Hi, John! Regarding this: Westerfield said "As far as I'm concerned, my life's over."
...is it possible that DW felt he was dead, either way? As if he was involved in something and was in waaaay over his head (not murder, though)? I'm thinking the type of thing that, if you told the police about other people who were involved, your life wouldn't be worth diddly when you were back out on the street...kind of like being in the Mafia.