Chronology of Van Dam Case

SAN DIEGO – Timeline of the kidnapping and slaying of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam:

Feb. 1, 2002 — Danielle is last seen when her father puts her to bed about 10 p.m. in her family's suburban San Diego home.

Feb. 2-3 — Neighbor David Westerfield, 50, spends the weekend traveling around San Diego County in his motor home.

Feb. 5-6 — Police search Westerfield's home and impound the motor home. The search turns up child pornography.

Feb. 22 — Police arrest Westerfield after Danielle's blood is found on his clothing and in the motor home. He later pleads innocent to murder, kidnapping and possession of child pornography.

Feb. 27 — Volunteers discover Danielle's nude body 25 miles outside San Diego.

June 4 — Westerfield's trial begins.  His defense tries to blame Danielle's death on her parents' supposedly unconventional marriage.

Aug. 8 — Jury begins deliberations.

Aug. 21 — Westerfield is convicted of all three charges. He faces either life in prison or  death.

Aug. 28 — Jury enters the penalty phase of deliberations.

Sept. 16 — The jury recommends that Westerfield be put to death by lethal injection.

Nov. 22 — Judge William Mudd delays Westerfield's sentencing until Jan. 3 after realizing that defense attorney Steven Feldman has failed to file the necessary death penalty appeal.

Jan. 3, 2003 — Westerfield is sentenced to death.