Friends Pray for Safe Return of Missing Kids

Friend: Suspect's comment made missing girl uncomfortable

Students at a San Diego area high school gathered to pray for the safe return of their classmate, a teenager who is believed to have been abducted by a murder and arson suspect.

Hannah Anderson, 16, may be with James Lee DiMaggio, the man accused in their mother's murder.

The body of Christina Anderson, 41, was discovered inside DiMaggio's burned-out home in Boulevard, east of San Diego on Sunday. The remains of an unidentified child were also found in the home.

A nationwide Amber Alert was issued Monday for Hannah and her 8-year-old brother, Ethan Anderson. The children were last seen Saturday night, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

Officials have not positively identified the child victim in the investigation however, the children's father had this to say Tuesday, “Hannah will come back and Ethan and Tina I love you both. We all love you," Brett Anderson said.

Anderson spoke at El Capitan High School in Lakeside Tuesday where friends used pink cups, balloons and streamers to decorate the fence outside the school. They also wore pink shirts with the message #prayforhannah. 

One of Hannah’s close friends, Marissa Chavez, told NBC 7 that DiMaggio was a nice man who had a good relationship with the Anderson family. But Chavez said, DiMaggio once said something in the car that made the girls uncomfortable.

“He said, ‘I have a crush on you. Not in that weird way, but if you were my own age I’d want to date you,’” Chavez said.

“It was very weird. After that, she didn’t want to be alone with him,”  she said.

Brett Anderson said a man who the family had been friends with for a long time took everything.

“Jim, I can’t fathom what you were thinking,” Brett Anderson said. “The damage is done. I’m begging you to let my daughter go. You’ve taken everything else.”

Officials said autopsies on the bodies found in the Boulevard home were completed Tuesday. They are awaiting DNA analysis to positively identify the child's body. Officials believe they’ll have the answer in a few days.

As of now, investigators are still going on the assumption that Ethan Anderson is traveling with DiMaggio and his sister, Hannah.

Officials believe DiMaggio has gotten out of his blue Nissan by now and is either using public transportation or bought a car with cash.

Investigators have several theories for a motive but they will not release the information now because it may compromise the search.

Contact Us