UPDATE Aug. 10, 10:13 A.M.: The search continues today in rugged backcountry for missing California teen Hannah Anderson and murder and arson suspect James Lee DiMaggio.
At a briefing this morning in Cascade, Andrea Dearden, speaking on behalf of the Valley County Sheriff's office, said there are now 150 agents searching near Morehead Lake in Idaho's Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area. She says support is coming from around the U.S. and by tonight there will be about 200 highly trained people on the scene.
Agents are searching a 300 square mile section of the roadless wilderness area on horseback, by foot and with air support. Given the terrain, Dearden says “traditional search and rescue 'walking the grid pattern' isn’t going to work here." Dearden wouldn't speak to tactical specifics, whether infrared detection was used overnight.
Crews from San Diego arrived overnight who are trained to handle these investigations. Detectives from San Diego began processing DiMaggio's Nissan Versa for evidence. An explosives team from the Boise Police Department went through the car. They didn't find any explosives.
A horseback rider from Idaho reported seeing a middle-aged man and teenage girl Wednesday night near Morehead Lake. That, along with confirmation that the car parked at the Morehead Lake trailhead was indeed that of DiMaggio, triggered the search.
There have been no additional sightings since Wednesday. Anyone with any information is asked to call the tip line at 208-846-7676.
UPDATE 4:55 P.M.: An Idaho man on horseback reported seeing a middle-aged man and teenage girl Wednesday night near Morehead Lake in Idaho's Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area.
That tip, along with confirmation that murder and arson suspect James Lee DiMaggio's car was found parked near Morehead Lake's trailhead, started a multi-agency search for DiMaggio and 16-year-old Hannah Anderson. Still, public information officer Andrea Dearden says law enforcement cannot confirm the pair spotted on Wednesday was DiMaggio and Anderson.
State, local and federal agencies, including the Idaho Air National Guard, are scouring the backcountry region on horseback, recreational vehicles, and by helicopter. The area isn't closed to recreators, but check-points and a heavy law enforcement presence can be expected.
Authorities confirmed DiMaggio's Nissan Versa is parked near a trailhead. It hasn't yet been searched.
If you have any information please call this tip line: 208-846-7676.
ORIGINAL POST: Authorities say a car belonging to the suspect in the disappearance of a teenage girl in California has been found in Idaho after horseback riders reported seeing the man and girl hiking in the wilderness.
San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore said the riders reported seeing the two in the Cascade area 70 miles northeast of Boise on Wednesday but didn't know they were being sought until seeing news reports.
Gore said the 16-year-old girl, Hannah Anderson, did not appear as if she was being held against her will.
Authorities throughout the West have been looking for the teen and family friend James Lee DiMaggio, since the bodies of the girl's mother and an unidentified child were found Sunday at DiMaggio's burned home east of San Diego.
DiMaggio had bought camping gear a few weeks ago and investigators said they believe his flight was planned.