Mourners gather at site where Danielle's body was found
Posted on 03/01/2002 4:04:47 PM PST by FresnoDA
Mourners gather at site where Danielle's body was found
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 By Seth Hettena ASSOCIATED PRESS March 1, 2002
"The memory of her soul compelled me to come down here and say a last goodbye," Davis said Friday, cradling her 7-month-old daughter and wiping away tears. "To actually see the place where her innocent sweetness was lying under a tree." Davis, 26, added white flowers to a growing memorial of messages, bouquets, a pink teddy bear and a stuffed blue bunny that marks the place where authorities believe a neighbor dumped Danielle's body weeks ago. Dental records confirmed Thursday that remains found by a rural roadside 25 miles east of San Diego were those of the little girl, who vanished from her bedroom Feb. 2. The cause of death could not immediately be determined – and may never be – because of the body's state of decomposition, said Police Chief David Bejarano. Further tests were under way. Danielle's parents, Brenda and Damon van Dam, said the unflagging efforts of more than 2,500 volunteers who searched a vast area stretching from the ocean to the desert left them with "an overwhelming sense of gratitude and closure." "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," the van Dams said in a statement. "Even though the final outcome is horrible, we could not have imagined the rest of our lives without this closure." A memorial service is expected later this month. 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 in his motor home, stopping in the desert east of the city, authorities said. A hunch led volunteers to the area – the remote road was one Westerfield might have taken the weekend Danielle disappeared, said Bill Garcia, a private detective who coordinated searches. Nearby residents said they were unsettled by the discovery of Danielle's body so close to home. "It kind of sickens us," said Charles O'Neill, 28, who lives about a mile away. "We've been driving by this road every day for the past month and knowing she's that close is something we never would have imagined." |
Same question here--and they do bring up the subsequent questions you asked about who was being watched, and how closely. Also remember that Westerfield went to the bar with someone named Gary. Friend, or cohort?
There are three worlds at play here: the world of Christian morality, fidelity and family, the world of the swinger and the world of the sexual predator. There is overlap and conflict between these worlds. The sexual predator concieves of other humans as objects of pleasure for the self, and in the end, can take pleasure in murder
Wow, you said a mouthful, and right on target. A lot of folks are angling on this Child Porn Movie angle......
I have not heard enough on that to go that route in this case, as of yet.
I can see how the sexual predator can see the world of swinging as a group of mainly naive sexual experimenters to be exploited. From the viewpoint of the Christian, the swingers have opened the gates that allow the predators to enter the outskirts of morality. Caught in the middle, the van Dams in effect have sacrificed a child to the logical extension of their comprimised belief system.
There have been lots of VD theories, Cryp, your take here is spot on!!! BUMP!!!
Yup,they are monsters in the guise of humans.
And do you find it odd that they pointed the finger at Westerfield, who was not on any offender lists, while not looking into the other 13? They probably have the right guy, but I'm curious about how they came to that conclusion so quickly--he was just one of many neighbors, and actually seemed quite cooperative at the first. The search dogs, it was said, gave "hits" on virtually every house in the neighborhood (I believe the newspaper article said 147 in all). So I do find it curious...
...unless, that is, the "vicious gossip" might hold some truth, which is to say, Mrs. VD knew Westerfield better than admitted, and either pointed him out, or the police put 2 + 2 together.
There could have been more than one sexual predator in the group that evening.
sw
Logic, in the face of a few tepid flames, is well worth it. I concur, remove the two remaining children to a safe haven. BUMP to your post "golitely"!!
Strangely, it seems to me that I don't really need to change what I last posted on this case. That was:
1. No breaking and entering, not even an entering, by anyone at the VD house. Whoever did anything either lived there or had permission to be there.
2. No taking of anyone by force, no living human carried out by another. Either Danielle was dead when carried out, or she walked out on her own accord voluntarily.
3. Party went on until wee hours, in fact had begun in wee hours. Probably ran from 2:40 to 5:20 or so. Leaves it very possible to me that Danielle was already dead and/or gone before it even began at 2:40.
4. I do not accept that this body was that close to a well-traveled highway, 25 ft. off pavement in a pretty place, for that whole 4 weeks. There was no involvement of predators (4 legged at least), and decomposition was almost too far along for a cool dry outdoor environment like that. It would have been found, must have been found, and now it looks like earlier searchers are going to come forward to say they searched that area before Feb 10 and there was no body there at that time.
5. I do not accept that Westerfield placed the body where it was found, nor do I think it was he who had it in the intermediate weeks.
6. I think there is reason to suspect some planting of blood and/or DNA evidence. I think it MUST be determined whether the girl was sexually assaulted and if so by whom.
7. Oh, no, now I am going to get it, but I think other persons than just Westerfield had been in his van recently as it was parked at his home, bringing in who knows what, and doing who knows what, it would have been a very convenient place of assignation in the neighborhood.
8. I do not believe that when Westerfield last left the Van Dam home that early morning, that he yet knew that crime evidence, much less a body, was in the van. He probably did not even know that anything was wrong at all, for he seems to have slept in as planned and only then drove to beach, desert etc...looks like he was already away driving somewhere before he learned that all hell had broken loose 2 doors from his home. And some of it was IN his (motor) home, right there with him, if you see what I mean.
 A place to mourn, reflect  PEGGY PEATTIE / Union-Tribune Henry Rios, a Native American, with sons Danny, 8, (left) and Henry Jr., 10, burns sweetgrass and sage at the site where Danielle's body was found. WITH REALVIDEO |
WITH REALVIDEOWithout the successes that came in the initial stages of the Danielle van Dam investigation, authorities say they still could be looking for a suspect, a body and many more answers in the abduction and slaying that captured the nation's attention.
I think that a part of it MIGHT be that they recogonize on a sub-conscious level that crimes like this are MUCH more serious than the murder of a adult. It shatters the illusion of safety/security in your home like nothing else does. Say what you want,but we ALL tend to be more protective of children than any other group. It's hard-wired into our nature. When we see the seemly casual way one is stolen and murdered,it's like a part of our whole society is murdered at the same time. It's a certainy that the illusion of a civilized society where children are free and safe to grow-up has been killed,no matter how briefly.
What makes this remarkable in MY mind is that it is amazing it even happens when you consider the state of denial of the average citizen who doesn't pay any attention of give a damn about anything that doesn't directly affect HIM. Then again,I guess self-interest probably plays a role in this,too. People see this stolen and murdered child,and think how easily it could have been one of their own children.
sw
Actually, you are correct, because Brenda has been purported to:
Troll for action, befriend and conquer, and return home with her prizes.....
The mourners most likely aren't sedated or in shock,and they haven't been briefed by the police to try to NOT show any emotion. The reason for this is some kidnappers "get off" on seeing emotional reactions by the parents on tv,and might start doing neat little things to provoke more emotions,like mailing them cut-off body parts. They could even call in to play taped screams and describe the tortures. In short,you give the kidnappers NOTHING that might encourage them to hurt or kill the child! You present them with a calm and contained front that sends them the message that they and the police are in control,and that it is only a matter of time before the kidnapper is arrested. THIS might encourage any kidnappers to not kill or cause further harm to come to the child.
I was wondering if anyone would call attention to Daniells body being only 25 feet off the road when found. There had to have been a "stench" in the air and no one noticed it?
The predators, dogs, wild animals, crows, would have most likely spread parts of the body in different locations, even the road..
...You are a good detective...:~)
sw
Then, uh, well...he was at a watering hole way after midnight, Mrs VD there without her husband...they MAY have danced, an argument over that?
And now an argument over whether he had a coat on when they either danced or didn't, and what kind (suit/sport vs leather or casual jacket)?
My very first post about Van Dam case said it was done by someone who had AT LEAST IN THE PAST been in the home with their permission, knowledge and consent. I stand firmly on that.
Now there are allegations that all this about the VD's not knowing Westerfield are just LIES! --That they knew him rather WELL!
Maybe he had been in their home with their permission not just in the past, but that very night as well, maybe he had their permission to do much or all of anything he did!
Keep in mind, a highway patrolman can search your vehicle if he even suspects drugs or weapons in your car. So why didn't they send out an all points bulletin to search for Westerfield?
sw
Yeah,and maybe,JUST MAYBE he had Elvis and his three-headed love-child with the Loch Ness Monster help him??????
Then again,he only lives two doors away,and there are only 3 models of homes in that whole neighborhood.
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EL CAJON – Laura Davis said she felt drawn to the quiet patch of shade under an oak tree where searchers this week found the body of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam.