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Hey all, I am kinda new here. I have been following this case both in the news, and online through a web sleuthing forum. I am torn on this subject to be honest. I am a mother of 4 children myself, and a stay at home mom on top of that. I am a native of Southern Ca also, however I now live in NC. My children are roughly the same age as the Van Dams. Anyway. from the start this case has touched me for obvious reasons. I have followed it like I said and there are quite a few things that do not mesh and do bother me. Let me state for the record I dont CARE what the parents lifestyle is, or what they choose to do in their own bedroom. I do however care IF it contributed to their daughters death. All in all if their unwatchiful eyes, or at worst they invited the perp over is what caused it then they are culpible in some way. If anything, neglect. However as a stay home mom myself who has been known to go out with friends, I cannot understand how this little girl was not checked on for so long. Nor can I understand the need to expose any child to strangers and possible danger. In my experience you cannot parent a child and say "Now sweetie dont talk to strangers" while waving strangers into your home. Kids are not dumb and they will catch onto it sooner or later. As for Peirce well you know I dont know that he has anything to lose or if he has everything to lose. I frankly cannot imagine since he already had portrayed himself as a child's advocate why jeaopardize the publicity already raised from this event to advertise his cause. If he is an opportunist then he is a dumb one. He could have left it as it was, and had his name known. So to me, he has no reason to lie, unless like I said he is an idiot. As for life insurance on children. I have AlWAYS been offered life insurance for my kids. Anyone who has had a baby in the past 15 or so yrs probably was hit up to enroll their child in the gerber insurance program. I know I was, all 4 times. In fact my youngest is two yrs old and I still get the paperwork once a mth from their mailing list since my name was sold to their firm after I had my baby. I am sure all of u with kids have seen the ad. The gerber baby face, and a statement saying "Enroll your child now for one $1 for the first month". Or "Cover your child for pennys a day". No it is not for a ton of money, it is for a slight amount to god forbid cover funeral and other expenses. However it can mature to 25k. There are also certain stipulations to collecting the higher amount. At 18 kids with gerber coverage can use that money towards college,therefore you can even buy MORE insurance if the mood were to strike you to insure their college education. did they have insurance? Who cares? A child is dead and the only thing that matters is catching the right person. If it is westerfield then he is where he should be. If there are other parties involved then they need to find them. if the parents are involved then they also need to be brought to justice. I suspect in the coming months when the trial hits many more answers will be known. Anyways i have posted enough already LOL. Sorry for the novel.

Am glad you posted and welcome! I think I heard that you had a relative posting as well...

I too have been a stay at home mom with 3 kids..and I went to college for 7 yrs, part time. Parents (and non-parents alike) who have followed this situation have such strong feelings about it... I think most of us have the same questions as you have so eloquently stated. Where I drew the line was when a ''few'' of the posters here assumed what the parents were thinking, and did behind the scenes. The ultimate sickening thing to hear was when they were accused of faking grief. That was what closed the door to me..hearing those words turned me off to the rest of the rumors gossip and innuendos.Here's another turn off.. At some point, one has to stop listening to them and wait for and present facts as they come out of the hearings. That's all we can do. If the counselors of the little boy, and I've said this numerous times, find A SMIDGEN of neglect or abuse committed towards them, we all should demand prompt and appropriate action be taken.