Family Thinks Kidnapped Girl May Be Kidnapper's Biological Daughter

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Maggie Lange

08/21/13 08:27AM

Filed to: Kidnapping

The family of James DiMaggio, the man accused of kidnapping teenager Hannah Anderson and killing her mother and brother, is requesting DNA samples from Anderson's family. They say that they want to check if DiMaggio is the biological father of Hannah and the eight-year-old Ethan.

"We are going to be requesting from the Anderson family that we try to get DNA samples from Hannah. And if they have anything left from Ethan, that we get a DNA sample," family spokesman for the DiMaggio's, Andrew Spanswick, told CNN affiliate KGTV. "There has been a lot of rumors that Jim might be the father of either or both children."

Hannah Anderson was recovered after a week-long manhunt on August 10 from DiMaggio's home in Idaho, where he was killed by the police. Hannah's mother and her 8-year-old brother were found burned in DiMaggio's home in California.

The 40-year-old DiMaggio had left a life insurance policy to Hannah and Ethan's grandmother, Bernice Anderson, for an amount estimated at over $100,000. "We find it very strange that he has left all this money without any explanation," Spanswick told KGTV, "It states specifically that he didn't want to give it to either parent cause he didn't trust them."

Update: A representative for the Andersons just talked CNN to dispute the DiMaggio family's theory: "Brett and Tina Anderson did not meet Mr. DiMaggio until the sixth month of Tina's pregnancy with Hannah. Brett Anderson's DNA was used to identify the body of his dead son Ethan Anderson."

[image of Hannah Anderson's father Brett, via AP]

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4

cheerful_exgirlfriend Maggie Lange 08/21/13 08:40AM

Can a lawyer type please step in and explain, not about that awful quote about poor Ethan, no one can explain that, but is the request for the paternity test really more about establishing claims on the estate and perhaps gearing up to a fight over what's left of DiMaggio's burned out possessions?

2

rmric0.wedding.photographer cheerful_exgirlfriend 08/21/13 08:56AM

Maybe in those shriveled and dried out grapes they call brains? I would imagine that it would have more to do with trying to explain away DiMaggio's actions and absolving themselves of any guilt they might feel. After all, if she's really his kid then it must totally excuse everything that he did.

1

cheerful_exgirlfriend rmric0.wedding.photographer 08/21/13 08:59AM

But that's why I want a legal type to weigh in, because tho I think you are very right that DiMaggio's family wants every and any "reason" to distance themselves from this and "explain" the actions (wouldn't you?), I am guessing the paternity test and public declaration is some legal wrangling to establish rights over DiMaggio's assets.

5

Illiniwek cheerful_exgirlfriend 08/21/13 09:06AM

I am an estate lawyer (although not in California) and I am having trouble seeing why it would matter.

As to the life insurance policy - it is said that the only two beneficiaries on the policy are Hannah and Ethan's grandmother. Assuming they are both still alive, no one other than those two people can make a claim on those funds. It doesn't matter at all if Hannah or Ethan were his biological children, step-children, adopted children, or strangers.

As to any other assets that DiMaggio may have had - proving that Hannah and/or Ethan are DiMaggio's children would only give Hannah and/or Ethan's estate claims that they otherwise would not have had to DiMaggio's estate (thus reducing potential inheritance to the other heirs of DiMaggio).

6

Temperance cheerful_exgirlfriend 08/21/13 09:08AM

I'm a law school grad waiting for bar results - not technically a lawyer yet.

Someone else did a good job explaining the estate implications. I've done criminal work, and honestly, I think they're trying to establish a motive by blaming the deceased mother for his actions.

2

Magister Maggie Lange 08/21/13 08:49AM

Why else would they have recovered a DNA test kit from the fellow's house? Sure, he obviously went about it the wrong way and maybe he had a deluded fantasy, but an over-the-counter DNA swab kits aren't the type of thing most people keep around.

ann_aflixion Magister 08/21/13 10:26AM

Yeah, but they found used condoms at his house too. Right now I think we're putting two and two together and coming up with squid.

2

kookla Magister 08/21/13 12:01PM

I was curious about the DNA test recovered too. I'm thinking DiMaggio thought the little boy was his until they took the DNA test and that's when he decided to kill the mom and poor little Ethan. What a shit show this is and it sounds like DiMaggio's family is as disgusting as he is.

Magister ann_aflixion 08/21/13 01:07PM

He could have used the condoms with anyone.

After all, if the alternative theory is true, why would he have used them with her?

1

ann_aflixion Magister 08/21/13 01:54PM

I'm just saying the evidence so far is contradictory and weird and it's too soon to tell what really happened. He couldn't be the father because he hadn't even met the family when the mother was pregnant, so him thinking he was sounds improbable to me.

48

swedes Maggie Lange 08/21/13 08:34AM

"And if they have anything left from Ethan,"

What an awful thing to say. Who are these people? Why would it even matter at this point? If it is so important for some reason I'm missing couldn't it have been handled privately? They needed to have a news conference? What is wrong with this world?

6

Rod Strickland Propane swedes 08/21/13 08:35AM

If they're anything like their family member, I wouldn't exactly call them a rationale bunch.

11

Jennifart swedes 08/21/13 08:47AM

That comment was so thoughtless and sick. They need to let that poor child rest in peace.

2

Aunt Pee Jennifart 08/21/13 08:50AM

DiMaggio's family is pissed that he left so much money to Hannah in his will. I'll bet that's what's triggering all this horseshit.

2

thebullfrog swedes 08/21/13 09:25AM

I thought the same thing.

Is it possible he meant the child's personal items (hair brush, toothbrush) with DNA on them that are still around — and just spoke poorly?

I'll just go ahead and believe that version.

1

Rod Strickland Propane Maggie Lange 08/21/13 08:37AM

Check out the website of the family spokesperson

http://www.andrewspanswick.com/

10

GirlHowdy Rod Strickland Propane 08/21/13 08:42AM

I like how this guy is described as "a friend and former buddy of" DiMaggio. They weren't buddies anymore, but they were still friends?

2

Rod Strickland Propane GirlHowdy 08/21/13 08:43AM

Frienemies I suppose

2

swedes Rod Strickland Propane 08/21/13 08:44AM

It was "the pot".

“There’s always a possibility that somebody could have a break. I heard some rumors on the media that he had been smoking marijuana recently,” noted the “Piers Morgan Live” guest. “There’s always the possibility with the potency of marijuana these days, that people could have drug-induced psychosis that might relate to some of this behavior.”

What a nutbag.

ETA He's a Mental Health expert? Well then so am I.

1

Missy Pants Rod Strickland Propane 08/21/13 08:44AM

Ok, I need to know what happened to his cat now...