Jaycee Dugard breaks silence, saying she's beginning recovery [Updated]

In her first interview, Jaycee Dugard said she's grateful she is out of captivity and that she's glad to be reunited with her family.

"I am so happy to be back with my family, nothing is more important than the unconditional love and support I have from them," she told People magazine, which published the first photos of Dugard since she was rescued.

Phillip Garrido is charged with kidnapping Dugard outside her South Lake Tahoe home in 1991, when she was 11.

She resurfaced this summer along with two daughters allegedly fathered by Garrido.

Until now, Dugard has remained in seclusion, reconnecting with family.

"She has such a deep appreciation for this new life that she's embarking on," Dugard family spokesman Erika Price Schulte told ABC News this morning.

People reports that Dugard "rides horses, cooks meals and is thinking of collaborating on a book."

[Updated at 7:12 a.m.: The magazine cover quotes Dugard as saying "I am so happy to be back."

But it's unclear exactly how much Dugard herself participated in the article. According to NBC News, the story was based largely on interviews with people close to Dugard -- and not Dugard herself.

According to NBC, Dugard is living in Northern California.

"The 10-page article is accompanied by many pictures of Dugard and her mother. Dugard’s daughters are shown only from the back." the network reported. Asked by NBC whether People paid for the photos, managing editor Larry Hackett said: “We have bought photographs in the past. I don’t want to go into the details."]

-- Shelby Grad

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Comments

[Laer Carroll]

Of course they bought the photos. As is only right and proper, after all she's gone through.

[roy rogers]

she looks better now. that's great for her.

[Schigolch]

This is a professionally arranged "feed" as part of a book promotion. There will be others in the weeks ahead. They keep the children out of it so that they won't be accused of exploitation.

[cally]

She is still beautiful young women who I hope can put the nightmare of Garridos behind her. BTW, Who cares if People paid for the photos---- better Jaycee Dugard than the despicable Casey Anthony. I am sure Jaycee can use the money for therapy and to feed her kids among other things.

[Bill T]

As long as Jaycee gets a paycheck and a cut of the sales to build up a nest egg for herself and her family, People's can fudge the facts all they want. They're only a half step away from tabloid anyway. No one expects them to be sworn Gospel truth.

[Ralph L. Seifer]

I have been overcome with curiosity since this story first erupted, and I have not seen a single comment from the prosecution on this case: Is Jaycee Dugard available-- in the Evidence Code sense of the word--to testify against Phillip Garrido?? As of this time, I firmly believe that she will not testify against him at trial. Ralph L. Seifer, Long Beach

[Miracleshappen]

I could not help shedding some tears when i first saw her picture...my God! i can't even imagine what she must of gone through all these years!..i guess i got emotional, cause i'm a mother of a eleven year old girl, the same age Jaycee was when she was kidnapped..what Jaycee's mother must of gone through...heart breaking...my heart and prayers go out to her and her family..i would rather see Jaycee on the cover of any magazine any given day, than all those artificial, good for nothing, wanna be starlets that we see in magazine covers everywhere...there's more to life than accomplishig to be a size zero...Jaycee you are beautiful and God bless you!!

[Marcus]

The real story behind this saga is this: Why don't we as a society take seriously the sort of crimes perpetuated by Garridos? People like him should either be locked up for life, or the death penalty, for the FIRST offense. It shouldn't have to take one, two or more convictions AND an escalation to worse crimes before serious charges are brought.

There should be zero tolerance. Zero. One strike, you're gone.

How many more Jaycee's are out there?

[David_U]

I can not even imagine what it is like to have lost a child for 18 years then find them a grown adult with children fathered by a perverted sex offender.

And what kind of memories she has and how she relives them, how do you reconcile that life with the one you missed. She must have had a strong character to have managed to teach the daughters to read, and she did have knowledge of the rest of the world.

I think she will have a intensive time with interviews and others curious about her. She will be asked questions that most of us would never have to answer, and will she be able to keep her composure. There is an ex federal attorney representing her he probably will act as her business manager for now. her story is worth millions to the magazine. I'll bet you will not be able to buy a copy off the shelf Friday.

[John L. Mendez]

As a Christian, I will not judge Jaycee Dugard, or her family, if they are being paid for the photos, or not. More importantly, I will not judge the posts relating to this article that are cynical in nature. All I will do is sincerely pray for the much needed God-given salvation, of everyone who posts an ill-advised and unfortunately inappropriate cynical comment on Ms. Dugard's experience.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

[Fred]

I hope this woman can make as rapid recovery as possible and a chunk of change to support her recovery.

Now, lets turn to the perpetrator. I am generally not for the death penalty except in extreme cases - this is one of them. We should put this animal out of his misery.

[hdimig]

Who cares if she got paid for the pictures? Maybe we as a society owe her something for allowing that tragedy to happen. People are curious about her. Imagine the terror that man put her through. Imagine everything she missed out on. Hopefully she can be left reasonably alone with her family to achieve some type of normalcy. I am not real religious, but God Bless You Jaycee Dugard.

[Jim Cuthbertson]

Why does John L Mendez feel it's necessary to announce his "Christian" beliefs, as if that puts him on higher moral ground? ... what a lost soul.

[Uh, Yeah Right]

I am so happy for Jaycee and her family to be reunited. That said, I'd like to offer a prayer to the universal God that people who couch their judgment of others in sanctimonious, holier-than-thou mumbo-jumbo -- regardless of their otherwise good intentions -- begin to recognize their hypocrisy.

[fred]

YAY JAYCEE!!!!!!!
I hope she makes MILLIONS out of this!!!!!

[D King]

I dont see a problem if she was paid. Good for her. I'm not sure why the LA Times thinks they should get it for free and then profit off of her tragedy.

She looks beautiful - I wish her a happy and healthy life, along with her family and loved ones.

[Karl]

Have the daughter been able to see their dad? Amazing how they do not mention the great job that the dad did in raising his daughters. No Columbine mobbing, no stabbing in the Neck like what happened at UCLA, no getting shot to death in the class room like at Virginia Tech, not getting burned to death like what happened to the children at Waco, Texas under Bill and Janet's watch, and finally not getting kidnapped from your parents and who know what happened at the camps they had for the children in Texas who were taken forcibly from their parents based on lies. Like the lies about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, like the lies about Waco, Texas (the FBI has finally come clean and told of the many lies told by various officers in the field, the Waco Coverup), and finally the lies which were used to take the children from their parents in Texas. And finally what about Kobe's rape case, Ricky Pitano's rape case, Ben R. rape case, and David Letterman's having sex with coworkers and subordinates. Why are these now on the news. Much bigger issue when the authorities kidnap children in Texas and burn them up in Waco and then bulldoz the site, and do not allow UN inspectors, like in Boznia and Serba. Waco was as bad as what happened in Boznia and Serbia. So why not UN investigation. Same in Tianamen Square and Tibet. Why no UN inspectors in Waco, Texas and in Tibet. A war crime and crimes against mankind and children need to be investigated. If Roman Polanski should answer, then so should Bill and Janet for Waco, Kobe for his rape in Colorado, Ben R. for his rape, Ricky P. for his and finally David Letterman for having sex with subordinates and his rude comment about a Yankee having sex with someone 14 year old daughter at a NY Yankee game. These stories should also be reported and the people responsible should minimally make apologies on live TV and be willing to answer questions from their victims. Marion Jones and Michael Vick had their days in court. When will Kobe B., Ben R., Ricky P., and David L. Roman Polanski came clean and they threw the book at him. The other guys lied and natta. Treat them like Marion Jones and Michael Vick when they lied. Prosecute them for their lies and going after their victims a second time.
And Jacyee Dugard was NOT rescued. She was brought in freely by her so-called captors. Also she met with the customers. The Press is again propagating Lies, like the Lies about Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq, the lies about what really happened in Waco, and the Lies about the Children in Texas being abused. ONE HONEST JUDGE in Texas, and the children went free. Time to expose the LIES and go after the PRESS which propagated the lies. Propaganda. Responsible for the murder of women and children in Iraq, Afghanistan and even in Waco, Texas, all based on LIES. When will we learn? How many innocent women and children must die before we learn to VERIFY THE FACTS and Expose the lies.

[Wendy]

Jaycee has grown into a beautiful woman and I wish her the best.

There was more than one crime committed here. One by Garrido and his wife and the other by our society which had grown so comfortable in it's complacency that this was allowed to go on for 18 years despite multiple reports of unusual activity at Garrido's residence. We failed her and I can only hope this will teach us to get off our butts so that we do not keep failing others like her.

[Karl]

When will we stop sending rapists to represent us in the Olympics and allow them to be the QB in the Super Bowl. Violence against women and children must stop. The mother had two wonderful children with he so-called captors. The so called captor was in prison during which time she was being held by him. In addition, she met with the customers, both in person and on the phone. Sounds like another bunch of lies and propaganda by the so-called authorities. But then they kidnapped children from their parents in Texas based on lies. And worse yet, under Bill and Janet's watch, they even burned the women and children alive in Waco, and then blamed it on the dads. Ya right. What dad's would burn their own children alive? Well check out the Detroit Free Press today. A Mum is being accused of starting a fire and leaving her young son and daughter in the trailer, while she ran out with her baby. A tough choice for any Mum, and now they are accusing her of starting the fire and burning her children, like they accused the dead Dads in Waco. Ya right. Worse then lies about Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq, which justified the so-called bombing of day care centers at government building in Iraq. When we will stop the murder of innocent women and children? There are better ways to control the population then killing innocent women and children and funding Abortion. We are one sick society. When will we change and face the TRUTH?

[Rooting for Jaycee]

No amount of money paid to her is exchange enough for the horrendous time she went thru'. I wish the networks would stop probing and try to make it look cheap in case People magazine paid her.

BTW, those age progression photos don't do her justice. She still looks about 18 years old! Amazing. My prayers with her.

Rooting for Jaycee

[L Anne]

"She resurfaced this summer" - this is so insensitive, as the press and the public continue to be in their quest to be titillated by a young persons pain - she didn't resurface - she was rescued . . . I hope for her the strength to heal and live as freely as her ordeal can allow her to

[dr fractal]

mendez, give it a rest. your imaginary friend 'jesus' has nothing to do with this tragedy. if he were real, he would prevent this stuff from happening.

[kaarrll]

Karl you're pretty much a total whack job aren't you?

[Alex Forthright]

She has a 4th or 5th grade education... I can't wait to read her book...

[grs1c]

Alex Forthright, THAT is one of the most screwed up things I've read in a long, long time. You've got some issues bud.