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Woman Wakes Up, Finds Intruder On Top of Her

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Woman's son heard commotion, chased attacker out of building on 1200 block of North Stone Street. Natalie Martinez reports.

Man in Critical Condition After Car Trunk Explodes

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A man was seriously burned early Saturday morning after his car caught on fire.

Police said a man pulled into a gas station on Golden Beach Road in Mechanicsville, Md., shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday and filled up two portable gas tanks. He put the tanks in his trunk and drove away.

Shortly thereafter, the driver noticed his trunk was on fire and stopped his vehicle. Police said he opened his trunk to try to stop the fire and an explosion occurred.

Police said the man survived, but was very badly burned. He was flown to a local hospital and is listed in critical condition.
 



Photo Credit: NBC10 Philadelphia

Veteran Kicked Off Boardwalk Because of Service Dog

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A disabled U.S. Army veteran, who served our country for 19 years, says he was kicked off the North Wildwood, New Jersey, boardwalk Thursday night, simply for having his service dog by his side.

Jared Goering served 1 tour in Iraq, 2 in Afghanistan, and spent 19 years as an active member of the Army. Jared said, "I served from 1993 to 2012." He then told NBC40 he couldn't sleep Thursday night because he felt so disrespected by a North Wildwood police officer.

Goering said, "Just like any veteran with disabilities with a service dog, to come back and be harassed and shown no respect, it upset me - it really bothered me. I was up most of the night thinking about it."

A North Wildwood police officer issued Jared and his wife a summons because he had a dog on the boardwalk.

“I expected to get more respect from him because of the jobs that we both have to do,” Goering said.

"He mockingly asked if all veterans get service dogs," said Jared’s wife, Sally Goering, “his dog is medically necessary and he is a service dog."

In 2009, Jared was serving in Afghanistan when his vehicle was blown up by IEDs, twice, within 36 hours. Now, Jared uses his 3-year-old service dog, Gator, short for Navigator, to help him walk, and to get up and down stairs.

Jared explained, "I also suffer from PTSD, severe anxiety, depression - and my dog plays a big part in my life. His main purpose is mobility but he also helps me with all my emotional problems from combat."

Jared and his wife Sally say the incident occurred on the 26th street North Wildwood boardwalk. The Goering family said, even after showing the officer the dog's service identification card, he still issued them a summons and kicked them off the boardwalk.

Sally said, "We want the public to be aware that there are different types of disabilities and

Northwood Wildwood Police say Goering notified a shift Sergeant shortly after he received the summons from the officer. The shift Sergeant then took the summons and filed for a dismissal. The incident is being investigated by the Internal Affairs supervisor, according to police.

"The City of North Wildwood and the North Wildwood Police Department have always proudly supported military veterans and continue to support all branches of the military. The Police Department is comprised of some military veterans and parents of active military who are presently serving in the armed forces. This police department looks forward to and participates in all the military special events throughout the year. The North Wildwood Police Department has always respected and appreciated the sacrifices of all those who serve our great nation," according to a statement released Saturday.

The mayor of North Wildwood says they will issue a formal apology, if appropriate, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Original story here: http://bit.ly/13qVnP6



Photo Credit: NBC40.net

Burned Body Is Young Brother of Missing Girl

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Five days into a multistate Amber Alert for a teenage girl in "grave danger," San Diego officials confirmed that the second body found in a burned-out home is that of the missing girl's 8-year-old brother.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department Friday night confirmed that a second body found in the burned-out home is that of Ethan Anderson, whose 16-year-old sister Hannah remained still missing, believed to have been abducted by family friend James Lee DiMaggio.

Initially, investigators believed the boy was also traveling with DiMaggio and Hannah. He was described as 4 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 65 pounds, with sandy blond hair.

Due to the condition of the body, Ethan's identity was determined using DNA analysis of his bone marrow, the sheriff's department said.

Before Friday night's confirmation, family members – including the children’s father Brett Anderson – had implied that Ethan was found dead along with his mother, Christina Anderson, in DiMaggio's home Monday.

Emergency personnel were called to the 2000 block of Ross Avenue in the unincorporated community of Boulevard east of San Diego about 8 p.m. Sunday for a structure fire. DiMaggio's log cabin-style home and detached three-car garage were engulfed in flames.

The bodies of an adult, child and dog were found in the charred rubble.

DiMaggio, 40, is accused of killing Christina and Ethan Anderson, then abducting Hannah Anderson. Detectives have not released the cause of death.

DiMaggio's blue Nissan Sentra was found Friday in a rural community in Idaho known as the River of No Return Wilderness.

The sedan -- the description of which has been published in nationwide media reports -- was found covered in brush with its license plates removed about 15 miles east of Cascade, Idaho, approximately 80 miles north of Boise and roughly 400 miles from the Canadian border.

DiMaggio and Hannah have been spotted near Morehead Lake, officials said Friday. A horseback rider had a brief conversation with the pair, but saw no reason to be alarmed. He told officials they appeared to be hikers or campers, which are common in the area.

Initially, investigators believed Ethan was also traveling with DiMaggio and Hannah.

Friends and family have been holding vigils for Ethan, calling the young boy a great kid with lots of friends who love him.

Friends have also said Ethan and Hannah had a strong sibling bond, with little fighting and lots of love between them.

As a family, friends say the Andersons were very happy and seemingly had a great relationship.

Officials have not released how Christina Anderson and her son were killed. They also have not identified a possible motive.

"We all have come up with a theory but really it is speculation and we wont know until we get Hannah and DiMaggio back here for further questions," San Diego County Sheriff William Gore said.

Christina's father, Christopher Saincome, said his daughter went to visit DiMaggio's home to say goodbye to the family friend before he moved to Texas.

Hannah Anderson attended El Capitan High School in Lakeside, where friends described DiMaggio as having a crush on the 16-year-old girl.

A memorial fund has been set up to help the family with burial costs.

Go to WePay and search for "San Diego Anderson Family Support Fund."

More Southern California Stories:



Photo Credit: Courtesy of Alan McNabb

Pedestrian Struck, Killed on I-15

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A pedestrian was struck by a car and killed on Interstate 15 near Barrio Logan Friday night, officials said.

The fatal incident happened around 8:45 p.m. at southbound I-15 at Cesar Chavez Parkway.

California Highway Patrol officials said a pedestrian was hit on the freeway and was pronounced dead at the scene. Details surrounding the collision were not immediately released.

CHP officials temporarily shut down a couple of lanes of traffic on the freeway, as well as an off-ramp, as investigators processed the scene. A SigAlert was issued at 9:20 p.m.

The pedestrian’s name has not yet been released. The investigation is ongoing.
 



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Amber Alert Issued After Boulevard Fire: Images

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Hannah Anderson and Ethan Anderson were reported missing Aug. 3. They may be with murder and arson suspect James Lee DiMaggio officials said.

1 Injured After Razor Blades Are Found at Playground

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At least one person was injured Saturday after razor blades were discovered in the sand at a playground in San Diego, officials said.

San Diego Lifeguards said the incident happened around 1:30 p.m. in the east playground at Bonita Cove. At least 10 razor blades were recovered by investigators at the playground.

Officials say at least one person came into contact with the razor blades and sustained minor injuries.

The area has been roped off so officials can investigate the scene.

Officials are using metal detectors in order to search for any possible additional razor blades.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story stated that a child was injured at the playground, per reports from officials. Lifeguards have now clarified that a woman was injured at the scene.


 



Photo Credit: Erica Simpson

Timeline: Amber Alert Search for Missing San Diego Teen

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Saturday AFTERNOON, August 10, 2013 - Hannah Anderson Found Safe, DiMaggio Killed:
San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore announced that Hannah Anderson has been found safe in Idaho backcountry. Gore confirms that kidnap and murder suspect James DiMaggio was killed in the wilderness by FBI agents.

Saturday, August 10, 2013 - Search Continues in Idaho Backcountry:
After a reported sighting of Hannah Anderson and James DiMaggio in Idaho backcountry, more than 200 law enforcement officials from the FBI, state and local agencies arrive in a rural area near Cascade, Idaho. Crews begin honing in on the rugged wilderness terrain searching for any trace of the pair. “We are going to put in every resource possible,” said Andrea Dearden, acting Public Information Officer for Valley County, Idaho. “We are hopeful that we’ll be able to find these two.”

Late Friday, August 9, 2013 - Ethan Anderson’s remains positively identified:

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department confirms that the charred remains of the second victim found inside the burned out home in Boulevard are those of Hannah’s little brother, 8-year-old Ethan Anderson.

Friday, August 9, 2013 - A Vigil for Hannah:

Hannah’s friends hold a candlelight vigil for the teen near El Capitan High School in Lakeside. Many are hopeful for her safe return after hearing that she was spotted alive in Idaho.

Friday, August 9, 2013 - Sighting Reported, DiMaggio’s Car Found in Idaho:

A possible sighting of Hannah and DiMaggio reported by a horseback rider leads officials to a rural community in Idaho known as the “River of No Return Wilderness.” This narrows the widespread Amber Alert, with investigators now focusing their search near Cascade, Idaho, approximately 80 miles north of Boise and roughly 400 miles from the Canadian border. Officials say the terrain is rugged and dangerous, and cannot be accessed by car. Officials also announce that they’ve located DiMaggio’s vehicle – the blue Nissan Versa mentioned in the Amber Alert – about six to eight miles from where the horseback rider reported seeing the pair. The car is covered in brush and the license plates are missing, but officials match it as DiMaggio’s vehicle using the VIN. Once searched, officials later determine the vehicle is not rigged with explosives.

Thursday, August 8, 2013 - Friend Says DiMaggio had Crush on Hannah:

A close friend of Hannah’s says James DiMaggio became infatuated with the teen and allegedly admitted he had a crush on her. The teen also recalls a time she and Hannah stayed the night at DiMaggio’s house.

Thursday, August 8, 2013 - DiMaggio May Have Homemade Explosives
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San Diego officials say that evidence recovered at DiMaggio’s home suggests he may be armed with explosives either on his person or inside his Nissan Versa.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013 - Amber Alert Search Expands to More States:
The Amber Alert for Hannah and Ethan Anderson is extended to Oregon and Washington. Officials believe DiMaggio could be headed to Canada with the children.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013 - Children’s Father Pleads For Their Return:
Brett Anderson, father of Hannah and Ethan Anderson, pleads for the safe return of his children. “Hannah, we all love you very much. If you have a chance, you take it. You run. You’ll be found.”

Monday, August 5, 2013 - Amber Alert Issued After Boulevard House Fire:
San Diego County officials issue a statewide Amber Alert for Lakeside siblings Hannah Anderson, 16, and Ethan Anderson, 8, after their mother’s body is discovered inside a home that was burned to the ground in Boulevard. The children are believed to be traveling with murder and kidnap suspect James Lee DiMaggio in a blue Nissan Versa with the license plate 6WCU986.

Monday, August 5, 2013 - Investigators name James DiMaggio as Kidnap, Murder Suspect:
Officials announce they’re searching for suspect James Lee DiMaggio in connection with the fire in Boulevard and the murder of Christina Anderson, 44, and the child victim. Officials say the home in Boulevard belongs to DiMaggio. Investigators believe DiMaggio murdered Anderson and then set the structure on fire.

Sunday, August 4, 2013 - Fire Engulfs Home in Boulevard, Bodies Found Inside:
Deputies are called to 2071 Ross Ave. in the unincorporated community of Boulevard near San Diego around 8 p.m. At the scene, they find a home fully engulfed in flames. Officials later discovered the charred remains of two people and a dog inside the burned out home. One of those victims is Lakeside resident Christina Anderson, 44. The second body is that of a child’s, but it’s so badly burned officials are unable to immediately identify the remains.


Eastlake Little League Found a Way

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The best Little League baseball team in Southern California is headed to Williamsport to compete for a shot at the Little League World Series.

The Eastlake Little League All-Stars won the Western Regional Tournament Saturday 9-0.

Eastlake avenged its only loss of the tournament by blowing out Belmont-Redwood Shores.

First inning, Nick Mora had 3 hits and Michael Gaines scored from first. Eastlake took a 1-0 lead.

They only scored 2 runs in their first meeting. They got 450-percent more Saturday night.

In the fourth inning, Jake Espinoza singled up the middle.

Micah Pietla-Wiggs tried to score from 2nd. It was closer than it might have been because Micah tripped rounding 3rd but still got up and evaded the catcher. The score was then 6-0 Eastlake.

Grant Holman took it from there: complete-game, 2-hit shutout.
The final out on a comebacker.

Eastlake won 9-0.

Fans of the Eastlake All-Stars got together Saturday night to watch the game televised on ESPN.

As you can see by the image to the right, the crowd went wild when the hometown team won.

Chula Vista has a little experience in this since it was just four years ago that Park View not only qualified for the Little League World Series but won the championship.

Their first game is Friday, Aug. 16 against Great Lakes. A notable player on the Grosse Point Woods-Shores Little League is the 6-foot, 2-inches tall first baseman and pitcher Chad Lorkowski. At 12 years old, Lorkowski is the size of San Diego Padres player, and 30-year-old man, Will Venable. 

The Eastlake Little League All-Stars roster includes Grant Holman, Jake Espinoza, Micah Wiggs, Michael Gaines, Kevin Bateman, Rennard Williams, Dominic Haley, Charly Peterson, Giancarlo Cortez, Nick Mora, Patrick Archer and Ricky Tibbett.

12,000 Pounds of Veal Recalled

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More than 12,000 pounds of boneless veal products distributed to wholesalers in New York and California have been recalled.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that United Processing LLC recalled the 12,600 pounds of veal products Friday.

The USDA says they may be contaminated with strains of E. coli. The boneless veal was produced on June 17, 18, 24, 28 and 29, and distributed in 60-pound boxes.

The USDA says the firm inadvertently shipped the products after government regulators became aware of the possible contamination during an inspection.

A representative of United Processing LLC didn't immediately return a call for comment.

The USDA says the company hasn't received any reports of illnesses.

People infected with E. coli can experience dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps.

More Southern California Stories:



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Calif. Faces Longer, Tough Wildfire Season

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California truly is the Golden State this summer — golden brown — and that has fire officials worried heading into the peak of the wildfire season.

It's still weeks before the fire-fanning Santa Ana winds usually arrive and already it's been a brutal fire season, with nearly twice as many acres burned statewide from a year ago, including 19,000 scorched this week in a blaze still raging in the mountains 90 miles east of Los Angeles.

That fire, burning nearly 30 square miles, was almost half contained Saturday morning.

So far this year, California fire officials have battled 4,300 wildfires, a stark increase from the yearly average of nearly 3,000 they faced from 2008 to 2012, said Daniel Berlant, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Until last week, those fires had already burned more than 71,000 acres, about 111 square miles. The totals were up from 40,000, about 63 square miles, during the same period last year.

The annual average for charred land in the last five years was 113,000 acres, roughly 177 square miles, he said.

"We have seen a significant increase in our fire activity and much earlier than normal," said Berlant, adding that fire season began in mid-April, about a month ahead of schedule after an especially dry winter. "We're not even yet into the time period where we see the largest number of damaging fires."

U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who lives in Riverside County, said more than 165,000 acres or 258 square miles have burned in California this year, and climate change is setting conditions for more disastrous blazes, while budget cuts are limiting resources to fight them. Boxer's data comes from both California officials and federal agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service.

This year, state fire officials have called up more firefighters and reserve engines on days with hot, dry conditions, Berlant said.

And while state officials encouraged residents to rid their properties of dry brush before fire season starts, he said authorities are now urging the public not to use lawnmowers or weed eaters during the heat of the day because a spark off the metal blades can trigger a blaze.

On Friday, firefighters launched a fleet of seven retardant-dropping airplanes against Southern California's latest destructive wildfire, which has destroyed 26 homes and threatened more than 500 others in the San Jacinto Mountains.

The so-called Silver Fire injured six firefighters and seriously burned one civilian and had grown to nearly 30 square miles early Saturday.

At its peak, it forced the evacuation of 1,800 people, including 800 campers, but orders were lifted for many areas Friday and only a few hundred evacuees remained.

Gov. Jerry Brown declared an emergency for the area Friday, freeing up additional funds and resources for the firefight and recovery.

In the Twin Pines neighborhood outside Banning, Andy Schrader said he couldn't get out in time. The wildfire crept up suddenly and blew over his house, burning his motor home and singeing his hair as he sprayed water from a hose to try to keep the house wet.

"I could feel my face burning," the 74-year-old carpenter said. "And I thought I was going to die."

Full Coverage: Southern California Wildfires

Most of Southern California's severe wildfires are associated with Santa Ana winds, caused by high pressure over the West that sends a clockwise flow of air rushing down into the region.

This week's fire, however, was being fanned by a counter-clockwise flow around a low pressure area over northwest California. The National Weather Service said conditions could change in the second half of next week, with weaker winds in the mountains and deserts.

Wildfire experts say the traditional fire season has grown longer in California as rainfall has been lower than usual over the last two years and tapered off sooner.

Los Angeles, for example, received only 5.85 inches of rain from July 2012 through June 2013, compared with 8.71 inches a year before and a 30-year average of 14.93 inches, said Eric Boldt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Tom Scott, a natural resources specialist who teaches at University of California campuses in Riverside and Berkeley, said plants can have a harder time staying hydrated under such conditions.

"The whole system is like a bank account — it's being drawn down," he said.

Richard A. Minnich, a professor of earth sciences at University of California, Riverside, said much of Southern California is in pretty good shape because older vegetation burned off during a spate of wildfires over the past decade, but there are spots at serious risk because of the prevalence of old-growth chaparral.

"Wherever there is very old chaparral, we've got a tremendous threat," he said.

Fundraising efforts are underway to rebuild the Al Bahr Shriners Camp in the Laguna Mountains after it was destroyed by a fire last month. It will take more than $1 million to replace more than 100 buildings, including the camp's 87-year-old lodge, dining hall and kitchen, were destroyed in the blaze.

"Everyone lost a lot," former Shriner potentate Donald Wierman told U-T San Diego. "If not material things they've lost memories. Generations have been going to that place."

More Southern California Stories:



Photo Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Missing San Diego Teen Found Safe, Suspect Killed

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After six days of a widespread Amber Alert and with the help of more than 200 state and federal law enforcement officials, missing San Diego teenager Hannah Anderson was found safe and the man accused of abducting her, James Lee DiMaggio, is dead, San Diego County officials said Saturday.

DiMaggio, 40, of Boulevard was shot and killed at 4:20 p.m. PT Saturday north of Morehead Lake in the Idaho backcountry. 

Three U.S. Marshals flying a plane above the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness area spotted a tent Saturday morning. They called in FBI SWAT and Hostage Rescue Team to move in on the campsite.

Few details were released by the FBI on how DiMaggio was killed. San Diego Sheriff Bill Gore said he was shot and killed by an FBI agent.

Gore said the 16-year-old Lakeside teenager appeared to be in good shape and that her father, Brett Anderson, was expected to travel to Idaho to reunite with his daughter.

"He's elated that we found his daughter alive," added Gore.

UPDATE: Hannah's Family Calls DiMaggio's Death "Fitting"

DiMaggio is suspected of killing Hannah's mother, 44-year-old Christina Anderson, and her 8-year-old brother Ethan Anderson, both of Lakeside. Their bodies were found on DiMaggio's property east of San Diego where a log-style cabin and detached garage burned to the ground Sunday.

Investigators say DiMaggio recently purchased camping equipment, which leads them to believe he had planned the events that unfolded this week.

Amber Alerts were launched in six states - California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Idaho - with millions of residents on the lookout for a blue Nissan Versa with California license plates.

The vehicle was eventually discovered Friday in the very rugged terrain of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness covered in brush.

The Versa was towed Saturday from where it was found about six to eight miles from where a horseback rider reported seeing DiMaggio and Hannah Wednesday.

San Diego detectives and an FBI evidence response team will process the Versa evidence as well as the campsite, which officials called a crime scene.

Hundreds of searchers used helicopters, horses and all-terrain vehicles to search about 300 miles for any sign of the pair.

FBI Special Agent from the Salt Lake City division Mary Rook said special agents with an FBI hostage rescue team saw Hannah and DiMaggio at a campsite north of Morehead Lake.

Shots were fired, and DiMaggio was killed.

Officials could not reveal whether agents fired on the suspect or whether the suspect returned fire, as that portion of the investigation was pending.

“Our team faced a very challenging situation,” said Rook. “Our teams worked tirelessly to find Hannah.”

Rook said with Hannah safe, law enforcement would work with the teenager and her family to get them the resources they need to move forward and recover from this ordeal.

“Hannah is safe, and that was our first priority,” said Valley County Sheriff Patti Bolen, adding that she was proud of the way law enforcement came together to resolve this case and bring an end to the widespread Amber Alert.

Valley County acting Public Information Officer Andrea Dearden said Hannah appeared to have no physical injuries when she was recovered by FBI agents, and said law enforcement was relieved she was found safe.

“We wanted it to end safely, we wanted her home,” she added.

Earlier on Saturday, officials in Idaho meticulously searched the rugged, backcountry terrain near Cascade and Morehead Lake for Hannah and DiMaggio.

On Friday, crews searched the area on foot and horseback, given that there was no accessibility in the remote region for vehicles.

TIMELINE: Fire, Missing Teen Lead to Widespread Amber Alert

By noon, investigators with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department had reached DiMaggio's vehicle.

An Idaho explosives team had conducted an initial search of the vehicle overnight. No explosives were found.

Investigators initially believed DiMaggio could be armed with homemade explosives, and may have rigged the vehicle with explosive devices as well.

NBC 7 was the only camera crew to follow a caravan of forensic experts, including an FBI Evidence Response Team into the rugged area. It was located about 40 miles from Cascade - a long road, about a 90 minute drive. 

Complete coverage:



Photo Credit: Artie Ojeda/ NBC 7

Hannah's Family: DiMaggio's Death "Fitting"

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Relatives of a San Diego teenager who officials say was abducted by a family friend and driven to the Idaho wilderness told NBC 7 it's fitting the suspect was killed by law enforcement.

Hannah Anderson, 16, and the man accused of abducting her and killing her mother and brother just days earlier, James Lee DiMaggio, 40, were located Saturday afternoon north of Cascade, Idaho.

An FBI agent shot and killed DiMaggio at a campsite San Diego County sheriff’s deputies said.

Read: Missing San Diego Teen Found Safe Suspect Killed

The teenager, while appearing to be in good condition with no serious injuries, was airlifted out of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness area and flown to a nearby hospital where she could be treated by medical staff and crisis counselors.

Hannah's condition was unknown and family members weren't sure what the teenager witnessed or experienced.

"She's the only one that can tell us and we'll go from there when she's ready," said maternal grandmother Sara Britt.

Earlier in the day Britt and other relatives went to the Lakeside apartment where Christina Anderson, 44, lived with Hannah and her 8-year-old son Ethan.

They planned to pack up everything; they don't want Hannah to ever go back to that apartment again.

Britt held a little stuffed SpongeBob Square Pants. The toy was Ethan's. She said she's going to sleep with it from now on.

While packing up the apartment, Britt got a call from Hannah's father, Brett Anderson. He was crying and told her to come over to his home.

Once there, she was informed that FBI agents moved in on the pair around 4:20 p.m. PT. Hannah was found alive and DiMaggio had been shot and killed. 

After six days of a widespread Amber Alert more than 200 state and federal law enforcement officials were tipped to the Idaho backcountry after a fortunate sighting from a horseback rider Wednesday.

The man told officials nothing was alarming about his conversation with the adult male and teenaged girl but it seemed odd. After seeing the Amber Alert information, the horseback rider called in the information to authorities.

Relatives said they were gathering reward money to thank him for that fateful tip.

"Can't pay him enough for the life of my granddaughter," she said.

On Friday, officials discovered DiMaggio’s blue Nissan Versa covered by brush. They then brought in dozens of law enforcement officers to scour the rugged terrain by air, horse and all-terrain vehicles.

Then Saturday, U.S. Marshals flying a plane over the area of Morehead Lake spotted a tent.

An FBI SWAT and task force team moved in. DiMaggio was shot and killed and Hanna Anderson was flown to safety. Officials did not reveal if Hannah Anderson said anything to officials once she was found.

Timeline: Search for Hannah Anderson

Homicide detectives believe DiMaggio planned the violence that played out this week beginning with the arson Sunday evening.

Christina and Ethan Anderson were found on DiMaggio's property in Boulevard where a log-style cabin and detached garage burned to the ground. The boy’s body was so badly burned it took the county medical examiner’s office several days to positively identify him through DNA extraction from his bone marrow.

"We had to put the murder of Ethan and Tina on hold in the back of our minds because we had to totally focus on Hannah," Britt said. "So now we can take the time to grieve my daughter and grandson.''

Hanna’s grandmother said she never saw anything in DiMaggio that would’ve hinted in the death of her daughter and grandson and the abduction of Hannah.

“People like that, it’s in them anyway and they work that to their advantage. They’ll show you the good person they are to work their way into your family and into your children’s lives,” she said.

Family members say the fact that DiMaggio was killed is fitting. Britt was relieved her granddaughter won't have to deal with anything in court.

The teenager's relatives wanted to thank everyone for their prayers, support and love.

"Everyone had a place in helping us get her home," Britt said.

 

 

 

Dallas College Turns Football Field Into Urban Farm

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What was once Paul Quinn College’s football field is now a farm providing fresh fruits and vegetables in Dallas.

"My goal is to spread the word of organic growth," Andrea Bithell, the manager of the two-acre "We Over Me" farm said.

For the past few weeks she's been hosting urban farm classes for the community. 

Saturday's class taught students how to build, maintain and provide habitats for honeybees, as well as how to prepare a chicken dish. 

"It’s a very beautiful experience to see unfold—when they plant the seed and a few months later they get to harvest arugula or they get to harvest a cucumber," Bithell said.

One of the farm's goals is to offer access healthy food to the neighborhood surrounding the college.

"To pick a tomato and take a bite of out an heirloom organic tomato, there's nothing like that, it's invigorating," Bithell said.

The three-year-old farm is maintained by Paul Quinn students.

Not only do the students and the community reap the benefits, but the farm has big clients like Legends Hospitality Management that provides food for Cowboys stadium.  All the profits go back to the farm.

"We see this as an incredibly worthy model and our type on how we would like to see urban agriculture go in our city," Susan Pollard, a beekeeper at the farm said.

The next class will be held on August 24, the cost is 45 dollars. For more information, click here.

Woman Beaten While Taking Out Garbage

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Police in Schaumburg, Chicago, are searching for two men suspected of beating a 30-year-old woman while she was taking out her trash at an apartment complex Friday.

The woman was taking her garbage to a dumpster in an apartment complex in the 1100 block of North Knollwood Drive around 1:45 a.m. when she was confronted by two offenders who beat her, police said.

Police said she was attacked from behind, pushed to the ground, punched in the head and kicked in the ribs before she was knocked unconscious in the beating.

When she woke up, the attackers were gone, officials said.

The woman was treated at a local hospital for cuts and bruises and although she had torn clothing, police are not sure if the intent was sexual assault.

The suspects are described as mixed race or Hispanic men, between 25 and 28 years of age, police said.

The first suspect was described to be between 6-feet and 6-feet, 2-inches tall, with a medium build and was wearing blue plaid shorts and a white sleeveless T-shirt.

The second suspect was described to be between 6-feet, 3-inches and 6-feet, 6-inches tall with medium-to-heavy build and curly hair. He also had a tattoo on the right side of his neck and had a white pitbull dog with a dark spot on one eye, clipped ears and a tail. The dog may be named Dueces, according to a community alert issued by the Schaumburg Police Department.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call (847) 882-3534.



Photo Credit: Schaumburg Police

2 Shot Along Chicago Public Schools Safe Passage Route

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Two people were shot, one of them fatally, in an attack along one of the Chicago Public Schools safe passage routes Saturday, police said.

The shooting took place around 6:45 p.m. near 29th and State Streets when a gunman opened fire on two people along the street.

Police said a 54-year-old man and a 25-year-old man were critically injured in the shooting and taken to John H. Stroger Hospital.

The 25-year-old man suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the arm and a graze wound to the stomach and remained in the hospital Sunday morning.

Ralph McNeal, 54, was later pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.

"He was just a fun person," said McNeal's sister Meredetise Wilson. "That person took something away from us. When it hits home it's sad, it's just so sad."

The incident happened just one day after CPS officials released a map of the safe passage routes thousands of students will take when school starts in a couple weeks.

According to Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office, the routes were chosen through months of input from community members, teachers, principals, students, parents and police.

The city says 600 newly hired safety workers in yellow vests will be positioned along the routes around closing schools and welcoming schools at arrival and dismissal times.

Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said community policing officers have signed up nearly 1,800 volunteers to help be the eyes and ears along routes as well.

Chicago Police released a statement after the shooting that read in part:

"Ensuring the safety of our children is everyone's top priority. Kids have been walking through challenging areas for years and through the Safe Passage program, in partnership with the community, we will continue to help kids focus on their studies instead of their safety."

Safety remains a concern for parents who say they don't know who these Safe Passage workers will be or how they will protect thousands of students walking through dangerous neighborhoods to get to their new schools.

"Whoever said it's a safe passage evidently don't live in the area," said McNeal's niece Ronnissa Laster. "More countless accounts can happen to these kids too. Who's to say it's not going to happen two weeks from now when these kids go back to school?"

According to the mayor's office, Safe Passage work has been ongoing, including demolishing 14 buildings and cleaning up more than 200 vacant lots and thousands of graffiti markings, but all city departments will be involved including police and community volunteers.

Hundreds of new workers will begin their training next week to be ready for Aug 26 th the first day of school.

Some area residents say the shooting was an isolated incident and that the area is safe for children.

"It's safe," said Maria Pendleton whose lived near 29th and State Streets for 22 years. "It used to not be, but now they have remodeled it, they have security everywhere so children are pretty safe."
 

From Jersey to LA: Friends Spread Human Trafficking Awareness

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Two best buddies from Norristown, Pennsylvania, decided it was time to do something big in life.

Jay Atlas, 23, and childhood friend Shannon Sprowal, 21, mapped out a walking route from Atlantic City to Los Angeles to bring attention to the horrors of human trafficking. 

Atlas was inspired "to do something" after learning about the End It Movement while fellowshipping among 60,000 students at the Passion Conference in Atlanta, Ga., earlier this year.

"We thought it would just be an epic adventure. Canned beans and pitch a tent with a fire. But, hasn’t been that," said Atlas last week. 

The pair left Atlantic City on July 15 with just $21 in their pocket and 50 lbs. of gear on each of their backs. 

"It’s been really humbling to have left with so little and to be helped by complete strangers along the way. We are men of faith so we like to think God will provide," Atlas said.

The brothers, as they call themselves, are carrying perishable food, a tent, a red sharpie and an "End Human Trafficking" sign. They travel about 30 miles per day and plan to reach Los Angeles by the end of October.   

They've coined their coast to coast trip -- the Long Road to Freedom. They stay close to main roads but avoid roads without sidewalks. They are using Route 30 as their main pathway.

They use the red sharpie to put X's on the hands of people they meet who join them in spirit and their mission to end trafficking.  

For the past three weeks, they've had at least one meal a day and have found somewhere to sleep.

"I’m loving it and embracing the hobo life. I’ve met more nice people than I thought that existed," said Sprowal. "We are not hopping freight trains, at least not yet."

Rosemarie Whiteley, Atlas' mother, drove them to Atlantic City mid-July and fed them at a boardwalk diner before saying goodbye. 

"They always talked about doing something big, something important," said Whiteley. "They felt this is something they could do. They have feet so they could walk. They didn’t have money, so they could walk."

Like any mom would, Whiteley has worried about their well-being and whether they've had enough water on the trip. She's suppressed her anxiety knowing they are doing something good and keeps up with their status updates on Facebook. 

"I'm scared to death. I'm concerned about them traveling safely throughout the country," said Whiteley. "I cried all the way home (after dropping them off)."

Atlas was surprised how friendly people have been. They did have one bad experience in Everett, Pa., which stemmed from a man harassing them and yelling racist slurs outside a gas station. The ordeal ended with a state police officer telling them they should keep moving along on their trip.

Whiteley shared that both boys are biracial and has concerns for them traveling across the U.S. following the Trayvon Martin case and George Zimmerman verdict. 

Ohio was a turning point.

"Out here in Ohio it’s been wonderful," said Atlas. "After crossing the mountains, everything else is flat. We go for so much longer. I’m not really tired any more, kind of getting used to it."

Once making it to Cleveland, the pair met the mother of Gina DeJesus, one of three woman held captive for a decade by Ariel Castro. Fate stepped in and Atlas was able to enter the courtroom for Castro's sentencing, witnessing history.

"It was amazing to see it all unfold. It reaffirmed my decision to do the walk and continue my efforts to end human trafficking and domestic violence," said Atlas.

As of Friday, they've traveled approximately 600 miles and made it to Woodburn, Indiana. 

Sprowal says he's proud to say he's slept in a dumpster. One night their tent collapsed and it was raining so the two crawled into a recycling bin for cover.

"I can do nothing for the rest of my life and I will always have a story for my grandkids," he said.

The adventures of Atlas and Sprowal have gained an audience of well-wishers. 

Joann Gail Moyer wrote on Facebook,  "I know being in a dumpster is probably not the greatest but you are really showing how far you are willing to go for a great cause! Keep your heads up!"

When Whiteley gets paid she sends the duo Moneygrams via Walmart to make sure they are fed. Good samaritans they've met and those following their journey online have aided them along the way. Just this week, Lynn Bedwell of Lansdown arranged for a Walmart in Defiance, Ohio to give them a meal and new shoes as they walked into town. 

"I'm really proud of both of them. I wish that more kids were encouraged to do the right thing. There really are good kids out there," said Whiteley.

The Long Road to Freedom Facebook page grew to more than 7,000 followers in its third week. Commenters posted to Atlas and Sprowal asking them to walk through their towns. 

Gina Anderegg Samm wrote:  "I live in Belleville IL. You can stop in for dinner, shower, laundry and a place to sleep. I am just outside of St. Louis MO. I'll email you my info."

Charles Jennings shared: "Each of you guys should wear a cape.... like a true superhero."

Atlas said people keep asking what they can do. All we need is prayer, he insisted. 

In addition, the two are directing supporters to donate to the End the Movement campaign. So far, $5,000 has been raised as a result of their efforts. 

When they arrive in St. Louis next week, they plan to pause and conduct a "27hr Stand For Freedom" demonstration, which calls for an hour on their feet for each million people still in bondage. More to come on their Facebook page.

How are they getting home? Sprowal said they planned to take a bus back but may just walk. 

"We may just continue this and not stop walking until we are tired," said Atlas.

 Also on NBC10.com:

Judge Recuses Self in '83 Hitchhiker Murder Hearing

NJ Judge to Hear Gay Marriage Case on DOMA Ruling

Retro Retailer Cites Pittsburgh as Reason for Growth

Disabled Veteran Kicked Off Boardwalk Because of Service Dog


Contact Sarah Glover at 610-668-5580, sarah.glover@nbcuni.com or follow @skyphoto on Twitter.



Photo Credit: imgur

Riders: "Hannah, DiMaggio Didn't Fit In"

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The four horseback riders who spotted missing San Diego teenager Hannah Anderson and the man accused of abducting her, James Lee DiMaggio, in Idaho backcountry, publicly shared their story of the crucial sighting on Sunday.

The horseback riders – two married couples who hail from Sweet, Idaho – included Mike Young, 62, and wife Mary Young, 61, as well as Mark John, 71, and wife Christa John, 68.

The four riders saw Hannah and DiMaggio on Wednesday in rugged Idaho backcountry near Cascade and Morehead Lake. They had a couple of brief interactions with the duo, but saw no immediate reason to be alarmed.

At the time, the Youngs and Johns were not aware of the widespread Amber Alert involving Hannah and DiMaggio.

However, on Sunday, all four riders said the pair seemed completely out of place in the Idaho backcountry – almost even “lost” in the rugged terrain.

TIMELINE: Search for Hannah Anderson

 “They were like a square peg in a round hole – they didn’t fit,” said Mark John, a former county sheriff and retired Army officer. “[DiMaggio] may have been an outdoorsman in California, but he was not an outdoorsman in Idaho – he didn’t fit.”

Mark said what immediately stuck out was that Hannah and DiMaggio did not seem to want to talk with the group. He said this seemed strange, because in the backcountry, people you run into are usually quite friendly and talkative.

“In the backcountry, you exchange pleasantries. These people did not want to talk,” he said.

“Usually when you encounter people in the backcountry, you have a good conversation about where they’ve been and where they’re going,” said Mike Young. “They didn’t want to talk.”

Mike was the first in the group to interact with Hannah and DiMaggio.

He said the teenager looked like she was “trying to turn her face away” from the group and had a frightened look on her face. In that moment, Mike said he just thought Hannah may have been afraid of the horses.

Mike said he only spoke with DiMaggio, but Hannah never spoke once during their brief interaction.

Still, Mike said a “red flag” went up, and he had a “gut feeling” that the pair didn’t belong in the wilderness.

For starters, DiMaggio told him that he and Hannah were on their way to a nearby lake. However, Mike said the pair was walking in the wrong direction.

Mike also said the pair didn’t seem appropriately dressed or well-equipped for the rough terrain.

He said Hannah was wearing pajama bottoms or sweatpants and tennis shoes, while DiMaggio was wearing a gray sweatshirt, tennis shoes and a backpack.

“I spend a lot of time in the backcountry, and you don’t often run into people wearing pajamas,” said Mike.

Mike said the pair had set up a two-man tent along a dry, dangerous ridge nearby, which also seemed a bit strange, as there was no water in the area. Mike said they looked like they had been camping for about a day or so – not very long.

He approached the pair as the group of riders was coming up a trail, and DiMaggio and Hannah wound up following the riders to a nearby lake.

When Mark approached the pair on horseback, he saw Hannah with her feet in the water and tried to make small talk with her. He said she ignored him and turned away.

As the teenager turned away, Mark said he heard her say, “Looks like we’re all in trouble now.”
Mark said the pair’s camping gear looked brand new, as if they had just bought it.

He said later that night, as the group of horseback riders discussed their interaction with Hannah and DiMaggio, they started getting a strange, suspicious feeling.

When Mark got home and turned on the news, he saw the Amber Alert and realized they had spotted Hannah and DiMaggio.

“I told my wife, ‘That was the girl we seen up there on the mountain.’” he recalled.

Mark called authorities and reported the sighting -- a critical tip that would eventually lead more than 200 federal, state and local law enforcement officials into the rural backcountry area to ultimately find Hannah and DiMaggio.

Meanwhile, Mary Young and Christa John also shared a few details about their encounters with Hannah and DiMaggio.

When Mary approached the couple on horseback on the trail, she said it appeared that DiMaggio had moved in closer to Hannah and may have had his arm around her waist. Mary said the girl appeared frightened.

When she saw the pair again at the lake, she attempted to ask Hannah why she had her feet in the water, but the teen turned her head and mostly ignored her.

“They did not want to walk with us,” said Mary. “They wanted to be left alone.”

Christa said the group got a “prickly” feeling after interacting with the pair, like something just wasn’t right.

She said the pair followed the riders into the lake quickly, and Hannah seemed sort of panicked.

She said it was simply their duty to alert authorities and report what they had seen and felt.

“For us to be there at the precise time to interact with them is one [chance] in a trillion. It was a once in a lifetime event,” said Christa. “If you had been there, you would’ve felt the same thing [about them].”

In the end, Mark said the group was thrilled and relieved to learn that Hannah was found safe by authorities in Idaho.

He said they had hoped all along that their tip to authorities would help and not hinder the search efforts.

“We were nervous at first, of what the outcomes might be,” he added. “It makes me feel really great that the girl was found safe.”

On Sunday, Valley County acting Public Information Officer Andrea Dearden said the Youngs and Johns played a truly crucial role in the safe recovery of Hannah.

“These are the four people who played the most critical role in the investigation, in bringing Hannah home safely,” said Dearden.

On Saturday, hundreds of searchers used helicopters, horses and all-terrain vehicles to scour roughly 300 miles of Idaho backcountry for any sign of Hannah and DiMaggio.

Ultimately, U.S. Marshals flying an airplane above the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness spotted the pair’s tent in the area. They called in an FBI SWAT and Hostage Rescue Team to move in on the campsite.

Shots were fired, and DiMaggio was killed. Agents were able to safely recover Hannah.

DiMaggio is suspected of killing Hannah's mother, 44-year-old Christina Anderson, and her 8-year-old brother Ethan Anderson, both of Lakeside. Their bodies were found on DiMaggio's property east of San Diego where a cabin and detached garage burned to the ground on Aug. 4.

On Sunday, Dearden said FBI agents were still at the campsite in Idaho backcountry gathering evidence and processing the scene. For safety and security reasons, Dearden offered no information about Hannah’s current whereabouts, but said she is safe.
 

Complete Coverage:

 



Photo Credit: AP

Idaho Horseback Riders Speak

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A group of horseback riders who spotted Hannah Anderson and James Lee DiMaggio in Idaho backcountry discuss the details of their crucial sighting of the pair.

Kidnap Suspect’s Father Had Violent Criminal Past

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James Lee DiMaggio, the man suspected of abducting Lakeside teenager Hannah Anderson after killing her mother and brother, appears to have a troubled family history.

According to San Diego Superior Court records, DiMaggio’s late father – James Everet DiMaggio – had a criminal record.

Court records show that two felony cases were filed on July 18, 1989, and on August 9, 1989, in San Diego’s East County. It is unclear it those particular cases are related.

Records show another felony case was filed against James Everet DiMaggio on February 14, 1990, in downtown San Diego.

TIMELINE: Search for Hannah Anderson

According to a February 1990 article published in “The Tribune,” James Everet DiMaggio was charged with attempted murder stemming from the beating of two people at an El Cajon motel on Christmas Day, 1989.

The archived article says 35-year-old James Everet DiMaggio disappeared shortly after victims Cynthia Marie Bryant, 32, and David Aaron DeBord were attacked with a baseball bat at the Ha’Penny Inn on Main Street.

James Everet DiMaggio wound up turning himself in to police nine days after the attack, the article states.

The article references DiMaggio’s preliminary hearing on the case, which took place in February 1990.

A visibly scarred Bryant testified at the hearing, saying she had arranged for James Everet DiMaggio – whom she knew as “Jimbo” – to buy crystal methamphetamine on Christmas Eve.

Bryant said she, DeBord and James Everet DiMaggio all injected crystal meth in the El Cajon motel room, staying up all night the article said.

Then, on Christmas morning, things turned.

The two men argued over her, Bryant testified.

While in the bathroom she said she heard a yelp and when she walked out, she saw DeBord lying face down on the floor in a puddle of blood, the article said.

Bryant testified that a “deranged” James Everet DiMaggio then attacked her with an aluminum baseball bat, saying “he had nothing to lose.”

Her arm was broken and she was struck in the head with a bat. Bryant said she fell to the floor, and then James Everet DiMaggio allegedly placed tape over her mouth and tied her up with extension cords.

Bryant lost consciousness, and when she awoke she left the room and called police the article stated.

At the time of publication, the February 1990 article stated that James Everet DiMaggio was in jail, serving a two-year sentence stemming from an unrelated case.

That particular case included breaking into an ex-girlfriend’s home and holding the woman and her daughter at gunpoint after a dispute over a new car. He pleaded guilty to burglary in that case, the article said.

In the newspaper clip, James Everet DiMaggio is described as a former car salesman who worked at a car dealership in El Cajon. He was described as a divorced father of two.

James Everet DiMaggio wound up committing suicide more than a decade ago on Aug. 10, a family friend confirmed.

Meanwhile, his son -- kidnap and murder suspect James Lee DiMaggio of Boulevard -- was killed in the Idaho backcountry near Morehead Lake on August 10, 2013.

James DiMaggio is suspected of killing Lakeside resident Christina Anderson, 44, and her son, Ethan Anderson, 8. Their charred bodies were found on DiMaggio's property east of San Diego where a log-style cabin and detached garage burned to the ground on Aug. 4.

After the fire, DiMaggio fled San Diego with Hannah Anderson, 16, Christina's daughter and Ethan's sister. Authorities believed he may have abducted the girl, and officials issued an Amber Alert that spanned across six states.

Ultimately, the pair was spotted in Idaho backcountry near Morehead Lake by a group of horseback riders, who then tipped off law enforcement officers.

On Saturday, officials honed in on Hannah and DiMaggio and found them at a campsite in rugged terrain. Hannah was recovered by officials, while DiMaggio was killed at the scene.



Photo Credit: Ada County Sheriff's Office
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