- Born
- Died
- Birth nameDanielle Nicole van Dam
- Danielle Van Dam was born on September 22, 1994 in Texas, USA. She died on February 1, 2002 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Danielle became the subject of one of the largest search efforts in state history, with hundreds of volunteers searching deserts, highways and remote areas for weeks. The Laura Recovery Center assisted in organizing the search, and a Danielle Recovery Center was set up in a real estate office in Poway to coordinate the searching. Finally, on February 27, two searchers found her nude, partially decomposed body near a trail in Dehesa, California, an unincorporated town east of San Diego. Some searchers had decided to search the Dehesa Road area, near the trail, after detectives discovered traces of Danielle's blood in David Westerfield's motor home, because Dehesa Road was a possible route Westerfield could have taken to get to the desert. Because of the condition of the body, the coroner was unable to determine a cause of death or whether she was sexually assaulted, and had to use dental records to confirm her identity.
- An episode from an animal forensic show on the US TV network Animal Planet was based on the belief that hairs consistent with Danielle's dog, which were found in Westerfield's laundry, in his RV, and on his comforter at the dry-cleaners, first got onto her pajamas when she cuddled with the dog, and then were carried on the pajamas to his house and RV in accordance with Locard's exchange principle.
- An overpass on Interstate 8 in El Cajon has been named the Danielle van Dam Memorial Overpass. It is near the place where her body was found.
- The years after the murder have led to increased levels of crime awareness in San Diego's neighborhoods as well as the institution of funds and benefits made in her honor. Her family still lives in Southern California. They have formed a Danielle Legacy Foundation which works to "promot(e) volunteerism that will initiate positive changes that will put our children's safety first.".
- Sister of Derek Van Dam and Dylan Van Dam.
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