Vehicle Impounded By Investigators
(from San Diego News Channel 10)
SAN DIEGO -- A man was being questioned Tuesday regarding the disappearance of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam after investigators discovered evidence related to the case in his car and home, 10News reported.
MISSING:
Danielle van Dam 4 feet tall, 58 pounds
Blue eyes, dirty blond hair
Possibly wearing blue pajamas
Information, call (619) 531-2000
Download Danielle’s Picture -- http://daniellemissing.tripod.com
Police Flyer -- http://www.sandiego.gov/press/020204.shtml
The man, whose identification is being withheld, lives just two houses away from the missing second-grader, San Diego Police Department Lt. Jim Collins said.
The man was cooperating with investigators who were interrogating him at an undisclosed location.
Authorities impounded the man’s Toyota Forerunner around 2 a.m. after discovering evidence inside related to the girl’s disappearance, Collins said. He declined to describe the nature of the evidence.
Detectives were also searching his home and removed several items for further examination, Collins said.
Collins stressed that Westerfield has not been charged with any crime in connection with the apparent kidnapping of Danielle van Dam.
Asked if he believed the girl had been killed, Collins said: “We always hold out hope that we are going to find her alive.” He added, however, that statistics show the longer a missing person remains missing, the more grim prospects become for a safe recovery.
Danielle’s parents told investigators that the last time either of them saw their daughter was when Damon van Dam put her to bed about 10 p.m. Friday, according to 10News.
His wife told police that when she returned from a night out with friends about 2:30 a.m. Saturday, she noticed a side door open to the residence, but did not think to check on Danielle or the girl’s two young brothers.
Police do not consider the parents suspects in Danielle’s disappearance, though no one has been completely ruled out, Collins said earlier.
Video Links:
- http://cf.ibsys.com/sand/sh/videoplayer/video.cfm?id=1221252&owner=sand -- Police Impound Neighbor’s Car
- http://cf.ibsys.com/sand/sh/videoplayer/video.cfm?id=1219691&owner=sand -- Neighbor Expresses Concern
Danielle’s mother, Brenda van Dam, said that she and her husband had taken lie detector tests regarding their version of the weekend’s events. She did not say if she knew the results of the tests.
Officers Monday conducted a search out of a temporary command post near the family’s home in the 12000 block of Mountain Pass Road, combing the area with service dogs, a helicopter crew and a sheriff’s search-and-rescue team.
Since the search has failed to turn up any sign of the child, detectives have come to believe that the youngster’s disappearance is likely a case of kidnapping, San Diego police information officer Dave Cohen said.
“We’re definitely treating this as an abduction,” he said. “If she’d wandered off, we would have found her.”
Neighbors, meanwhile, rallied behind Danielle’s family and the intensive law enforcement effort to locate the child.
The show of solidarity included ribbons -- in pink and purple, Danielle’s favorite colors -- tied on trees and signposts in the quiet residential area, and a sidewalk journal for handwritten messages of support.
Video link:
- http://cf.ibsys.com/sand/sh/videoplayer/video.cfm?id=1220167&owner=sand -- Parents Plead For Danielle’s Safe Return
Flanked by his wife and several friends, the girl’s father made an emotional public statement Monday in front of their home.
“I’m pleading with anyone who’s seen Danielle or knows where she is to let us know so we can have her home again,” Damon van Dam said, his voice breaking. “Thank you everyone who’s helped so far.”
The SDPD has put about 40 detectives on the case and is getting additional help from the sheriff’s department and the FBI.
Police officials asked anyone with information on Danielle’s whereabouts to call (619) 531-2000 or visit daniellemissing.tripod.com. The family also has set up a hot line for tips at (888) 664-6664.
The missing girl is 4 feet tall, weighs 58 pounds, and has blue eyes and blond hair. She was wearing blue pajamas with a flower pattern before she disappeared.
Previous Story:
February 5, 2002: Parents Plead For Daughter’s Safe Return