violence, abuse and ultimately suicide. dimaggio s father killed himself on august 10th, 1995. dark secrets dimaggio hid from those around him, even the anderson family. never heard a thing about any of that. we had been all shocked about this news, all of it. it s just horrible. i feel sorry that he didn t get help. i wish that he had and maybe this wouldn t have happened. reporter: maybe the andersons wouldn t have allowed him to get so close, but they did. especially earlier this year when brett and christina separated. brett moved to tennessee. christina stayed alone in california with hannah and ethan. david braun is christina anderson s uncle. i think that s where this fellow maybe moved in on tina a little bit. reporter: braun says some family members were slightly
reporter: what began with fire became murder and manhunt. the level of intensity in this investigation is incredible. reporter: a best friend turned worst enemy. this gentleman was a friend of ours for a long time has taken everything. reporter: hundreds in desperate pursuit of one teen in grave danger. the amber alert was on. i see a picture of this blonde-haired girl. i said that s the girl we ve seen up on the mountain. reporter: kidnapped, the rescue of hanna anderson. it was going to be a normal summer weekend, pop warner football for ethan. cheering practice for hannah. a road trip for the dog and mom christina to jim s house.
suspicious of why this divorced man spent so much time with the andersons, especially the kids. my brothers wondered about this guy because, maybe not before, about you they kind of out of place with the family, but they didn t it s not their business, you know? reporter: no one wanted to rock the boat. christina needed help with the kids. she trusted dimaggio like a brother. she was very careful, very protective mother. she never would have let those kids be alone with him or anything if there were any sign, truly. reporter: there was a sign though, but hannah kept is secret from everyone except her best friend marissa chavez. he just said he had a crush on her. then he said, don t think i m weird or creepy uncle jim. i just want you to know if you were my age, i d date you. she never mentioned anything like that to any of the family. i know she wouldn t have wanted to hurt anyone, make anyone else
he had been asking the andersons to visit for some time. they were getting together for some type of family gathering. reporter: bill gore is san diego county sheriff. he led people to believe he was going to be losing his house and this would be a farewell party at his house. reporter: for hannah and ethan, the cabin had always been lots of fun. brett anderson is their father and christina s husband. the kids and myself in san diego would go up there and stay the night and we would ride a go cart or do whatever, you know? be like camping out because of his cabin. reporter: the man they called uncle jim, one of brett s best friends had known the kids since they were born. jim was a very good friend of the family. reporter: jennifer willis and christina grew up like sisters. jen and tysona part of a big and boisterous extended family. he spent time with us and we loved him. he was fun. he was a great guy. tina was a good friend to him.