A West Coast manhunt continued Thursday for a California man suspected of having murdered a woman and her 8-year-old son and kidnapped the slain woman’s 16-year-old daughter. James DiMaggio, 40, could be fleeing north toward the Canadian border with Hannah Anderson, the girl whose mother and brother were believed to have been killed by her captor, a family friend she called “Uncle Jim.” DiMaggio was apparently obsessed with the blond teenager, and recently told Hannah that he would date her if they were the same age.

The body of Hannah’s mother, 44-year-old Christina Anderson, was found Sunday amid the burned remains of DiMaggio’s home in Boulevard, Calif., about 45 miles from the Anderson family’s home in Lakeside, Calif. A child’s body was also found after the fire, but authorities have not yet determined if it was Hannah’s 8-year-old brother Ethan.

“I know Hannah did say she was a little creeped out when Jim did tell her he had a crush on her,” family friend Angelina Amati told San Diego ABC affiliate KGTV. After DiMaggio expressed his interest in the girl, Hannah “said she wouldn’t go up there [to his house] anymore because it was just too awkward between them.”

One of Hannah’s friends, Marissa Chavez, 15, said DiMaggio told Hannah about his feelings for her while driving the girls home from a gymnastics meet: ”She was a little creeped out by it. She didn’t want to be alone with him.”

San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Glenn Giannantonio said the girl is “in grave danger.” DiMaggio is believed to be driving a blue Blue Nissan Versa with California license plate 6WCU986. While authorities had previously said that DiMaggio might be heading to Texas, where he formerly lived, there were two possible sightings Thursday that suggested he may have headed north toward Oregon.

At a press conference, Hannah’s father Brett Anderson appealed directly to DiMaggio: “I’m begging you to let my daughter go. You’ve taken everything else.  Hannah, we all love you very much. If you have a chance, you take it. You run. You’ll be found.”

READ MORE:

• Doyle Murphy, New York Daily News: Missing Calif. teen Hannah Anderson ‘creeped out’ by kidnapping suspect’s crush, her friend says
• Eliot Spagat, Associated Press: Close friend became suspect in Amber Alert abduction
• Alyssa Newcomb, ABC News: Amber Alert For Missing Teen Expands After Possible Sighting
• Steve Fiorina, KGTV: Friends: Amber alert suspect James DiMaggio had crush on missing teen
• Stephanie Slifer, CBS News: James DiMaggio Manhunt: Suspected Calif. abductor had crush on girl, friend says
• Kristy Wolski, KSWB-TV: Vigil held for missing teen Hannah Anderson