BOULEVARD, Calif., Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Two California children whose mother was found dead in a burning house were feared kidnapped by the alleged arsonist, investigators said Monday.
An Amber Alert was issued Monday evening for a blue Nissan believed driven by James DiMaggio, who was wanted in connection with the weekend fire that destroyed DiMaggio's home in an unincorporated area of southeastern San Diego County.
Firefighters found the remains of Christina Anderson, 44, of Lakeside and an unidentified child in the wreckage of the home in Boulevard, a small community in the desert near the Mexican border.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Office said in a written statement it was believed DiMaggio had abducted Anderson's children, Hannah 16, and Ethan, 8.
Anderson and DiMaggio were believed to have been in a "close platonic relationship," the statement said. A preliminary investigation concluded Anderson had been murdered.
The Amber Alert said DiMaggio was probably driving a blue Nissan Versa with California license plate 6WCU986. Boulevard is located along Interstate 8, which runs from San Diego into the Phoenix area.
