Aunt of recovered kidnapping victim says this is 'a joyful time for family'

Tina Dugard, the aunt of recovered kidnap victim Jaycee Lee Dugard, said at a news conference today that “this is a joyful time for my family” now that the family has been reunited after 18 years.

Dugard said Jaycee, who was kidnapped when she was 11 in 1991, remembered all of her family and that she and her two daughters, ages 15 and 11, are spending time with their mother, Terry Probyn, in a secluded location. She said that Jaycee had done “a truly amazing job” of educating her daughters with limited resources.

Phillip Garrido, 58, and his wife, Nancy, 55, were arrested last week and charged in the rape and kidnapping of Jaycee, now 29. Jaycee was abducted as she walked to a bus stop on June 10, 1991, in her South Lake Tahoe neighborhood.

Jaycee bore Garrido two daughters while being held for 18 years in a warren of sheds and tents in his Antioch backyard.

Tina Dugard thanked law enforcement officers for their work since Garrido’s arrest. She also warned that there were some unauthorized organizations soliciting money on the family’s behalf.

She said the family would have no further comment at this time.

In an interview with the Orange County Register, Tina Dugard spoke of Jaycee and her children. "It's clear they've been on the Internet and know a lot of things," Dugard said. "It's clear that Jaycee did a great job with the limited resources she had and her limited education."

-- Carlos Lozano    

Comments

[theword]

In line with the California justice and parole system, I think it can be safely said that Mr. Garrido will be free in 2 years. Welcome to America!!!

[Slappy]

Wow, only in California.

[Aimee]

This happens everywhere Slappy not just California, there are thousands of missing children throughout the US. Jaycee was one of the lucky ones to be found, there will be tough times ahead for her and her daughters but now they are with her true family and hopefully they can see her through any tough times that might lie ahead.

[Benjumathi]

He was in a Nevada prison and paroled from Nevada.

[aaron]

Garrido is a prime example why California needs a new approach to the death penalty.

A fast track six month dealth penalty process, coupled with a one month and only one month appeal, on the eight month if found guilty there should be an execution!

[Baffled Observer]

I'm confused...they had an Internet connection in the backyard? Half the stuff I've read about this case doesn't add up with the other half. I guess the truth will come out in court, unless both Garrido and his wife are too crazy to stand trial.

[Robert Ceman]

Your reporters, in their search for answers to this creep,
keep reporting on his drug use. There are millions of people
that do drugs and do not abduct young girls and make them their slaves. You do these people a disservice. If you really want to get to the bottom of this souless individual
talk to his parents. They are the ones that are ultimately
responsible for this creep.