Kidnapping of Hannah Anderson

{{Infobox civilian attack

|title = Kidnapping of Hannah Anderson

|location = Murders: 2071 Ross Avenue, Boulevard, California
Abduction: National City, California to Cascade, Idaho

|date = August 3–10, 2013

|time =

|timezone =

|type = Murder, arson, child abduction

|victims = {{unbulleted list|Christina Anderson|Ethan Anderson|Hannah Anderson}}

|fatalities = 3 (including the perpetrator)

|injuries =

|perp = James Lee DiMaggio

|weapons = {{unbulleted list|Crowbar|Arson fire|Two guns}}

}}

On or about the afternoon of August 3, 2013,{{cite news|author=Mather, Kate|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2013/aug/20/local/la-me-ln-hannah-anderson-dimaggio-photograph-20130820 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927142914/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/aug/20/local/la-me-ln-hannah-anderson-dimaggio-photograph-20130820 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 27, 2013 |title=Hannah Anderson, DiMaggio seen on highway 20 hours before house fire |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=2013-08-20 |access-date=2013-09-25}} 16-year-old Hannah Marie Anderson (born July 22, 1997){{cite web|url=http://childrenshopeandvoice.wordpress.com/2013/08/09/caution-is-advised-endangered-missing-hannah-anderson-age-16/ |title=CAUTION IS ADVISED! Endangered Missing: HANNAH ANDERSON, age 16 | Hope and Voice Journal |publisher=Childrenshopeandvoice.wordpress.com |date=2013-08-09 |access-date=2013-10-17}}{{cite web|url=http://hftm.co/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=552 |title=HFTM • View topic – Ethan, Hannah, Anderson 8/3/13 Lakeside, CA (Hannah SAfe) |publisher=Hftm.co |access-date=2013-10-17}} was abducted after cheerleading practice from Sweetwater High School in National City, California. The suspect was later identified by authorities as 40-year-old Jim Lee DiMaggio, owner of a home in Boulevard, California, about an hour away, where Anderson, her mother Christina and brother Ethan had been overnight guests the previous evening.{{cite web|url=http://www.amberalert.com/alerts/0062bd31c33369fd5cad1e6d1f1e9148/ |title=CANCELED AMBER Alert: Boulevard, CA « AMBER Alert |work=Amberalert.com |access-date=August 12, 2013}}{{cite news|first1=Kate|last1=Mather|first2=Andrew|last2=Blankstein|first3=Kurt|last3=Streeter|title=Amber Alert suspect James DiMaggio slain; girl rescued|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0811-amber-alert-20130811,0,4419541.story|access-date=August 11, 2013|newspaper=LA Times|date=August 10, 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/kidnapped-teen-hannah-anderson-social-media-helps-grieve/story?id=20035337|title=Kidnapped Teen Hannah Anderson Says Social Media 'Just Helps Me Grieve'|first=Alyssa|last=Newcomb|publisher=ABC News|date=August 22, 2013|access-date=March 24, 2023}}

The bodies of Christina Anderson, Ethan Anderson and the family dog were later found in DiMaggio's burned home. An AMBER alert was issued for Hannah Anderson, who was found alive at a remote impromptu campsite in the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness in Idaho on August 10, a week after she was abducted. DiMaggio was killed by FBI agents during a shootout at the campsite.{{cite web|last=Mather |first=Kate |url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-kidnapping-suspect-killed-by-fbi-hannah-anderson-in-good-shape-20130810,0,5024077.story |title=Kidnapping suspect killed by FBI; Hannah Anderson in 'good shape' |work=LA Times |date=August 10, 2013 |access-date=August 11, 2013}}

Abduction and manhunt

= Boulevard murders =

On August 3, family friend James DiMaggio had invited Christina Anderson and her children to his home in Boulevard, reportedly to say goodbye because he was planning to move to Texas.{{cite web|url=http://fox5sandiego.com/2013/08/05/amber-alert-issued-for-2-missing-kids/#axzz2c0wL7JN7|title=Man suspected of double murder, kidnapping|work=FOX5|date=August 6, 2013 |access-date=August 10, 2013}} The Anderson family, who lived about {{convert|45|mi|km|0|abbr=off|sp=us}} away in Lakeside, stayed over at his home.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/national/california-amber-alert-remains-idd-as-8-year-old-ethan-anderson-dimaggio-christina-still-missing |title=California Amber Alert: Kidnapping suspect James DiMaggio shot, killed in Idaho, teen alive |agency=Associated Press |access-date=August 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811013642/http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/national/california-amber-alert-remains-idd-as-8-year-old-ethan-anderson-dimaggio-christina-still-missing |archive-date=August 11, 2013 |url-status=dead }} The children's father, Brett Anderson, was on a three-month job in Tennessee at the time.{{cite news |url=http://foxnewsinsider.com/2013/08/08/emotional-interview-brett-anderson-dad-kidnapped-kids-murdered-wife-speaks-fox-and |title=Emotional Interview: Brett Anderson, Dad of Kidnapped Kids, Murdered Wife Speaks ... |work=Fox News Insider |date=2013-08-08 |access-date=2013-11-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110182310/http://foxnewsinsider.com/2013/08/08/emotional-interview-brett-anderson-dad-kidnapped-kids-murdered-wife-speaks-fox-and |archive-date=2013-11-10 |url-status=dead }}

On August 4, a fire was reported at DiMaggio's house in Boulevard, where firemen found the bodies of Christina Anderson, a child later identified as Ethan Anderson and the family dog.{{cite news|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2013/08/20/mom-of-california-kidnap-victim-died-of-blows-to-head|title=Kidnapper leaves $112,000 to Hannah Anderson's grandmother|first=Marty|last=Graham|agency=Reuters|newspaper=Toronto Sun|date=August 20, 2013|access-date=October 9, 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/car-belonging-man-suspected-kidnapping-california-teen-found-idaho-article-1.1423155 |title=Hannah Anderson, abducted California teen, found alive after manhunt ends in alleged kidnapper's death |agency=Associated Press |access-date=August 11, 2013}}{{cite news|title=Affidavits: Hannah Anderson's mother, brother 'tortured and killed'

|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/14/us/california-amber-alert-dimaggio/index.html?hpt=hp_t1|date=August 14, 2013|access-date=August 14, 2013|newspaper=CNN|last1=Carter|first1=Chelsea J.|last2=Cuevas|first2=Mayra}} An arrest warrant was issued for DiMaggio.{{cite news|first1=Kate|last1=Mather|first2=Hailey|last2=Branson-Pott|title=Amber Alert suspect James DiMaggio 'planned' crimes, officials say|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-amber-alert-hannah-idaho-car-20130809,0,6881209.story|access-date=August 11, 2013|newspaper=LA Times|date=August 9, 2013}}

In late September 2013, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's office released results of the autopsies of Christina and Ethan Anderson. The autopsy of Christina Anderson found that a plastic cable tie had been used to bind her ankles, and that duct tape was wrapped around her neck and mouth. Her right arm and both legs were fractured, and there was a cut on her neck. She had been struck at least twelve times in the head. The autopsy of Ethan Anderson determined that the boy died because of the fire, though he also had skeletal fractures that could have been caused by events during the day of the murders.{{cite news|title=Autopsy: Hannah Anderson's mother, brother were beaten and burned|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/24/justice/hannah-anderson-family-autopsy/index.html|work=CNN|last1=Mungin|first1=Lateef|last2=Corder|first2=Calandra|date=September 25, 2013}}

=Abduction reported=

On August 4, 2013, Anderson's grandparents called the police and reported their grandchildren missing, prompting police to issue a statewide AMBER Alert,{{cite news|last=Holland|first=Leslie|title=Key moments in the manhunt for James DiMaggio and Hannah Anderson|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/10/us/california-amber-alert-timeline/|work=CNN|access-date=August 11, 2013}} the first alert sent out to cellphones in California.{{cite news|title=Hannah Anderson kidnapping totally 'irrational act,' sheriff says|url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-hannah-anderson-kidnapping-totally-irrational-act-sheriff-says-20130812,0,7407429,full.story|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813212303/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-hannah-anderson-kidnapping-totally-irrational-act-sheriff-says-20130812,0,7407429,full.story|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 13, 2013|access-date=August 12, 2013|work=LA Times|date=August 12, 2013|first1=Tony|last1=Perry|first2=Kate|last2=Mather|first3=Ashley|last3=Powers}} As the child's body found in the burned-out home had not yet been identified, the AMBER Alert included both Hannah and Ethan Anderson. The manhunt stretched along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia, Canada to Baja California, Mexico.{{cite news|title=U.S. man suspected of murder and child abduction could be B.C.-bound 0|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2013/08/09/us-man-suspected-of-murder-and-child-abduction-could-be-bc-bound|date=August 9, 2013|access-date=August 14, 2013|newspaper=Toronto Sun}}{{cite news|title=James DiMaggio Manhunt: Suspected Calif. abductor may have abandoned car and rigged it with explosives, police say|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/james-dimaggio-manhunt-suspected-calif-abductor-may-have-abandoned-car-and-rigged-it-with-explosives-police-say/|date=August 9, 2013|access-date=August 14, 2013|newspaper=CBS News|last=Donaghue|first=Erin}}

= Discovery and rescue =

On August 7, horseback riders spotted two people matching the description of DiMaggio and Anderson in Cascade, Idaho{{cite news |date=August 9, 2013 |title=Amber Alert for Hannah Anderson includes warning of explosives in James DiMaggio car |work=ABC7 |agency=Associated Press |url=http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/national_world&id=9200864 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927205034/http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news%2Fnational_world&id=9200864 |archive-date=September 27, 2013}} and notified authorities after seeing a news report about the abduction.{{cite news |last1=Castillo |first1=Mariano |last2=Martinez |first2=Michael |title=Authorities hunt for Amber Alert suspect, girl in Idaho wilderness |work=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/09/justice/california-amber-alert/index.html?iref=allsearch |access-date=August 11, 2013}}{{cite news |last1=Lafferty |first1=Andrew |last2=Santini |first2=Olivia |last3=Austin |first3=Henry |date=August 8, 2013 |title=Missing siblings: Kidnap suspect's car may have been spotted, authorities say |work=NBC News |url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/08/08/19888144-missing-siblings-kidnap-suspects-car-may-have-been-spotted-authorities-say?lite |access-date=August 11, 2013}}

On the same day that the sightings were reported, DiMaggio's car, a blue Nissan Versa, was discovered near the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness. The car's license plates had been removed and brush was used to hide the vehicle.

On August 10, police discovered DiMaggio's campsite and an FBI tactical agent killed DiMaggio near Morehead Lake around 5:00 p.m. after DiMaggio fired at least one shot at the officers.{{cite news|title=Sheriff: Suspect in Idaho exchanged gunfire|url=https://news.yahoo.com/sheriff-suspect-idaho-exchanged-gunfire-180312133.html|work=Yahoo! News|access-date=August 12, 2013|date=August 12, 2013|last1=Dvorak|first1=Todd|last2=Spagat|first2=Elliot|agency=Associated Press}} DiMaggio was shot six times in the head, arms, and upper torso. Anderson had no visible injuries, but was taken to a local hospital for crisis counseling.{{cite news|title=Teen safe in Idaho; alleged abductor killed, described as close to family|url=http://www.ravallirepublic.com/news/state-and-regional/article_f3221f5b-fdfa-59d7-a8d5-a9d6bcf50141.html|work=Ravalli Republic|access-date=August 11, 2013|date=August 10, 2013|agency=Associated Press|last=Boone|first=Rebecca}} Afterwards, when asked if she was glad James DiMaggio was dead, Hannah Anderson responded, "Absolutely yes".{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/14/us/hannah-anderson-social-media |title=Friend: Hannah Anderson speaks about kidnapping on social media |work=CNN |date=August 15, 2013| last=Wian| first=Casey |access-date=August 23, 2013}}

According to Anderson, James DiMaggio had threatened to kill her and anyone who tried to rescue her.{{cite news |date=August 8, 2013 |title=Friend: Hannah Anderson speaks about kidnapping on social media |work=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/14/us/hannah-anderson-social-media/index.html |access-date=November 18, 2020}}

Perpetrator

James Everet Lee DiMaggio Jr. (January 17, 1973 – August 10, 2013), age 40, was a telecommunications technician in San Diego.{{cite news |title=Amber Alert for Hannah Anderson includes warning of explosives in James DiMaggio car |url=http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/national_world&id=9200864 |work=ABC7 |date=August 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927205034/http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news%2Fnational_world&id=9200864 |archive-date=September 27, 2013 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=October 9, 2013 |url-status=dead}} According to a friend, his father, James Everet Lee Sr., was accused of attempting to kidnap the 16-year-old daughter of an ex-girlfriend in 1988 and committed suicide on August 10, 1998.{{cite news|title=Reports: Father of Hannah Anderson's abductor has violent past|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/12/justice/california-suspect-father|work=CNN|date=August 12, 2013|access-date=September 6, 2013|last1=Levs|first1=Josh|last2=Wian|first2=Casey}}

DiMaggio was described as the best friend of Brett Anderson, and he was like an uncle to the children.{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/world-news/hannah-anderson-james-dimaggio-stood-out-in-idaho-wilderness/story-fndir2ev-1226695936785|title=Kidnap girl's horrific ordeal over|date=13 August 2013|access-date=20 June 2017|archive-date=17 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917124207/http://www.news.com.au/world-news/hannah-anderson-james-dimaggio-stood-out-in-idaho-wilderness/story-fndir2ev-1226695936785|url-status=dead}} He helped with various tasks, such as driving Hannah and a friend from a gymnastics meet,{{cite web|url=http://www.wetpaint.com/moms/articles/2013-08-08-amber-alert-hannah-anderson-kidnapping |title=Amber Alert: Friend Says Kidnapping Suspect Had a Crush on Hannah Anderson – Moms |work=Wetpaint.com |access-date=August 11, 2013}} during which he had unnerved her by saying he would like to date her if they were the same age. During a trip to Los Angeles with Anderson, DiMaggio also complained she "wasn't paying enough attention to him." Anderson's friends said she did not like being alone with him and was "creeped out" by his comments on the drive from the meet.{{cite web|last=Donaghue|first=Erin|title=James DiMaggio Manhunt: Suspected Calif. abductor may have abandoned car and rigged it with explosives, police say|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/james-dimaggio-manhunt-suspected-calif-abductor-may-have-abandoned-car-and-rigged-it-with-explosives-police-say/|work=CBS News|date=9 August 2013 |access-date=August 11, 2013}}

DiMaggio listed Hannah's grandmother Bernice Anderson as the beneficiary to his life insurance in 2011, while he lived with her. A friend of DiMaggio said that he intended the $112,000 for Hannah and Ethan, but did not trust their parents to handle the inheritance. This prompted members of DiMaggio's family to request a paternity test to determine if he fathered the Anderson children. Brett called the suggestion "disgusting" and an Anderson family spokeswoman said DiMaggio had not met Christina until she was six months pregnant with Hannah.{{cite news|last=Spagat|first=Elliot|title=Hannah Anderson kidnapping: Family of suspect wants DNA test to see if he was her father|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/08/21/hannah_anderson_kidnapping_family_of_suspect_wants_dna_test_to_see_if_he_was_her_father.html|access-date=August 26, 2013|agency=Associated Press|date=August 21, 2013}} The DiMaggio family later withdrew their request for DNA testing.{{cite news|title=Kidnapper James DiMaggio's sister drops bid for Hannah Anderson DNA tests|url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/08/28/20225956-kidnapper-james-dimaggios-sister-drops-bid-for-hannah-anderson-dna-tests?lite|work=NBC News|date=August 28, 2013|last=Spagat|first=Elliot|agency=Associated Press|access-date=October 9, 2013}}

According to released warrants, DiMaggio received letters from Hannah Anderson which were found in his home by investigators, and exchanged over a dozen calls with her before the murders occurred.{{cite news|title=Hannah Anderson sent James Lee DiMaggio letters, warrants reveal|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hannah-anderson-sent-james-lee-dimaggio-letters-warrants-reveal/|work=CBS News|agency=Associated Press|date=August 16, 2013|access-date=September 6, 2013}} However, San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore said Hannah Anderson was "a victim in every sense of the word" and did not willingly go with DiMaggio.{{cite news|title=Q&A about kidnapping of Hannah Anderson|url=http://www.cbs8.com/story/23159623/qa-about-kidnapping-of-hannah-anderson|agency=Associated Press|work=KFMB-TV|date=August 16, 2013 |access-date=September 7, 2013}} Gore also suggested that authorities may never be able to fully determine the reason for DiMaggio's crime rampage.

In popular culture

The 2013 Criminal Minds episode "Route 66" was inspired by the Hannah Anderson case.
In May 2015, the Lifetime TV network aired the made-for-TV movie Kidnapped: The Hannah Anderson Story starring Jessica Amlee as Hannah Anderson, Scott Patterson as James DiMaggio, and Brian McNamara as Brett Anderson.{{cite web |url=http://www.mylifetime.com/movies/kidnapped-the-hannah-anderson-story |title=Kidnapped: The Hannah Anderson Story |publisher=Lifetime |access-date=May 11, 2015 }}{{cite news |first=Molly |last=Eichel |title='Cleveland Abduction' continues the public obsession with kidnapping stories |url=http://www.avclub.com/review/cleveland-abduction-continues-public-obsession-kid-218651 |work=The A.V. Club |date=May 1, 2015 |access-date=May 11, 2015 }} Anderson was disappointed by the Lifetime movie, angrily posting on her Instagram page that she never gave her permission or information for the movie, and that even the preview contained false facts and untrue events.{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/the-conversation/sdut-movie-hannah-anderson-kidnapping-lifetime-2015may22-htmlstory.html|title=Lakeside teen angry over movie about what Lifetime says 'really happened' with her kidnapper|first=Debbi|last=Baker|date=24 August 2016|access-date=20 June 2017}}
The Law and Order SVU episode "Send in the Clowns" was partially inspired by this case, in addition to the 2016 clown sightings.