James DiMaggio's friend was worried the kidnapping suspect would kill himself on Saturday.
The suspect in the arson murder of a mother and son, as well as the kidnapping of 16-year-old Hannah Anderson, was instead killed by FBI agents who rescued the girl on Saturday in the Idaho wilderness.
DiMaggio's death was exactly 18 years after his father -- described as a heavy methamphetamine user -- committed suicide. DiMaggio's friend, Andrew Spanswick, told HuffPost Crime he was worried the suspect would take his own life on the anniversary of his father's death.
Spanswick saw red flags when he realized that the day DiMaggio allegedly burned his San Diego home down -- with 8-year-old Ethan and 44-year-old Christina Anderson inside -- was the anniversary of the day the man's father went missing in the 1990s.
A few days later, DiMaggio's father was found dead.
Just hours before DiMaggio's body was found, Spanwick was hoping his old friend would be brought to justice, where he could receive the help he needed.
"Hopefully he's not repeating mistakes and the trauma his parents brought on," Spanswick said early Saturday morning before the rescue operation. "I hope he doesn't kill himself today."
In a bizarre twist of fate, an FBI helicopter spotted DiMaggio's campsite in the Cascade region of Idaho, not far from where tipsters saw him and Hannah Anderson hiking a few days prior. It wasn't immediately clear if DiMaggio fired on responding officers, but police officials confirmed he was shot dead. Anderson was unharmed and was taken to a hospital where she'll undergo crisis counseling.
The case is still under investigation.
On Friday, police found DiMaggio's car while investigating a tip that two horseback riders had spotted the pair on a trail several days ago. DiMaggio and Anderson were said to be in good condition, carrying the camping gear necessary for Idaho's remote wilderness.
DiMaggio was said to be a good friend to the Anderson family. Police have said he had an "unusual infatuation" with the teen, but her own father said he never saw strange behavior. The details of what happened during Anderson's several days in apparent captivity are unclear.
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
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