SAN DIEGO, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- An Amber Alert for two missing California kids was extended to the Pacific Northwest Wednesday after a report that the suspected kidnapper's car was spotted.
San Diego County Sheriff's Office investigators late Wednesday discounted the sighting of the car believed to be carrying a 16-year-old girl and a smitten 42-year-old family friend suspected of killing the teen's mother and possibly her younger brother.
Sheriff's Lt. Glenn Giannantonio told KGTV-TV in San Diego the sightings of the vehicle in Northern California and Oregon were determined to be invalid, leaving detectives with no solid leads.
Hannah Anderson, 16, and her 8-year-old brother, Ethan, were unaccounted for after the remains of their mother were discovered over the weekend in the burning home of a family friend, who is believed to have taken the children.
The blue Nissan believed driven by James DiMaggio, 42, was reported spotted Wednesday on a highway near Alturas in Northern California, which prompted an Amber Alert to be issued in Oregon and Washington. Authorities have suspected DiMaggio could be on his way to Canada.
DiMaggio had been a family friend of Christina and Brett Anderson. Authorities believe DiMaggio killed Christina Saturday at his home in Boulevard, a tiny desert community in southeastern San Diego County, and then fled with Hannah. Investigators have learned DiMaggio was infatuated with the high school student.
The remains of an unidentified child were also found in DiMaggio's home; however, Ethan remained on the Amber Alert despite the possibility he was killed at the same time as his mom.
Brett Anderson, who had been working out of state at the time, returned to San Diego this week and publicly urged Hannah to look for an opportunity to escape, and appealed to his former friend to surrender.
