Amber Alert: Hanna and Ethan Anderson, Calif. children, missing after mother found dead, police say
(CBS/AP) CAMPO, Calif. - An Amber Alert was in effect early Tuesday for the two missing children of a woman whose body was found inside a burned rural house near the U.S.-Mexico border, and authorities said the man suspected of killing the woman may have abducted the kids.
Authorities are trying to locate Hannah Anderson, 16, and Ethan Anderson, 8, whose mother, Christina Anderson, 44, was one of two people found dead by authorities sent to extinguish the fire Sunday night, a San Diego County sheriff's statement said.
The body of Christina Anderson and a dog where found in the house while the the body of a child was found in the rubble of the house's detached garage. The identity and manner of death of the child remained undetermined. Authorities who released the news of the deaths Monday night wouldn't say whether the body may have belonged to one of Anderson's children.
According to CBS affiliate KFMB, Sheriff's Lt. Glenn Giannantonia said, "We do believe that this was arson. We believe that he murdered Anderson --- and then we believe that he set the structures on fire."
The suspect, James Lee Dimaggio, 40, owned the home in Boulevard, some 60 miles southeast of San Diego, and lived there alone, the sheriff's statement said.
DiMaggio was in a "close platonic relationship" with Anderson, the sheriff's statement said without further explanation.
The Amber Alert said DiMaggio is believed to be driving a blue Nissan Versa with California license plates.
According to the station, Hanna is 5'7'', weighs 115 pounds, and has blond hair and blue eyes. Ethan is 4'11, 64 pounds and has sandy blond hair.
The suspect police are looking for is described as 5'9'', 150 pounds, has brown hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the children or suspect is asked to contact authorities.
