finger at DW from the beginning. We still don't know why--I hope one day that information will be released.

[Rheo]

They sat in a car until midnight on 2/3 waiting for him, they showed up first thing on 2/4, the interrogated him for hours on 2/4, by 2:30am on 2/5, they had a search warrant, pictures were taken of him on 2/4.

Pretty much from the start.

[MizSterious]

This is from an older post of mine, not yet updated to include the testimony we have--but it's a real good start. First, here's the interview on February 5th, LEO to the SD local media, source is below:

Officer: During the course of our investigation, the resident here, his name came up, as someone who had contact with the family. We've talked to him. He is cooperating with us. He's talked to us yesterday, he's talking to us today. We had some things we wanted to check in his house. He allowed us to go into his home and we are doing some things to process the scene and possibly eliminate him as a suspect." Source

Second, there was an article in the San Diego Union-Tribune the same day, where another officer says something quite similar:

"This is a process of elimination," said Dave Cohen, a spokesman for the San Diego Police Department. "We have gotten some information and we wanted to take a little closer look at his vehicle and his residence." Source

And from the motion filed in court (available on the U-T site as a pdf file):

"Detective Alldredge's affadavit was relied on to establish probable cause for search warrants 2783D and 27818 to search Mr. Westerfield's home. 27813 for Mr. Westerfields clothes. In his affadavit, Alldredge misrepresented statements by Brenda Van Dam that were relied on to supply probable cause for the issuance of the search warrants. Because the affadavits were sealed, documents may only disclose the specifics of the misrepresentations in camera."

So, from this, it appears Brenda said something, but that Alldredge might have altered it or exaggerated it. Bottom line, it looks like someone did point the police in a certain direction.

[mommya]

But did they go to the house when Neal was there at all - before DW arrived back home on Mon.? Surely they knocked on the door at one time after they noticed the unrolled hose - and found no one to be at home. Cuz if they had knocked and found just Neal there - they still could've asked him all kinds of stuff - but we never heard about that - so I'm thinking it didn't happen. Neal is basically an adult - why would they not want to go over to DW's as soon as it looked like anyone had arrived home? Or did they?