Mom, Son Mourned: “We Will Miss Them Forever”

The Lakeside, Calif. mother and son were killed Aug. 4 by accused abductor and longtime family friend James Lee DiMaggio

Mourners on Saturday remembered a mother and her 8-year-old son whose lives were cut short when they were killed by a kidnapping and murder suspect who was a family friend.

“We will miss them forever,” said David Braun, the brother and uncle, respectively, of Christina and Ethan Anderson at a public service Saturday at the Guardian Angels Roman Catholic Church in Santee. “We will always remember them and ask what could have been…”

The pair was found at the home of James Lee DiMaggio, who set it ablaze earlier this month and then took off with Hannah Anderson.

DiMaggio was killed by FBI agents Aug. 10 in the Idaho wilderness, ending a 6-day search that spanned much of the western United States and parts of Canada and Mexico.

Authorities have declined to discuss a possible motive in the deaths and haven't addressed other details of the case, including how Hannah was treated by DiMaggio during the ordeal.

The Rev. Kevin Casey told the memorial gathering that their deaths were "an abomination."

"For the death of Tina and Ethan there are no easy words," he said. "We are touched by this evil and we can never be the same again.

"We struggle with deaths like this because they are not right. They are an abomination," Casey said.

Investigators have said DiMaggio set fire to his home using a timer, giving him a 20-hour jump on law enforcement.

DiMaggio's family has requested paternity tests to determine if the suspect fathered the children.

Hannah's father, Brett Anderson, gave his DNA to investigators to confirm Ethan's identity.

DiMaggio named Hannah's grandmother, Bernice Anderson, as the sole beneficiary of his employer-issued life insurance policy, making her eligible to receive $112,000.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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