‘It Isn’t Over Yet’:SDPD Chief Bejarano talks about latest developments in van Dam Case

Newsweek-Website ^ | March 1, 2002 | NEWSWEEK WEB EXCLUSIVE

[FresnoDA]

‘It Isn’t Over Yet’

Feb. 28 —  The Danielle van Dam case has reached a sad climax. Police tonight confirmed that a body found by volunteers in a trash-strewn area about 25 feet off a well-traveled road east of San Diego was indeed that of the 7-year-old kidnapped from her suburban bedroom three weeks ago.

[FresnoDA]

 

Statement by Brenda & Damon van Dam

“With today's confirmation that our beloved Danielle will never again be physically present in our lives, we are experiencing the depths of sadness, loss and grief which only parents who have lost children under similar circumstances can fully comprehend.

These emotions are being tempered by an overwhelming sense of gratitude and closure. There is not a more anxious feeling for parents than to not know where our children are. While the past seven years we've had the peace and confidence of always knowing where Danielle was and that she was safe, someone took that away from us almost four weeks ago. But now with love for an innocent child -- and for one another -- the community has brought her back to us, and for that gift we offer our most sincere and heartfelt thanks. Even though the final outcome is horrible, we could not have imagined the rest of our lives without this closure.

Love has conquered evil in our community. This is Danielle's legacy and we couldn't be more proud. As we were praying this morning with the incredible volunteer searchers who actually found our daughter, our personal prayer was that God would share our little angel with everyone who helped to find her.

Thousands of people have stepped forward in extraordinary ways since Danielle was abducted. The entire search effort was started by the Laura Recovery Center Foundation and later carried out by our local organization, the Danielle Search Center. More than 2,500 people generously donated their time and energy to the search, and countless more helped behind the scenes.

We also want to thank the San Diego Police Department for the thorough and caring approach they have given to Danielle's abduction and murder. They are among the finest individuals we've ever known.

Danielle was a very special, beautiful, loving little girl. We miss her desperately but find comfort in knowing that she is now safe again and at peace. For Danielle, our family, friends and neighbors, we thank you for unifying us into such a giving community. We will be forever grateful to all of you."

[FresnoDA]

PING.....))))))) Reports of possible Plea Arrangements under way. KOGO has eluded possible....developing....

[Travis McGee]

There's Brenda, rubbing onion oil into her eyes and grimacing the way her acting coaches told her.

Damon as usual has no expression: a moral flatliner, he only shows emotion when tied in restraints by multiple masters with whips.

[Registered]

I can’t comment ;-)

[FresnoDA]

Experts Try To Determine Danielle's Cause Of Death

Van Dams Issue Statement Regarding Death Of Daughter

Posted: 7:46 a.m. PST March 1, 2002
Updated: 8:07 a.m. PST March 1, 2002

SAN DIEGO -- Forensic experts examining the partially decomposed body of Danielle van Dam are trying to determine how she was killed.

Late Thursday afternoon, San Diego County District Attorney Paul Pfingst confirmed that the small corpse found alongside a rural East County road was that of the 7-year-old, who vanished at the beginning of last month.

Relying largely on dental records, Medical Examiner Dr. Brian Blackbourne confirmed the suspicions of detectives that the remains were those of the little girl.

"Dr. Blackbourne reports that he has confirmed that the body of a little girl discovered Wednesday is, in fact, the body of Danielle van Dam," Pfingst said.

Brenda and Damon van Dam issued a statement expressing their grief and thanking those who participated in searching for her.

"With today's confirmation that our beloved Danielle will never again be physically present in our lives, we are experiencing the depths of sadness, loss and grief, which only parents who have lost children under similar circumstances can fully comprehend.

"Danielle was a very special, beautiful, loving little girl. We miss her desperately but find comfort in knowing that she is now safe again and at peace."

For Danielle, our family, friends and neighbors, we thank you for unifying us into such a giving community./We will be forever grateful to all of you."

Citizen volunteers Wednesday afternoon came across Danielle's remains under a clutch of oak trees next to Dehesa Road, which winds through a sparsely developed inland valley east of El Cajon.

Pfingst and San Diego police Chief David Bejarano thanked the legions of civilians who gave up their spare time over the last four weeks to scour much of San Diego County and its environs in hopes of locating Danielle.

They also acknowledged that the discovery of her body -- a feat Pfingst likened to finding the proverbial "needle in a haystack" -- is a serious boon to their case against the man accused of abducting and killing her.

Sabre Springs design engineer David A. Westerfield, 50, was arrested a week ago and not guilty earlier this week to charges of kidnapping and murder.

Westerfield, a twice-divorced father of two who lives two doors down from the van Dams, could face the death penalty if convicted. A preliminary hearing in the case is set for March 11.

[Uni-Poster]

Now that Danielle has been found and identified, I hope that the focus can turn to alot of unanswered questions in this case.
What was the extent of the Van Dam's relationship with Westerfield? What really happened the night she disappeared?

Something is still terribly wrong with the circumstances around this case. I feel that there was more of a relationship between Brenda and David than we are led to believe right now. How could a "casual" friend go into a dark home with father and 2 other kids in it, find her exact bedroom grab her and get out again without detection by anyone, or the dog. He must have been in that house before to know his way around. Did dad maybe slip out for a while after the kids went to bed and Westerfield saw? Too many questions to list them all here now.

[wasp69]

There's Brenda, rubbing onion oil into her eyes and grimacing the way her acting coaches told her.

Damon as usual has no expression: a moral flatliner, he only shows emotion when tied in restraints by multiple masters with whips.

Forgive me, but what does this supposedly mean?

[FresnoDA]

Suspect Awaits Death Penalty Decision    PLEA ARRANGEMENTS IN DISCUSSION?

Two people searching for the missing girl found the body behind some foliage, near a trail and among scattered rocks next to a golf course. Damon and Brenda van Dam had spearheaded one of the largest volunteer searches in state history, with hundreds of people combing nearby deserts and highways.

Meanwhile, the chief suspect in case, neighbor David Westerfield, is in custody waiting to see whether San Diego County prosecutors will seek the death penalty in Danielle's disappearance and slaying. Westerfield, who is being held without bond, has pleaded not guilty to murder and kidnapping charges and has also been charged with possession of child pornography.

If convicted, Westerfield, 50, could face the death penalty or life in prison without parole.

Danielle was last seen Feb. 1 when her father put her to bed at around 10 p.m. After she disappeared, investigators focused primarily on Westerfield, who lives two doors down from the van Dam family's suburban San Diego home.

Police say Westerfield took his motor home to an area in the desert outside San Diego for the weekend on the same morning the child was reported missing.

Investigators say DNA evidence links Westerfield to van Dam's kidnapping and slaying: her blood was found on an article of Westerfield's clothing and in his motor home.

Police also searched Westerfield's home has been searched multiple times, impounded his Toyota sport utility vehicle and motor home, and had him provide a DNA sample for analysis. Investigators who searched the mobile home said the smell of bleach was overwhelming.

Investigators also hauled at least 13 bags of evidence from Westerfield's home, including, they said, materials that appeared to be child pornography.

---

Broadcast Reports are stating that Feldman and SD District Attorney are meeting to discuss possible Plea Arrangement!!!!........developing.....updates when confirmation is available......

[Travis McGee]

You haven't been following this story have you?

[ravingnutter]

The question that plagues me is why Westerfield waited until 9:30 the next morning to leave for the desert. Something about this just isn't right...

[Mrs.Liberty]

interesting...could it be he pleads guilty to a nonDP charge in return for telling how he killed her, or????

[Mrs.Liberty]

are you listening to KOGO?

[alisasny]

THere child is dead. I at first felt sick about their lifestyle but they did NOT kill her. In fact they were home. Other families have slept while their child was abducted. All it takes is a sicko like this murderer to spot the weakness and attack the innocent. I am sorry but I really dont feel good about condemning the parents at this point. We all have skeletons in our closets. That does not make us bad parents. With Mark Klass and John Walsh on the families side I just dont understand some attacking the parents in such a slanderous manner. Isnt this what Freepers hate about the left?

[MizSterious]

What they didn't say is quite interesting. Understandable--but in particular, why they looked for porno--instead of just saying, we do that in lots of child abduction cases, he said he couldn't comment. Sounds like a tip, maybe?

[Uni-Poster]

Or pleads out to keep everything from being exposed in a trial?

[FresnoDA]

Agreed, that means he hung out at his house (with Danielle?) and then the next morning, headed off on his mini-vacation. He would have driven right by the VD's residence, while SDPD was there??? The guy would have B@$lls of steel to do that, IMHO!! Sure doesn't match the snivler know behind bullet proof glass, (pictured above!).

[MadRobotArtist]

Hmmmmmm, What information do you have that the rest of us don't? Apparently I've missed on those subtle details.

[MizSterious]

Sounds like you need an English-to-English dictionary. McGee seems to write clearly enough.

[Uni-Poster]

I really hate condemming the parents too, but if their "lifestyle" or a possible affair helped lead it too this point, then something must be done about that. Brenda was fond of saying "our lifestyle has nothing to do with our daughter missing", but what if it did? If he was involved with the swinging, or with Brenda somehow, then the lifestyle DID have something to do with it.

All I ask for is the truth.

[demsux]

Might be interesting to know if they recognize anyone in the child porn that DW had

[FryingPan101]

Oh, please. Unless you've lost a child, you don't know anything. This is about the baby, not them. Stop being so cruel. I'm out of here.

[concerned about politics]

I wouldn't be suprised to find out this guy had parential permission to be with the girl. The lifestyle (and maybe price) was right. Why not? They were apparently as liberal as it gets.

[lady lawyer]

I have a similar reaction to the Van Dams. I look at people who have such a cynical, amoral attitude toward marriage and family, and who carry on drug fueled orgies in their home while their child is being snatched, and wonder if they can even have normal feelings toward their children.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Of course child porn is a factor in many stranger child abductions. They are just taking the porn one step further. Stranger child abductions don't kidnap children because they love their scintillating conversation.

[MizSterious]

I know a lot of people defended Mrs. Smith too. Hindsight revealed a different Mrs. Smith than the one she presented to the media. Yes, this is about a little girl who should not have been treated as she was. But it continues to be about two little boys who are still (as far as I know) in that household.

[Uni-Poster]

Mrs Poster has been pounding this story since the get go. She has found some interesting stuff about the swinging lifestyle and about how sick these people can be. One piece that was interesting was how some couples will bring their young daughters into the mix to gain favor with the leaders of the groups and move up on the list.

IF they are into the swinging lifestyle, then this very well may have led to this tragic end. If that is true, then someone needs to look at their other 2 children and do something, because this lifestyle does not seem condusive to parenting.

[GSWarrior]

Forgive me, but what does this supposedly mean?

Apparently TravisMcGee seems to think that God killed this girl because of the parents alleged swinging lifestyle. What else could he mean by that senseless statement?

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

I wouldn't be suprised to find out this guy had parential permission to be with the girl. The lifestyle (and maybe price) was right. Why not? They were apparently as liberal as it gets.

I've had the same thoughts. If true, could this information play into the rumored plea bargain?

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Autopsy confirms body found by road is that of missing 7-year-old San Diego girl -AP Breaking News
SETH HETTENA, Associated Press Writer
(03-01) 09:03 PST SAN DIEGO (AP) -- For weeks Danielle van Dam's parents kept hoping as volunteers combed canyons and desert, looking for the 7-year-old who disappeared from her bedroom. The hopes and the hunt are over now: An autops...

[Jaded]

Douglas Pierce tried to get CPS to look at the other kids, he was of course demonized because of it.

One would think that DW would want the truth to get out if there were other people involved.

[shadowman99]

Dittos.

Not everything is a conspiracy. I've followed this story and haven't heard a thing that would make me think the parents played a role in this.

These people don't act like the Yates. They act like people who have been through the emotional ringer and might deserve an inch or two of slack.

The ungrounded venom in some of these posts is the kind of kneejerk blind emotional reaction I expect from the left. Maybe some of you should head over to Democatic Underground.

[Demidog]

You are a vile dispicable person. You are accusing these people of things which have only surfaced as the result of rumor and have no basis in fact.

[meadsjn]

why Westerfield waited until 9:30 the next morning to leave for the desert>

Maybe because that's when he had planned to leave. Other articles have said he took the motor home out almost every weekend.

It's more than just a little possible that "someone" used his motor home to stash the body, knowing he would be pulling out the next morning. They may have even watched him loading/prepping the RV on Friday evening, like lots of folks do.

You're right, something smells here. Initial reports of material removed from DW's house revealed that there was some porn, but no child porn. Now they seem to be pushing the description to tighten up their case.

My bets would be on the VD couple.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"There's Brenda, rubbing onion oil into her eyes and grimacing the way her acting coaches told her. "

Sheeesh. And I thought I was cynical.

[Uni-Poster]

As sick as it sounds, maybe he would not want the truth out if he were protecting someone.

[FresnoDA]

Danielle's parents thank police

March 1, 2002

SAN DIEGO – The parents of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam, whose body was found by a roadside nearly a month after she vanished from her room, expressed gratitude to police and searchers and said they now are seeking a sense of closure.

In a statement released late Thursday, Brenda and Damon van Dam said "we are experiencing the depths of sadness, loss and grief which only parents who have lost children under similar circumstances can fully comprehend."

A volunteer search team discovered Danielle's body Wednesday off a winding, two-lane road about 25 miles east of San Diego, and less than 20 miles from the van Dam's home in north San Diego.

During an autopsy Thursday, dental comparisons confirmed the body is that of Danielle.

The cause or time of death could not immediately be determined, and authorities said there was a chance they may never know due the body's state of decomposition. They also did not say whether the girl had been sexually assaulted. Further examinations were under way.

Police Chief David Bejarano informed the van Dams of the confirmation shortly before it was announced publicly Thursday afternoon.

In their statement, the couple expressed thanks to law enforcement officers and to the more than 2,500 volunteers who assisted in the search, which began after Danielle was discovered missing on the morning of Feb. 2.

"There is not a more anxious feeling for parents than to not know where our children are," the couple said. "Even though the final outcome is horrible, we could not have imagined the rest of our lives without this closure."

The van Dams said they desperately miss their "very special, beautiful, loving little girl" and are finding comfort "in knowing that she is now safe again and at peace."

Danielle disappeared after her father put her to bed the evening of Feb. 1. A neighbor, David Westerfield, 50, was charged Tuesday with murder, kidnapping and possession of child pornography. He has pleaded innocent and is being held without bond.

Authorities said they found traces of Danielle's blood in Westerfield's motor home and on an article of his clothing.

The self-employed engineer spent the weekend of Danielle's disappearance traveling around San Diego County in his motor home, stopping in the desert east of the city.

A hunch led volunteers to the area where Danielle's body was found about 2:15 p.m. Wednesday. The remote road was one Westerfield might have taken the weekend Danielle disappeared, said Bill Garcia, a private detective who coordinated searches in the area.

"Someone who would try to evade or stay low-key would have picked that route," Garcia said.

Volunteers first checked the site Saturday but found nothing. Ten volunteers returned to the site Wednesday after investigators decided the area needed to be checked again. Searchers found the body about 25 feet off the road under a cluster of oak trees across from a sand mine.

Both the police chief and San Diego County District Attorney Paul Pfingst thanked the volunteers whose unflagging efforts helped find Danielle's body. Searchers covered a vast search area that stretched from the ocean to the desert.

"It has been one of the most extraordinary things I have seen in my years of law enforcement," Pfingst said. "They found that needle in a haystack."

The van Dams' neighbors hoped for an end to what has been an emotional ordeal for the community.

"As unlikely as it was, everybody was still harboring some hope that she was still alive," said Jane Hurst, who lives near the van Dams. "Now that's gone, and at least we can start dealing with that."

A memorial to Danielle was posted Thursday morning on a Web site dedicated to her recovery. A message on the site quoted singer Sarah McLachlan: "You're in the arms of the angel. May you find some comfort there."

---

"There is not a more anxious feeling for parents than to not know where our children are," the couple said. "Even though the final outcome is horrible, we could not have imagined the rest of our lives without this closure."

Huh....Time to move on????

The van Dams said they desperately miss their "very special, beautiful, loving little girl" and are finding comfort "in knowing that she is now safe again and at peace."

Save Again????   Really,  hhhmmmmm......

[I_Love_My_Husband]

There may be hope for parents yet

As we were praying this morning with the incredible volunteer searchers who actually found our daughter, our personal prayer was that God would share our little angel with everyone who helped to find her.

It is mho that they see the error of their lifestyle and go back to G-d.

[Cu Roi]

I wouldn't be suprised to find out this guy had parential permission to be with the girl.

Just as many parents give priests permission to be with their young sons. Look how that turns out sometimes...

[Samizdat]

Medical Examiner Dr. Brian Blackbourne

This is the guy that Starr enlisted to help with his Vince Foster murder coverup. Look for a suicide verdict.

[lady lawyer]

As I understand it, the Van Dams have been confronted with these rumours and have refused to deny them. They have just stated that their lifestyle had nothing to do with the girl's disappearance.

[Teacup]

Thanks for keeping us up to date on this case. It truly is a sad situation. Now, we need to find out WHY. I don't think this case is over. I think there might have been other persons involved.

[My Favorite Headache]

You are reading this the same way I am...sad huh?

[wasp69]

You haven't been following this story have you?

Not really. At least not to the degree you have. Could you please give me a quick and dirty run down?

[Demidog]

As I understand it, the Van Dams have been confronted with these rumours and have refused to deny them.

Rightly so. Denying them would be pointless. They don't wish to dignify the accusations.

[MizSterious]

Yes, they have had ample opportunity to call it balderdash or nonsense or out and out lies, but haven't. On the other hand, she, at least, has taken great pains to have her hair and nails perfectly done, and was even seen discussing camera angles before the tv interviews. (According to the San Diego Union-Tribune)

[Travis McGee]

Sure, getting stoned with 4 strangers locked in the garage all night with the house doors left open had nothing to do with it while the children went unchecked for 11 hours from 10pm until after 9am had nothing to do with her abduction.

The fact that horndog bachelor Westerfield tried to get into their swinger group and was rejected, but knew that Brenda and Damon would be locked in the garage smoking dope and screwing all night with the house doors open had nothing to do with Danielle's abduction.

************************************************

Poor Danielle never stood a chance, fighting off a vicious wolf while her parents were "busy" with their pursuit of ultimate orgasms locked in the garage.

Oh no, her parents' "lifestyle" had nothing to do with anything. We all lock ourselves in our garage with strangers, get high, leave our house doors open, don't check the children after alarm lights and open doors are found twice, and in fact don't check our kids at all until a neighbor girl shows up at 930am to see if she can play with them.

We all do that, don't we?

Well I don't. Do you?

[Registered]

But answering the question forthright would put these rumors to rest. Hmmm?

[wasp69]

Sounds like you need an English-to-English dictionary.

Really? Maybe what I am looking for is clarification on what he said. Maybe I am looking for info he could share with me so I don't have to ask more questions. Maybe I haven't been able to follow this story that close. Maybe, just maybe, I don't need an English-to-English dictionary nor any outside help when the post was directed to TravisMcgee. But I thank you for your concern.

[Cu Roi]

So they're not upstanding moral members of society like Jimmy Swaggart or Bring 'Em Young. Many around here seem to hope they were the murderers because it would confirm their predjudices.