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CNN Live Saturday

Authorities Search for Danielle Van Dam

Aired February 23, 2002 - 12:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In Southern California, dozens of searchers are working this morning, trying to find young Danielle Van Dam. The 7-year-old has been missing from her home for more than three weeks now.

We get the latest on the case now from CNN's Charles Feldman in San Diego -- hi there, Charles.

CHARLES FELDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka. You know, the sun may be up, but it is still very much a nightmare for this neighborhood. The house over there, 11995 Mountain Pass, that's the house of the suspect in this case, David Westerfield arrested just yesterday, named by the police as the suspect in the disappearance of seven-year-old Danielle Van Dam.

And let me just show you something here. If you come with me and we avoid the car here, just to show the relationship -- that was the house that I showed you before of the suspect. Just across the street from the home of the Van Dams, where of course, their little daughter was apparently kidnapped from her very bedroom.

Now, the cops here, Fredricka, are saying that it's genetic evidence that links the suspect to the missing girl.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF DAVID BEJARANO, SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPT.: We believe without a question that the DNA evidence links Mr. Westerfield to Danielle's disappearance. Danielle's blood was found on an article of clothing, which belongs to Mr. Westerfield, and also in his motor home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FELDMAN: Now, they may have a suspect in this case, but the cops like to call a break, but the fact of the matter is, the girl is still missing. And in fact, you can see at the door of their home, there is still a large poster with the picture of their daughter, and it says, "Missing, Danielle, seven years old."

The parents this morning still hoping that their daughter will eventually be found and found alive, but so far there is no sign, no trace of the young girl.

Charles Feldman, CNN, reporting live from San Diego -- Fredricka. WHITFIELD: Charles, yesterday the family members were emphatic that they are looking for volunteers to try to initiate their own kind of search. Have you heard anything more about how the family members are going about recruiting people to get a search going?

FELDMAN: Well, I'll tell you, you know, the search, of course, has been going on -- the searches have been going on for weeks now, and they are, if anything, intensifying, as you can well imagine today. I mean, look at it from the point of view of the parents. You know, now they have got a virtual next door neighbor named as a suspect in the disappearance of their daughter, but no sign of the daughter. And they want desperately to find out what happened to that child. There are posters all over this neighborhood asking people to take part in trying to find the girl. The police are looking for volunteers. It is a massive search effort, and I am sure the police are trying as best they can to pump information from what is now their chief -- in fact their only, at the moment, suspect.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks very much -- Charles Feldman, reporting from San Diego.

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