Amber Alert Issued for 2 Children After Mother Found Dead in Fire
Hannah Anderson, 16, and her brother, Ethan, 8, are missing. Their mother, Christina, was found dead inside a burned-out home in Campo, California, as was another body and the body of a dog.
Police identified James Lee Dimaggio, 40, as a suspect in Christina's death and the arson. They fear that he may have taken the two children and headed south of the United States border into Mexico. Authorities have issued an Amber Alert and hope that someone will be able to help return the children to their home.
DiMaggio was in a "close platonic relationship" with Christina, a statement from the San Diego County sheriff's office said. The office did not elaborate on the nature of the relationship or why they believe that DiMaggio was involved. They did note that Christina was the victim of a homicide but did not say what the cause of death was.
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DiMaggio's ex-wife told ABC15 that her ex-husband was an "introvert" who did not have a history of violence. The two divorced in 2003 because he was "getting distant."
Authorities responded to the call of a house fire and found Christina's body inside, along with that of a dog. They then moved into the detached garage and found the body of a child, though they did not say whether it was the body of Christina's children. The identity of the child remains undetermined right now, though investigators are working hard to identify the victim.
The Amber Alert states that DiMaggio is driving a 2013 blue Nissan Versa with the California-registered license plate 6WCU986. DiMaggio is suspected to be driving to either Texas or Canada. The children were reported missing on August 3 from the city of Boulevard, California.
Hannah Anderson is a white female with blonde hair, blue eyes, and weighs approximately 115 pounds. Her brother, Ethan, has sandy-blonde hair and weighs 65 pounds. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the San Diego Sheriff's Department at (888)-565-5200 or Crime Stoppers at (888)-580-8477.
