Laundry, Videotapes, Lubricant Seized From Westerfield Home
Day 10 Begins With Focus On Evidence
POSTED: 11:58 am PDT June 19,
2002
UPDATED: 4:21 pm PDT June 19,
2002
SAN DIEGO -- Laundry, videotapes and lubricant were among the items seized during a search of David Westerfield's house several days after his 7-year-old neighbor was discovered missing, an evidence specialist said Wednesday.
Karen LeAlcala, a forensic specialist with the San Diego Police Department, testified that she searched Westerfield's Sabre Springs home with other detectives beginning early on the morning of Feb. 5.LeAlcala said she took laundry from a washing machine and a dryer, including a pair of medium-sized gray and black boxer shorts, which were introduced as a court exhibit.
Deputy District Attorney George "Woody" Clarke had the witness open the evidence envelope and display the shorts, but their significance was not immediately explained.LeAlcala said white sheets were found in the washing machine, and shirts and towels were stacked on top of the dryer."I believe they were damp," she testified.LeAlcala also said she seized three compact discs and three zip disks from an office in Westerfield's house, videotapes from the master bedroom and a bottle of ID Juicy Lube -- a lubricant for use in sexual activity -- from the headboard of his bed.In Westerfield's garage, she testified she found trash cans containing an empty bottle of bleach and a ball of lint.In previous court proceedings, the prosecution has said Danielle van Dam's hair was found in lint in the garage.Westerfield, 50, faces murder, kidnapping and misdemeanor possession of child pornography charges. He will face the death penalty if convicted.The defendant was arrested Feb. 22. Danielle's nude body was found east of El Cajon five days later.Earlier Wednesday, Detective James Tomsovic completed his testimony.
Tomsovic told the jury Tuesday that he was present when a fingerprint that authorities say belonged to the girl was found on a cabinet above the bed in Westerfield's motor home."How visible was it?" prosecutor Jeff Dusek asked the detective."It was plainly visible," Tomsovic said.A San Diego police print examiner testified at Westerfield's preliminary hearing that the latent print lifted from the motor home cabinet belonged to Danielle.
![]() WESTERFIELD TRIAL DANIELLE VAN DAM 1994-2002 E-mail: daniellevandam @yahoo.com Send mail to: P.O. Box 501515 San Diego, 92150 |
| Video |
Jury Doing Good Job, Judge Says
The judge in the trial said he believes the jury is doing a good job in avoiding media coverage of the case."I am firmly convinced that self-policing is going to work," Superior Court Judge William Mudd told the panel before testimony began. "Everything that I have seen has so indicated."During jury instructions when the trial started, he gave several suggestions for avoiding media coverage and occasionally has provided updates on his impressions of what has been in TV and newspaper reports.Mudd also reacted to a story in The San Diego Union-Tribune concerning his trial conduct. The story centers on the levity he sometimes offers to lower the tension in a stressful case. He often mentions the Padres and frequently jokes about county facilities."I make no apologies for those," Mudd said.He told the jury he thinks of himself as a shepherd and the panelists as his flock. He said he wants to make sure their service is a rewarding experience. Previous Stories:
- June 19, 2002: Trial Focuses On Evidence Collected By Police
- June 18, 2002: Forensics Specialist Collected Hairs, Necklace
- June 18, 2002: Dry Cleaners: Westerfield Distant, Rushed
- June 14, 2002: Judge Tries To Inject Levity Into Westerfield Trial
- June 14, 2002: Park Rangers: Westerfield Overpaid, Shows Wallet
- June 12, 2002: Westerfield Interview Heard; Neighbor Says Blinds Shut
- June 12, 2002: Westerfield Trial: KGTV Reporter Takes Stand
- June 11, 2002: Van Dam Friends Take Stand; Westerfield 'Creepy'
- June 7, 2002: Westerfield Trial Focuses On Van Dam Lifestyle
- June 6, 2002: Day 3: Brenda Van Dam, Dad's Bar
- June 6, 2002: Brenda Van Dam Testifies In Westerfield Trial
- June 6, 2002: Day 2: Damon Van Dam, Autopsy Photos
- June 5, 2002: Damon Van Dam Takes Witness Stand
- June 5, 2002: Cases Outlined In Westerfield Trial
- June 4, 2002: Westerfield Trial Starts; Witnesses Take Stand
- June 3, 2002: Westerfield Trial Set To Get Under Way
- May 31, 2002: Westerfield Trial Jury Selection Complete
- May 31, 2002: Westerfield Trial Scheduled To Start Tuesday
- May 30, 2002: Jury Selection In Westerfield Trial Enters Third Day
- May 28, 2002: Jury Selection Continues In Westerfield Trial
- May 20, 2002: Experts Question Speed Of Westerfield Trial
- May 17, 2002: Court To Interview 262 Potential Jurors
- May 17, 2002: Westerfield Jury Selection Under Way
- May 16, 2002: Westerfield Jury Selection Set To Begin
- May 16, 2002: Westerfield Trial Jury Questionnaire
- May 15, 2002: Judge May Make Rulings In Westerfield Case
- May 13, 2002: Westerfield Pre-Trial Still Closed
- May 10, 2002: Westerfield Trial: Pretrial Motions Remain Closed
- May 8, 2002: Reporters Called In Westerfield Trial
- May 8, 2002: DA: Danielle Was Suffocated By Westerfield
- May 7, 2002: Pretrial Motions Start In Westerfield Case
- May 2, 2002: Westerfield Pretrial Motions To Remain Sealed
- May 1, 2002: Court: Westerfield Affidavits To Remain Sealed
- April 25, 2002: DA To Seek Death Penalty Against Westerfield
- April 19, 2002: Westerfield Given Limited Access To Police Records
- April 18, 2002: Press Kept Out Of Van Dam Murder Case
- April 18, 2002: Judge Reviews Cops' Files In Van Dam Murder Case
- April 17, 2002: Westerfield Fights To Keep Search Warrants Sealed
- April 15, 2002: DA: Deny Westerfield Access To Police Records
- April 12, 2002: Lie-Detector Specialist: Westerfield 'Deceptive'
- 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. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.











