40-year-old James Lee DiMaggio, of San Diego County, California, was a close friend of the Anderson family until this Sunday, when police suspect he killed 44-year-old Christina Anderson and her 8-year-old son Ethan. He then set their house on fire and kidnapped Christina’s 16-year-old daughter Hannah. Now, after a 5-day manhunt, authorities believe he and Hannah have been spotted, and his car has been found in a remote part of Idaho.
The remains of two bodies, believed to be Christina and Ethan, were found in the wreckage of the house, but until Ethan’s body is positively identified, an Amber Alert for Ethan and Hannah is in effect in California, Oregon, and Washington according to the LA Times. Due to evidence at the crime scene, ABC reports, police believe DiMaggio may have left with incendiary devices to booby-trap his car.
Authorities alerted both Mexican and Canadian officials of the situation after reports of DiMaggio’s blue Nissan Versa heading north in California and Oregon didn’t pan out. Now, Fox News writes that horseback riders 70 miles northeast of Boise may have encountered Dimaggio and Hannah with backpacks, apparently camping. Meanwhile, the LA Times also reports a blue Nissan Versa was found in a “very remote, mountainous area” nearby. Because the terrain is so rugged, it will take time to reach the car and determine if it is DiMaggio’s, and whether it is booby-trapped.
In the meantime, the search for Hannah continues, as friends report that she was “creeped out” by DiMaggio, a telecommunications technician at Scripps University who appears to have had a crush on her. San Diego Sheriff’s Captain Duncan Fraser said that authorities are attempting to block access points to the wilderness area, as DiMaggio is considered "armed and dangerous" and Hannah is believed to be in "serious danger," although apparently unharmed. But San Diego Sheriff Bill Gore added "We know that they were lifelong friends. We're not exactly sure what that relationship was. We don't know if Hannah's with him willingly or not. We just don't know right now." Hannah's father has released a plea for DiMaggio to let her go, and for Hannah to run if she can.
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