Missing San Diego Teen Reunites With Father

Hannah Anderson, 16, was found with kidnap and murder suspect James Lee DiMaggio, 40, in Idaho backcountry after being missing for nearly a week

San Diego teenager Hannah Anderson – who was recovered by authorities in Idaho backcountry Saturday after six days of a widespread Amber Alert search -- has reunited with her father, her family confirmed on Sunday.

On Saturday, 16-year-old Hannah, of Lakeside, was found with kidnap and murder suspect James Lee DiMaggio, 40 – at a campsite north of Morehead Lake in Idaho backcountry.

Officials said U.S. Marshals flying an airplane above the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness spotted a tent in the area. They then called in an FBI SWAT and Hostage Rescue Team to move in on the campsite.

Agents were able to safely recover Hannah.

DiMaggio – the man authorities believe abducted the teenage girl after killing her mother and brother in the unincorporated community of Boulevard near San Diego on Aug. 4 – was killed at the scene.

TIMELINE: Search for Hannah Anderson

Few details were released by the FBI on how, exactly, DiMaggio was killed. San Diego Sheriff Bill Gore said he was shot and killed by an FBI agent at approximately 4:20 p.m. PT. It is unclear if DiMaggio returned fire, as that part of the investigation is ongoing.

After San Diego Sheriff Bill Gore announced that Hannah had been found safe in Idaho, Gore said the teen’s father, Brett Anderson (pictured below), was expected to travel to Idaho to reunite with her.

“[Brett] is elated that we found his daughter alive,” Gore said in Saturday’s press conference.

In a separate press briefing out of Idaho on Saturday following the recovery of Hannah, Valley County acting Public Information Officer Andrea Dearden said the teen appeared to be unharmed and was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

On Sunday, Dearden said Hannah’s current location would not be disclosed due to safety and security reasons.


Hannah and DiMaggio were the subjects of an Amber Alert that spanned six states – California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Idaho – with millions on the lookout for a blue Nissan Versa with California license plates driven by DiMaggio.

DiMaggio is suspected of killing Hannah's mother, 44-year-old Christina Anderson, and her 8-year-old brother Ethan Anderson, both of Lakeside. Their bodies were found on DiMaggio's property east of San Diego where a log-style cabin and detached garage burned to the ground on Sunday.

After the fire, Hannah went missing and was believed to be traveling with DiMaggio.

The pair was spotted by a horseback rider in remote, backcountry terrain near Cascade, Idaho, and Morehead Lake on Wednesday.

Once law enforcement honed in on the area, they discovered DiMaggio’s vehicle – the Nissan Versa listed in the Amber Alert – in the very rugged terrain of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, covered in brush.

This led to an extensive search of the backcountry led by more than 200 federal, local and state law enforcement officials.

Finally, on Saturday, Hannah and DiMaggio were found by officials near the site of where the horseback rider had initially spotted the pair on Wednesday.

Complete Coverage:

Contact Us