Authorities convinced body is Danielle's

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Floodlights mounted on the ladder of a fire truck illuminated a clump of trees outside San Diego Wednesday night where the remains of a little girl were found by a volunteer search party that had been looking for 7-year-old Danielle van Dam.

Although a positive identification had not been made, San Diego County District Attorney Paul Pfingst told a news conference that there was little doubt about the identity of the body.

"Tonight, we believe that Danielle van Dam has been found," Pfingst solemnly announced.

The body was found Wednesday afternoon under an oak tree in rural area of El Cajon. Lt. Jim Collins, the detective heading up the Danielle investigation was summoned, and later told reporters at the scene that no other children had been reported missing in the area and that the chances were good that Danielle had been found.

Pfingst was more specific, telling reporters that the remains' blonde hair and costume jewelry bore a resemblance to that belonging to the missing girl.

"The body has a plastic necklace around its neck similar to the one seen on the missing persons flyers distributed around San Diego County with Danielle van Dam's picture on it," Pfingst said, reading from a statement. "One earring is visible and appears to be the same as the one described as having been worn by her at the time of her abduction."

The body remained where it had been found as night fell on the scene. Detectives and forensics technicians meticulously worked their way from the perimeter in to where the body lay under the harsh glow of the floodlights that were expected to be running until dawn. The unseasonably warm weather made it more comfortable, however, it is likely that it also sped up the decomposition process of the body.

The area is under the jurisdiction of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, and Collins said sheriff's detectives would be involved in the processing of the crime scene in the event the body is not that of Danielle.

Danielle's parents, Damon and Brenda van Dam, were secluded inside their home in Sabre Springs Wednesday night and had not made any statement to the ubiquitous news crews that have been camped out in front of their home since the drama began.

San Diego Police Chief David Bejarano told reporters he assumed the couple was "devastated."

Collins said the grisly discovery was made in a small cluster of trees a short distance from along the side of Dehesa Road near a golf course in El Cajon, about 30 miles from Sabre Springs. A popular casino is located along the winding road that runs through a largely rural area dotted with fancy homes and neatly trimmed golf courses.

One of the search teams that had beating the bushes for more than three weeks apparently came upon the remains during what Collins indicated was a routine search.

The discovery could be a disaster for David Westerfield, who was arrested last Friday and faces a possible death sentence if convicted.

San Diego County prosecutors had indicated they were willing to consider a plea bargain for Westerfield if he led them to Danielle's body.

Although no such deal has been yet proposed on the record, Deputy District Attorney George "Woody" Clark indicated on NBC's "Today" show Wednesday that there was still a chance Westerfield could avoid the death penalty by revealing where Danielle's body is located.

"I think that's something that anyone would consider," Clark said.

Danielle disappeared the night of Feb. 1 from her home in a suburban neighborhood two doors away from Westerfield's home. There has been no sign of her since, however Westerfield was arrested last Friday after DNA tests allegedly identified bloodstains on his clothing and in his motor home as coming from the girl.

Westerfield, 50, pleaded innocent Tuesday to charges of kidnapping, possession of child pornography and murder. The murder charge carries the "special circumstance" of allegedly being committed during the course of a kidnapping. A special circumstance allegation in California includes a possible death sentence or life in prison without parole.

Clark said it had not been decided whether the prosecution team would seek the death penalty. He also repeated that the district attorney's contention that they often successfully prosecute murder cases in which the victim's body has not been found, and that the DNA tests produced powerful evidence of Westerfield's guilt.

Search teams had combed the rural areas around Sabre Springs and the Imperial County desert where Westerfield had said he had gone camping in his motor home on the same day that Danielle went missing.

(Reported by Hil Anderson in Los Angeles)