Amber Alert for missing teen added in Oregon after car sighting
The Amber Alert for a missing San Diego County girl allegedly abducted by a family friend was extended to Oregon on Wednesday afternoon after reports that his car was spotted in Northern California.
Oregon issued the Amber Alert, saying a car matching the suspect’s description was seen driving north on U.S. 395 near the town of Alturas headed toward the Oregon border. The sighting was at 1:30 p.m.
The Amber Alert was also extended to Washington.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department has received “lots and lots of tips from across the country” after an Amber Alert was issued throughout California for a kidnapped 16-year-old girl and her 8-year-old brother.
“We are following up on each and every one of them that seems to have merit,” San Diego County Sheriff’s Lt. Glenn Giannantonio said.
Authorities believe James Lee DiMaggio may be driving a blue Nissan Versa, California license plate 6WCU986, and may be en route to Canada or Texas with Hannah Anderson, 16.
The body of Hannah’s mother, 44-year-old Christine Anderson, along with the unidentified body of a child, were found Sunday evening in DiMaggio’s burning home in the rural community of Boulevard in eastern San Diego County.
An autopsy on the child’s remains was performed Tuesday, but the autopsy results are sealed, officials said. It will be Friday at the earliest before the identity of the child is announced, Giannantonio said.
The body is believed to be 8-year-old Ethan Anderson, his family members have said in interviews with several news outlets.
Because the body was badly burned, it has been difficult to obtain a DNA sample, Giannantonio said.
The case was the subject of California’s first cellphone Amber Alert on Monday.
DiMaggio, who works as a telecommunications technician at Scripps Institute in San Diego, has been described by authorities as a close family friend whom the Anderson children called “Uncle Jim.”
Authorities have said they believe DiMaggio might be en route to Canada or Texas.
Texas public records indicate that DiMaggio was charged in Montgomery County, Texas, in 1995 with fleeing a peace officer, a misdemeanor charge. He was placed on one year of community supervision after entering a plea agreement with the state, said Darin Bailey, chief deputy for the Montgomery County clerk.
A Facebook page titled Prayers for Hannah Anderson has numerous comments from Hannah’s friends urging her safe return.
“You’re strong,” the creator of the page posted Wednesday afternoon. “If you can get the chance, take it… you will be found, I promise.”
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