Kidnapping victim Hannah Anderson speaks out through social media
Aug 14, 2013, 10:24 AM | Updated: 1:01 pm
Hannah Anderson, the 16-year-old kidnapped by family friend James Lee DiMaggio, returned home this week and broke her silence through social media.
DiMaggio is suspected of killing Anderson’s mother, Christina Anderson and her 8-year-old brother, Ethan Anderson, and leaving their bodies in his burning home near San Diego. Hannah’s disappearance triggered a massive search along the West Coast that ended with a shootout in the Idaho wilderness.
Just 48 hours after her rescue, Anderson went on ask.fm to answer a list of questions posted by random users. People were concerned it wasn’t really her until she posted “selfies” and her newly painted nails to prove it was really her answering questions.
“I am somebody who is always really skeptical about things like this. I think everything online is a hoax. I’m giving it a 75 percent,” says KIRO Radio host Andrew Walsh.
But Anderson’s account has been active long before her kidnapping.
Ask.fm users asked how she seemed so normal after getting kidnapped and finding out her mom and brother were murdered. She says she was just trying to stay strong and get the truth out.
“Do you really think I’d be okay with being kidnapped and hurt and finding out my dog, little brother, and mom were killed? You’re crazy,” says Hannah.
Anderson was unaware until after her rescue that her mother and brother were killed when DiMaggio tied them up in his house and set it on fire. She says she wishes she tried harder to save them and feels regretful.
Anderson confesses she is glad DiMaggio is dead and says he got what he deserved.
“I think she should be in counseling and not doing this. She should be getting therapy and she should not be exposing herself to the public like this,” says KIRO co-host Mark Rahner.
Along with answering questions regarding her kidnapping, Anderson also admits she has a crush on Zac Efron, her favorite TV show is “Girl Code” on MTV and she wants to be a firefighter when she grows up. She is trying to go back to a normal life because she says that’s what her mom would want.
Anderson’s ask.fm account was disabled on Wednesday.
MyNorthwest.com intern Hannah Kadletz and the Associated Press contributed to this report.