DA Believes Body Found IS That Of Danielle van Dam: 6:30 P.M. News Conference

NBC KNSD 7/39 San Diego ^ | February 27, 2002 7:00 P.M. | NBC KNSD 7/39 San Diego

[RJayneJ]

I heard a report that there was a child that was abducted and murdered a couple of miles/or blocks from the Van Dams', and the police were digging up old records for forensic evidence and checking it against that of Westerfield.

[BunnySlippers]

"burned" meant burned with acid

The news here in Los Angeles now saying that the body was not partially burned at all. I suspect it was decomposing and mistaken as burns.

[Cold Heat]

blackened.

[My Favorite Headache]

Are you kidding me?

[janette]

it is told she was found in those clothes she wore when last seen. So, she did put on her clothes, before someone took her out of her bedroom. Why did she go? You can't put clothes on a child that age, if she is screeming and fighting. So she went with trusting this person! Something is wrong here!!

[Registered]

I guess I'm a low class butt wipe too, because after listening to these people on a radio interview avoid any questions about the night Danielle disappeared and their "swinging" lifestyle, I can only conclude that it may have been a contributing factor in Danielle's death...like being busy in the garage "playroom" while your kid is snatched?

[dread78645]

A lot of folks have been following this closely, and for those of us in California, it is close to home? Poultry inspector? I just don't get your comments....

I was station-ed in SD 1978-79 (Ocean Beach)

My point is (and i'm sorry, i fergot /sarcasm tag)
But anyhow the federal goverb-ment allows the death-penalty if you murder a federal meat inspector.
And if you murder a 7 year-old child ???

[It's me]

I swear I am going to get flamed for this...but something tells me this guy did NOT do this. I don't know why but something just tells me there is a ton more about this.

I can't help but agree with you. I was trying to keep my mind open and give him the benefit of doubt but, there is a lot of evidence pointing to Westerfield. But... still, there is something that just doesn't fit. I think we'll obviously have to wait until the trial which, I hear, wil be televised.

[Registered]

Have Fresno put up the radio link to the show where they seemed to be "hiding" the activities that may have contributed to Danielle's abduction.

[Cold Heat]

I don't recall anyone said that. The initial story from the parents was that she was at a club(bar),with friend or friends and he was home. She returned at some point and he found the door open. Hmmmmmmmmmm..........

[janette]

it is told she was found in those clothes she wore when last seen. So, she did put on her clothes, before someone took her out of her bedroom. Why did she go? You can't put clothes on a child that age, if she is screeming and fighting. So she went with trusting this person! Something is wrong here!! is it possible the girl left by herself to "visit" someone?

[FresnoDA]

Thanks for the clarification, and now you can get a BUMP!!

[Cold Heat]

Let's assume the radio station story is bogus and just go with the story the police reported. The partying was definately going on that nite. Was Westerfield there? That is the question. Did they or their guests take the girl to the motor home? Was Westerfield even involved?

Lots of questions.

[It's me]

Where's your proof that they're swingers?

Where have you been the past month?

Anyone remember the guy who was on John and Ken's Los Angeles radio show (KFI am 640)? This was about a week (?) after Danielle disappeared. I think his name was Pierce (???) he was from the Millenium Children's Fund.
Anyway, he was very concerned about what he saw in the VD house. I'm presuming that he was the one that led to the leaking about the VD'd lifestyle. Remember, the VD's never denied that they were swingers. You can bet that if they were falsely accused of that, they would adamantly refute it!! I know most normal people would.

[Reagan80]

Look you;

Their kid's dead.

I don't approve of the 'rumoured' life they supposedly were living, but don't you think that MAYBE there is just a chance that it was just another sick media setup of exaggeration in order to build a story in case the parents were implicated?

Just think of the ratings!

Do you have ANY idea of how disappointed the media sickos are tonight that this was just the work of a run-of-the-mill opportunistic pervert?

All those titillating 'swinging mommy' stories are shot to hell now...

No ratings bump at all.

You are a disruptor; begone...

Reagan80

[FresnoDA]

Brenda and Damon van Dam	02/07/02	11:05
Brenda and Damon van Dam join the John & Ken show via telephone to discuss their efforts to find their missing 7-year-old

This is the audio archive from John and Ken, KFI.  It is amazing.  They also go nuclear on Douglas Pierce.  He was the guy that spent the day with the VD's, and then released the following statement.

Douglas Howard Pierce, Founder
On 02-05-02 9 PM PST A Reward of $10,000 has been offered for the safe return of Danielle van Dam, age 7 of San Diego, CA
(This offer continues to be valid 02-08-02)

*******************************U P D A T E ****************************

Douglas Pierce, President- Founder of Millennium Children's Fund Made the following report on 02-09-02, 2:44pm PST. Reported to Department
of Social Services- Child Protective Services-San Diego County 1-858-560-2191 The C.P.S. report is available to the general public on 02-11-02, call 1-858-694-5191 under the name (van Dam). The statements to C.P.S. are as follows:

California Child Welfare Act provides and is mandated to provide the following requests made by Douglas Pierce:

1. IMMEDIATE REMOVAL OF THE REMAINING van DAM CHILDREN.
2. TEMPORARY CUSTODY TO GRANDPARENTS.
3. IMMEDIATE GRIEF COUNSELING FOR CHILDREN.

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS BY DOUGLAS PIERCE, IN THE C.P.S. REPORT  (I DIRECTLY PLEA WITH THE van Dam            PARENTS  TO PLEASE LET YOUR TWO REMAINING CHILDREN TO GO HOME WITH GRANDPARENTS)  (A DANGEROUS LIFESTYLE IN THE van Dam HOME EXISTS, ALL CHILDREN ARE TO BE CONSIDERED IN DANGER.)  (ADULTS LIFESTYLE AND THE SHAME OR MORAL JUDGMENT THAT MAY COME SHOULD BE SECONDARY TO THE WELFARE, AND RETURN OF DANIELLE, OR ANY OR ANY CHILD IN DANGER.)

****************** THIS IS THE ENTIRE STATEMENT TO C.P.S. ***********

[Amore]

Actually, they're now saying the body wasn't burned at all. It was part of the natural decomposition process that made it look as if she had been burned.

[merry10]

about?