California teen, Hannah Anderson, who was kidnapped by James DiMaggio, is back at home with family. We now know that she did not know her mother and brother had been killed.
During the six days they were on the run, DiMaggio never told Hannah what had happened to her family. Only after the FBI agents shot and killed DiMaggio, she found out.
Authorities say the former family friend killed Christina Anderson, 40, by striking her with a crowbar, and her son Ethan Anderson, 8, at DiMaggio’s log home when he set it on fire as he took Hannah away.
The teen is now back in California and her father says he expects her to start the long way to recovery.
Brett Anderson says she has been through a lot in her ordeal during a statement on Monday. He asked for privacy for the family and did not answer questions.
Authorities have released few details regarding Hannah Anderson’s kidnapping, but say she played no part in the killings and was a victim of DiMaggio.
“I want to emphasize that during our law enforcement interviews with Hannah, it became very clear to us that she is a victim in every sense of the word in this horrific crime. She was not a willing participant,” San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore told reporters.
Gore added that police may never find out what motivated DiMaggio to turn from trusted family friend to kidnapper.
In fact, DiMaggio was such a close family friend that the children called him uncle Jim. But at least one of Hannah’s friends has stated DiMaggio told the girl he had a crush on her, which made her uneasy.
Hannah Anderson now has to deal not only with the trauma of the kidnapping, but the betrayal of a close friend and of course she has to grieve for her mother and brother.