Girl Kidnapped in San Diego

02-05-2002, 11:11 AM

From http://www.msnbc.com/news/699959.asp -

7 year old Danielle Van Dam was abducted from her home Friday night. Her parents didn't notice until 9:30 AM Saturday.

That's normal, I guess. Besides the fact that most kids don't get kidnapped. Parents let their kids sleep in, go to wake them up at 9:30... no fault in that.

Here's the part that gets me:

"At 1:30 a.m., Damon walked the family’s dog and noticed a breech in their home security system, though he did not check on the children."

How does that happen? What, he's just kinda walking the dog, notices that the house has been "breeched", says "Oh. That's funny" and then goes back to bed? I don't have kids, but I tell you what - the first thing I'd be doing is making sure my family was alright, getting them all to lock themselves in a bedroom or bathroom or something, and then taking Mr. Glock to see if someone was indeed in the house. I can't believe that idiot didn't check to make sure the children were alright. Who knows - he might have caught the kidnapper in the act and been able to stop them (or at least give some identifying details to the police). Sadly, there's probably very little chance she'll come home alive. Not to say that this is the father's fault, but if you're that absentminded, I'm not sure you should be allowed to have children.

juju · 02-05-2002, 12:46 PM

If she does die, he'll probably regret that decision for the rest of his life.

02-05-2002, 12:55 PM

Undoubtedly. Right now, her parents are suffering more than they probably ever have, and they will until they know, with certainty, what her fate is. I guarantee you that he already regrets it.

More information from MSNBC:

"The girl’s father, Damon van Dam, told investigators he woke up around 1:30 a.m. Saturday to let the dog out and noticed a burglar alarm light was blinking. He discovered a sliding glass door was open and he closed it. He said he did not check Danielle’s room at that time."

Now, either their burglar alarm wasn't set properly (Ooops!), or it was dysfunctional (you should probably check that!) - but the thing that just stuns me is that he did not check if she was okay. The first thing that would have probably went through my mind (because I used to be a sleepwalker) would be "oh shit, did she go outside?" and then, of course, the dreaded reality that she was probably abducted.

It's awful that this happened, but it's even worse knowing that it probably could have been prevented with just ten seconds of extra effort (setting the alarm, checking on her). Let it be a lesson for those that do have kids and those that plan to - don't cut corners when it comes to their wellbeing.

russotto · 02-05-2002, 03:41 PM

Home security systems are terrible. They false all the time, and besides people leave doors open all the time. The system most likely wasn't armed (or there would have been a siren as well as a blinking light), so he figured the door had simply been left open (with blinking light) all night.

tw · 02-05-2002, 07:30 PM

Was the dog barking when the intruder entered? Why or why not?

Nic Name · 02-05-2002, 07:40 PM

The father woke up around 1:30 a.m. to let the dog out.

Sounds like the dog was barking to me.

02-05-2002, 11:11 AM	#1
dave Guest Posts: n/a	Girl Kidnapped in San Diego From http://www.msnbc.com/news/699959.asp - 7 year old Danielle Van Dam was abducted from her home Friday night. Her parents didn't notice until 9:30 AM Saturday. That's normal, I guess. Besides the fact that most kids <b>don't</b> get kidnapped. Parents let their kids sleep in, go to wake them up at 9:30... no fault in that. Here's the part that gets me: "At 1:30 a.m., Damon walked the family’s dog and noticed a breech in their home security system, though he did not check on the children." How does that happen? What, he's just kinda walking the dog, notices that the house has been "breeched", says "Oh. That's funny" and then goes back to bed? I don't have kids, but I tell you what - the first thing I'd be doing is making sure my family was alright, getting them all to lock themselves in a bedroom or bathroom or something, and then taking Mr. Glock to see if someone was indeed in the house. I can't believe that <b>idiot</b> didn't check to make sure the children were alright. Who knows - he might have caught the kidnapper in the act and been able to stop them (or at least give some identifying details to the police). Sadly, there's probably very little chance she'll come home alive. Not to say that this is the father's fault, but if you're <b>that</b> absentminded, I'm not sure you should be allowed to have children.

02-05-2002, 12:55 PM	#3
dave Guest Posts: n/a	Undoubtedly. Right now, her parents are suffering more than they probably ever have, and they will until they know, with certainty, what her fate is. I guarantee you that he <b>already</b> regrets it. More information from MSNBC: "The girl’s father, Damon van Dam, told investigators he woke up around 1:30 a.m. Saturday to let the dog out and noticed a burglar alarm light was blinking. He discovered a sliding glass door was open and he closed it. He said he did not check Danielle’s room at that time." Now, either their burglar alarm wasn't set properly (Ooops!), or it was dysfunctional (you should probably check that!) - but the thing that just <b>stuns</b> me is that he <b>did not check</b> if she was okay. The first thing that would have probably went through my mind (because I used to be a sleepwalker) would be "oh shit, did she go outside?" and then, of course, the dreaded reality that she was probably abducted. It's <b>awful</b> that this happened, but it's even worse knowing that it <b>probably</b> could have been prevented with just ten seconds of extra effort (setting the alarm, checking on her). Let it be a lesson for those that do have kids and those that plan to - don't cut corners when it comes to their wellbeing.

02-05-2002, 12:46 PM	#2
juju no one of consequence Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,839	If she does die, he'll probably regret that decision for the rest of his life.

02-05-2002, 03:41 PM	#4
russotto Professor Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,788	Home security systems are terrible. They false all the time, and besides people leave doors open all the time. The system most likely wasn't armed (or there would have been a siren as well as a blinking light), so he figured the door had simply been left open (with blinking light) all night.

02-05-2002, 07:30 PM	#5
tw Read? I only know how to write. Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 11,933	Was the dog barking when the intruder entered? Why or why not?

02-05-2002, 07:40 PM	#6
Nic Name retired Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,930	The father woke up around 1:30 a.m. to let the dog out. Sounds like the dog was barking to me.

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