Another
innocent victim of the heinous
crimes against humanity that are committed
far too often. Danielle was a 7 year old girl from
San Diego, CA who was abducted from her family's home late in February 2002, and turned up some two weeks later along side a road
miles from her home. Her
blood was found on the clothing of, and in the residence of
David Westerfield, who is currently being held under the accusations of (1)
possession of child pornography (2)
kidnapping and (3)
murder. Mr. Westerfield pleaded
not guilty to all three charges.
Danielle's case struck me like none other. I woke up one morning to the news on CNN, fully expecting another wave of infromation on the War on Terrorism, but instead was mauled by the news that this innocent child has been kidnapped. The pictures flashed on the screen aroused emotions in me that seldom see the light of day. I felt torn in half. I prayed for this little girl - that she be returned safely to her parents.
When I heard the news that her body was found, and was in such a state of decomposition that the only way to identify her was with dental records, I felt all hope escape my body - all hope I ever harbored for humanity. I wanted to cry. I did cry. I cried for this little girl, and all the other senseless acts against the human race, by the human race. My sorrow turned to rage, and when I saw that bastard David Westerfield in the courtroom, safe behind his bulletproof glass encasement, pleading not-guilty, I wanted to kill. I felt the urge to willingly take the life of that cold, unworthy, waste of human potential.
I am in hope that the civil libertarians won't save that horrible man from the fate of which he is so deserving. He does not deserve life, and he does not deserve death. Danielle deserves life. Bring Danielle back to us. It is simply not fair. (Note: As a response to some people here who think I am implying that Westerfield's death will bring back Danielle, that is NOT what I am saying. There is no justice in this case. There can be none. How can any justice be served? If anyone has any bright ideas, let me know.)
Note: For information about Danielle and her family, please visit the offical website at http://www.daniellemissing.com. Thank you.
~~~
Key players involved:
Danielle van Dam: 7 year old girl who was abducted and killed, her body would later be found in a progressed state of decomposition in the desert outside of San Diego
David Westerfield: Man accused of kidnapping and murdering Danielle van Dam; also in possession of child pornography.
Here is some information on the events, and impending lawsuit:
Between the times of 10 PM 1 February 2002 and 9 AM 2 February 2002, Danielle was taken from her bedroom in the Sabre Springs area of San Diego, CA.
3 February 2002: Media puts out the original story.
4 February 2002: Police treat the disappearance as an abduction.
5 February 2002: David Westerfield is questioned and his car is impounded.
7 February 2002: Danielle's parents were taken to the area in the desert (by the police) where Westerfield was said to be camping on the night of Danielle's disappearance. Westerfield hires a lawyer.
9-11 February 2002: Media becomes rather critical of the van Dam family, commenting on their "swinger" lifestyle.
11 February 2002: Danielle's parents put out a reward offering of $25,000.
12 February 2002: A local bail bondsman puts up a $50,000 reward for information regarding Danielle's abduction. The parents hire a PR firm to handle the media.
13 February 2002: Westerfield becomes prime suspect, and his DNA is analyzed by the FBI.
14 February 2002: Westerfield's home is searched, and some items are seized.
16 February 2002: It is determined that Westerfield is a collector of child pornography.
20 February 2002: Investigators look into similarities between Danielle's case and other unsolved disappearances in the area.
21 February 2002: The search is expended into Mexico. Police take screen doors from Danielle's room, probably to look for fingerprints.
22 February 2002: David Westerfield is arrested at 10:45 AM. Danielle's blood is found on Westerfield's clothing and in his motorhome.
24 February 2002: Confirmation of the discovery of child pornography in Weserfield's home.
25 February 2002: Speculation that Danielle is no longer alive and was killed by Westerfield.
26 February 2002: David Westerfield is charged with murder, kidnapping, and child pornography. He pleads not guilty, and is held without bond.
27 February 2002: A girl's body is found in the desert just outside of San Diego. There is a high probability that it is Danielle.
28 February 2002: Autopsy confirms that the body found on the previous day was Danielle van Dam.
8 March 2002: Defense requests a gag order to halt the damaging PR Westerfield is getting.
9 March 2002: Superior Count Judge H. Ronald Domnitz issues gag order.
12 March 2002: Investigators find 64,000 pornographic pictures of teenagers on Westerfield's computers, and 2,200 videos. Those which clearly involve minors is said to be about 100.