Lie-Detector Specialist: Westerfield 'Deceptive'
Tests Inadmissible In Court
POSTED: 12:39 pm PDT April 12,
2002
UPDATED: 12:50 pm PDT April 12,
2002
SAN DIEGO -- A lie-detector specialist who interviewed a man accused of kidnapping and murdering 7-year-old Danielle van Dam was convinced that the defendant was "deceptive," court documents show.
The interview occurred two days after the girl was reported missing from her home. After an exhaustive search involving hundreds of volunteers, Danielle's body was found along a rural road more than three weeks later.Paul Redden, who conducted the interview, was "convinced the defendant was deceptive when he stated he was not in any way responsible for Danielle's disappearance," according to court documents filed Thursday by prosecutors.
It was unclear whether a polygraph test was actually administered because many of the key details in the documents have been blacked out.David Westerfield, 50, who lives near the van Dam family, has pleaded innocent to kidnapping, murder and child-pornography charges. His trial is scheduled for May 17.Court documents show that Westerfield signed a consent form before he was interviewed and the conversation was recorded. Within hours of the interview, police obtained a warrant to search Westerfield's home more thoroughly than they had in a prior visit.Police have said that DNA evidence links Westerfield to the crime, but have not publicly confirmed that he underwent a lie-detector test. Those tests are not admissible in court, but police often use them to pressure or rule out suspects.
![]() DANIELLE VAN DAM 1994-2002 DISCUSSION Email: daniellevandam @yahoo.com Send mail to: P.O. Box 501515 San Diego, 92150 |
Previous Stories:
- April 11, 2002: Documents: Dogs Alerted Police To Westerfield
- April 11, 2002: No Live Press For Westerfield Pretrial Hearings
- April 4, 2002: Westerfield Lawyer: Client Abused By Police
- March 28, 2002: Trial Date Set For Van Dam Murder Case
- March 28, 2002: Westerfield To Make Court Appearance
- March 15, 2002: Westerfield To Stand Trial In Van Dam Murder
- March 13, 2002: Westerfield Hearing Takes A Break
- March 12, 2002: Testimony: Police Find Porn On Westerfield's Computer
- March 11, 2002: Witness: Danielle's Body Found Nude, Decomposing
- March 8, 2002: Gag Order Issued In Van Dam Murder Case
- March 7, 2002: Police Acted Inappropriately Toward Westerfield
- March 4, 2002: Westerfield Affidavits To Remain Sealed
- February 27, 2002: Search Warrants Show Police Sought Child Porn
- February 27, 2002: Danielle's Parents Respond To Neighbor's Arraignment
- February 26, 2002: Van Dam Neighbor To Be Arraigned
- February 26, 2002: Westerfield To Be Charged With Murder
- February 25, 2002: Danielle's Blood Found On Neighbor's Clothing
- February 14, 2002: Police Search Neighbor's House Again
- February 8, 2002: Police: Westerfield Had Child Porn
- February 8, 2002: Investigation Operations Base Leaves North County
- February 8, 2002: Search For Danielle Goes Nationwide
- February 5, 2002: Police Question Neighbor In Missing Girl Case
Copyright 2007 by 10News.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.










