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CNN Saturday Morning News

Man Suspected of Kidnapping Danielle Van Dam Arrested

Aired February 23, 2002 - 09:06   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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The parents of missing 7-year-old Danielle Van Dam are mounting a massive search for her today in San Diego, California. Yesterday a neighbor who has been the focus of the investigation was finally arrested, but there's still no sign of Danielle, unfortunately.

CNN's Charles Feldman is live outside Danielle's school. He has the latest on the case for us. Hello, Charles.

CHARLES FELDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Miles.

You know, I'm picking up the local newspaper here this morning, "The San Diego Union Tribune," and in looking at the headline, you know, "Kidnap Suspect Jailed," you just realize the nightmare that this community has been through for the past few weeks, and also the parents, of course, of Danielle Van Dam, because, as you said, there is a suspect in the kidnapping now in custody.

But this purple ribbon here on this tree attests to the fact that so far no sign of the missing 7-year-old girl.

But as we said, yesterday an apparent break in the case. The police say that they have a suspect, David Westerfield. He's the guy that, you may recall, lives a couple of doors down from the Van Dams. And authorities focused on this man very early on in this investigation. They had been to his house many times early -- earlier. They were seen a couple weeks ago, that is, taking things out of Westerfield's house.

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

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF DAVID BEJARANO, SAN DIEGO POLICE: 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, here's what's going to happen, Miles. The search, of course, is going to continue, as it must, for the little girl. And although they've spent many, many weeks now searching the desert area nearby and practically all over southern California, that search is going to intensify, because although they have a suspect, as I said at the outset, they still have no sign of the missing girl.

The parents are remaining hopeful that she will eventually be found, that she will eventually be found alive, and that someday they hope she'll be back in that school with her classmates -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: All right, CNN's Charles Feldman with a very sad story this morning. Thank you very much for being with us.

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