Letters From Rescued Teen Found in Kidnapper's Home

Phone calls also exchanged between Hannah Anderson, James DiMaggio
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 16, 2013 7:28 AM CDT
Letters From Rescued Teen Found in Kidnapper's Home
In this June 2011 photo provided by Andrea Saincome, Hannah Anderson, center, reclining, and James Lee DiMaggio, right, pose for a picture with other members of the Anderson and Saincome families.   (AP Photo/Courtesy of Andrea Saincome, File)

Among the items recovered from James DiMaggio's burned home: Letters from Hannah Anderson, the 16-year-old he kidnapped after allegedly killing her mother and brother; a handwritten note; a handcuff box; a gas can; duct tape; two used condoms; incendiary devices and ammunition; camping equipment; a map of Yosemite; and a DNA swab kit. No word on the contents of the letters and note, CBS 8 reports. Search warrants also revealed 13 phone calls between Anderson and DiMaggio before both their phones were turned off around 4pm on Aug. 4, ABC News reports. Anderson was picked up by an unknown person at cheerleading practice that day, and DiMaggio's burning home was discovered hours later. Police say the phone calls may have had to do with pickup times, the AP reports; they are adamant Anderson was taken against her will.

During the course of the investigation, a friend told authorities Anderson and DiMaggio had taken trips together to Malibu, Hollywood, and other places. He also drove her to gymnastics meets and drove her brother to football practice. (She has said she was uncomfortable around DiMaggio, but didn't want to "ruin" her dad's friendship with him.) Last night, Anderson made a surprise appearance at a fundraiser to raise money for her mother's and brother's funerals, her first public appearance since she was rescued. She did not make a statement, but her father told reporters, "Hannah sends her love. She's doing good day by day. And we'll just keep moving forward from here." Anderson's grandparents released a statement asking for prayers for Hannah, who is "putting on a happy face ... the pain from this tragedy is so overwhelming Hannah can't yet face it." (Click for more on what Hannah had to say about her ordeal.)

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