Hannah Anderson A ‘Victim In Every Sense Of The Word,’ Says Authorities

Though letters written by Hannah Anderson to Jim DiMaggio, her alleged abductor, have raised questions about their relationship, authorities insist that the teenage girl was still a victim “in every sense of the word.”

We reported yesterday that Anderson and DiMaggio shared a lengthy correspondence before the kidnapping, which included letters, phone calls, and vacations together. The two exchanged at least 13 phone calls the day of the kidnapping. Thus far, the nature of the correspondence between the two has not been revealed.

Some commenters cite the letters and correspondence as evidence that the initial narrative, Anderson as a helpless victim against a middle-aged man that she found “creepy,” could be called into doubt. But police say that no matter what the nature of their correspondence was, Anderson was still a victim.

“As Sheriff (Bill) Gore said earlier in the week, Hannah is a victim in every sense of the word,” a department spokesman told the Los Angeles Times. “Our follow-up investigation has not changed that sentence.”

Several letters were found in 40-year-old DiMaggio’s home along with ammunition, firebombs, and used condoms, authorities said.

Anderson made her first public appearance following the close of the kidnapping ordeal Thursday, and seemed physically healthy. She did not speak to reporters as a group of family and friends escorted her into the Boll Weevil restaurant for dinner.

“Right now, she’s with her family and, of course, with some friends, and she’s just happy to be here,” her father told reporters outside. “Hannah sends her love. She’s doing good by day. We’ll just keep moving forward from here.”