Police comb digital files in pursuit of evidence

San Diego Union-Tribune via SignOnSanDiego.com ^ | March 18, 2002 | Kathryn Balint

[Lanza]

DW's attorney asked BVD is she colored her hair. I think her hair is going to be in his RV or his clothes.

[UCANSEE2]

Notice this timeline:

At 2:00 a.m., when closing time was announced, the three women got in Brenda’s truck (allegedly taking hits from the same joint they had smoked earlier) and the two men drove in another vehicle to the Van Dam home. Damon, who was allegedly asleep in his underwear in his own bed, was awakened by Barbara, who climbed on top of the bed. Damon admits to “kissing” Barbara, and “rubbing her back”. Brenda Van Dam came upstairs about 15 minutes later, and informed the couple that they were being “rude” and that they should join the rest of the ensemble downstairs. Yet, after pizza, the remaining guests allegedly left. The Van Dam’s assert that they went to bed at approximately 2:30 a.m.

Exited bar at 2am
Smoked a joint
Drove Home

Friend cozies up to hubby, Brenda goes up about 15 minutes later.
Hubby and girly come downstairs.
They all EAT PIZZA.
Brenda and Damon in bed by 2:30. RIGHT! On what planet !

[UCANSEE2]

I am curious.

An earlier article mentioned that Damon was home all evening, spending time with a female neighbor.
Or at least had a female friend there from around 10:30pm until ?Then later, after 2am, Brenda comes home with another girlfriend.

What happened to the first girlfriend ??????

[DoughtyOne]

Good point. It may very well be. If this woman and her husband were in any way complicit in the death of their daughter, I hope it becomes known. I have not ruled this out in my mind yet.

[MizSterious]

"It is good to see a conservative writer telling it like it is."

These days, it takes courage to write an article like this. I'm sure NRO has been inundated with angry "how dare you" mail because of this column, just as, on Free Republic, others who have posted similar thoughts have faced flames for their efforts.

[MizSterious]

"Still want to know if they looked at the Van Dams computer as thoroughly."

Perhaps at the trial, we'll know more, but so far, if they've examined the VD computers, there's been no mention of it.

[MizSterious]

"Brenda and Damon in bed by 2:30. RIGHT! On what planet !"

I think the VDs realized the folly of that particular time line, which might explain why in subsequent interviews, it seems to have "morphed" considerably. The VD timelines require a certain amount of agility, as you jump from one to another. They've been changed many times, and none of us know for sure which one, if any, might be the right one.

[MizSterious]

"What happened to the first girlfriend ?"

No one really knows. Damon is sure a busy guy, isn't he?

[scholar]

The brief biographical sketch of the missing child never indicates the family dysfunction that likely contributed to making the abduction possible.

Thanks for the ping.

I think the van Dams are despicable parents and may well have contributed to making the abduction possible. However, Westerfield is the guy with the penchant for child porn.

The defense is trying to obfuscate by questioning who else may have had access to the computers. The files according to the prosecution were extensive and very well organized. Unless there was another party who had unlimited, private access to Westerfield's computers, Westerfield is the person who loaded those files.

Until some other compelling evidence is presented, I have to believe that Westerfield is the murderer of that poor little girl.

[Sweet Hour of Prayer]

A few of the facts really perplex me:

1. I can't fathom how someone could sneak into a house, search around the second floor and abduct a 7 yr. old child without anybody hearing anything. That's amazing. Especially considering the Van Dam household's odd hours.

2. The houses in Sabre Springs are sooo close together, that there isn't any privacy in a backyard, and yet none of the neighbors saw or heard anything.

3. The Van Dam's special garage is disturbing. I imagine we're talking more than illegal pot-smoking. What kind of character is Damon? And what was his alibi?

4. Having lived in Poway for several years and having lived in El Cajon (near Dehesa Rd.) for 6 years, I don't find the cicuitous travel of Westerfield between the desert and the beach that alarming. There are lots of weekend RV'ers in the area. The fingerprint found in the RV is another matter.

I just don't know what to make of this. Westerfield seems like an ulikely predator and the Van Dam's engage in illegal drug usage. I hope the police weren't swayed early on in the investigation and caused evidence to appear when the feared they weren't going to be able to "get their guy." I see this as a very odd case.

[scholar]

I just don't know what to make of this.

I totally agree that this is a very perplexing case. However, current evidence points at Westerfield. Westerfield has a great defence team and if there is any exculpatory evidence they will find it.

[UCANSEE2]

What about this?

Damon and 1st girlfriend are at the Damon's home in early evening. They get closer, and then around 10:30pm Damon puts Danielle to bed.

Damon and 1st Girlfriend head to the bedroom. They are in the midst of sexplay and (Daddy, I couldn't get to sleep) daughter walks in on them.

Daddy screams (maybe he was embarrassed) at Danielle, saying things he shouldn't have (I hate you , get out, you don't belong in here, go away, etc.) Who knows.

Danielle goes to her room and writes in her diary a note to Daddy begging him to love her.

At this point, I really have to stretch. Maybe girlfriend 1 came out of the bedroom, pissed, slammed open the door, and Danielle happened to just be in front of it (do their bedroom doors open out ?) or maybe in her rush out she ran into Danielle, knocking her down the stairs.
Danielle hits her head, causing a broken neck or severe concussion.

Damon and 1st girlfriend have to figure out what to do. They could have stashed the body in D.Westerfields Motorhome, in a panic.

Or maybe they just drove to the desert and dropped the body off, then drove back. (they had the time). Then they set off the alarm and leave doors open so it looks like a stranger broke in.

1st girl goes home, Damon jumps in bed in plenty of time before Brenda comes home.

When 2nd girl that was with Brenda comes up to his room, and snuggles up, he plays it cool, but is not aroused and doesn't 'jump to it'.
Fortunately, Brenda comes up and breaks it up.

Mom (Brenda) doesn't know what happened. Damon tries to control Brenda during interviews, Brenda thinks it is all because of swinging lifestyle and drugs, not knowing she is being controlled for an entirely different reason.

Daniel Westerfield is the unfortunate scapegoat that Damon told Brenda to mention to the police.

It may be that Damon had reasons to hate DW. Maybe Damon is a real weinie and Dan Westerfield didn't like him around. Maybe Damon called the neighborhood assoc. on DW for working on cars in his driveway. It doesn't take much when someone needs a scapegoat very badly.

[Jaded]

Wouldn't a broken neck or concussion show up in the autopsy. Although all I remember from the PH is that she wasn't shot, stabbed or strangled. David Westerfield's RV wasn't at his house that night.

As far as there DvD not being "in the mood" for Babs, I had read that there was traces of cocaine found in the home.

[UCANSEE2]

Traces of Cocaine found in the DvD home.

Usually that makes you want sex, but unable to keep an erection cause all the blood is pumped to your head, not your 'lap'.

Here is another possibility, maybe you were even suggesting this.

Damon and 1st girlfriend are going at it in bedroom or in the garage ? Danielle sees this and gets yelled at. She finds the stash of cocaine and eats it or maybe she saw them snort it, so she imitates them. Causes OD to the tiny body of Danielle.

What if one/some of the cops are part of the 'swingers' and supplied the cocaine. Might explain why they summarily dismissed the pizza party four, and the parents so quickly.

[GummyIII]

Thanks, Kim....

[skipjackcity]

"His fingerprints were also found in Danielle's bedroom"...regarding post #22, this is the first I have heard of this. Since when were DW's fingerprints found in Danielle's bedroom?

[Jaded]

That's certainly new, in all my quests on about 5 different forums, I haven't heard this yet. However, some are less inclined to give credence to a foreign "tabloid". One wonders though, if it is true. US media would have had a field day, even gone so far as to built the gallows and bypass the trial. Could that be a misinterpretation of her print was found in his RV? OTOH, if it proves to be true, he's toast.

[Jaded]

That's an interesting theory. It would certainly explain no visible cause of death. I had read previously that the police overlooked traces of cocaine at the behest of the PR firm. There are rumors on UT forums, I think that it's being overlooked because they are quite friendly with some members of SDPD. Not all of the men in blue are so inclined.

Well, the arrainment will be this Thursday, so we have to wait and see what shakes out. Do you see a quick trial or one about a year or so down the road? My original opinion was that it would be after the election, if the evidence isn't terribly strong, but that would depend on the Defense. Don't see that happening.

[Freedom2specul8]

The defense has a LOT of people helping westerfield's case..as evidenced by the support from many of his listener's and people who are interested in what he has to say.

[UCANSEE2]

I think that unless they let the public calm down, the press quite writing fictional stories with non-evidence just to sell papers, they can not expect anything but a ZOO in court. I think more time is needed because I think the carpet needs to be shaken out a little more.