Background
Forensic technologists play a critical crime scene role, carefully preserving the evidence digitally and physically while maintaining a custody chain for later usage by the prosecution. The best investigative timeline of this case with the greatest degree of details can be found on crime enthusiast Vance Holmes’ Trial Tracker website and the Murderpedia website (n.d.), and evidence specifically from the Reno & Figueroa 2002 Newsweek article.
Van Dam Home – Crime Scene 1
Danielle Van Dam was a 7-year-old who was last seen alive on February 1, 2002. Danielle and her siblings went to bed at 10:00 p.m. The Van Dams believed their daughter was safely asleep in her room, but they were mistaken. The Van Dams immediately called the police at 9:39 a.m. Danielle’s mother first discovered Danielle was missing and eventually contacted police and even the media begging for the safe return of her daughter. There was a media circus at the Van Dam’s Home. David Alan Westerfield, the …show more content…
Next, one would inspect the door and doorknobs for fingerprints of any involved party. In the victim’s bedroom, one must next check for fingerprints, hair, blood, fluids, or fiber. Signs of entry should also considered and sought. Possibly, the neighbor broke …show more content…
Westerfield gave evasive answers during his interrogation, including many conflicting accounts of his weekend whereabouts, and cuts on his hands appeared to be related to self-defense during a struggle. Throughout Westerfield’s home, garage, and laundry room, child porn, Danielle’s hair and pajama fibers were found. Binoculars Westerfield may have used to spy on the Van Dam family waiting for an opportune moment to abduct Danielle were also found. Approximately 13 bags of evidence were harvested from Westerfield’s
Forensic technologists play a critical crime scene role, carefully preserving the evidence digitally and physically while maintaining a custody chain for later usage by the prosecution. The best investigative timeline of this case with the greatest degree of details can be found on crime enthusiast Vance Holmes’ Trial Tracker website and the Murderpedia website (n.d.), and evidence specifically from the Reno & Figueroa 2002 Newsweek article.
Van Dam Home – Crime Scene 1
Danielle Van Dam was a 7-year-old who was last seen alive on February 1, 2002. Danielle and her siblings went to bed at 10:00 p.m. The Van Dams believed their daughter was safely asleep in her room, but they were mistaken. The Van Dams immediately called the police at 9:39 a.m. Danielle’s mother first discovered Danielle was missing and eventually contacted police and even the media begging for the safe return of her daughter. There was a media circus at the Van Dam’s Home. David Alan Westerfield, the …show more content…
Next, one would inspect the door and doorknobs for fingerprints of any involved party. In the victim’s bedroom, one must next check for fingerprints, hair, blood, fluids, or fiber. Signs of entry should also considered and sought. Possibly, the neighbor broke …show more content…
Westerfield gave evasive answers during his interrogation, including many conflicting accounts of his weekend whereabouts, and cuts on his hands appeared to be related to self-defense during a struggle. Throughout Westerfield’s home, garage, and laundry room, child porn, Danielle’s hair and pajama fibers were found. Binoculars Westerfield may have used to spy on the Van Dam family waiting for an opportune moment to abduct Danielle were also found. Approximately 13 bags of evidence were harvested from Westerfield’s