An 11-year-old schoolgirl who was abducted near her home in California 18 years ago was today being reunited with her shocked family after walking into a police station.
Jaycee Lee Dugard was on her way to school when she was pulled into a stranger’s car just a block away from her South Lake Tahoe home. Her stepfather said he heard her scream and saw a man and a woman drive the terrified girl away in a grey car.
Exhaustive searches drew a blank until the 28-year-old woman revealed her true identity in tiny Antioch, a suburb of San Francisco.
Carl Probyn, Jaycee’s stepfather, said he had given up hope of seeing her again.
"Then you pray that you get her body back so there is an ending. To have this happen where we get her back alive, and where she remembers things from the past, and to have people in custody is a triple win. It’s like winning the Lotto."
Police have taken two people into custody in connection with the abduction of the woman, who is now 28.
If only all these tragic stories could have the same happy ending…
In memory of those who are still missing.
Let’s hope she is not too trtaumatised by what happened to her. What about her mother, Ellee? Is she still alive?
If they are able to prove its her, it will be interesting to hear who had her and why
Welshcakes, Yes, the mother is still alive. What a joy this news must be for her.
Carole, I believe this has been established.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE57Q5LR20090827?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews
I am really interested to hear the full story too:
Just heard on the news that she was abducted by a paedophile. Poor girl, how she must have suffered. What kind of captivity must she have endured to ensure her silence, as well as horrendous assults:
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Kidnapped-Girl-Jaycee-Lee-Dugard-May-Have-Reappeared-After-18-Years/Article/200908415369893?lpos=World_News_Carousel_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15369893_Kidnapped_Girl_Jaycee_Lee_Dugard_May_Have_Reappeared_After_18_Years
Sky News report says:
Police sources have revealed the kidnappng suspects are Phillip Garrido, 58, and his wife, Nancy Garrido, 55, who live near Antioch.
Phillip Garrido is being held on suspicion of kidnapping, rape, lewd and lascivious acts with a minor, sexual penetration and conspiracy.
Nancy Garrido is being detained on suspicion of conspiracy and kidnapping.
The couple were arrested after they walked into the police station with Dugard to make an inquiry, authorities said.
They would not say what it was but it apparently aroused the suspicions of a police officer.
He ran a check on Garrido and found he was a registered sex offender with a conviction for rape. Records show he also has a conviction for kidnapping in 1980.
Neighbours of Garrido have described him as “weird”. One told the San Francisco Chronicle there were bars on the windows and doors of his house and he believed he could talk to God.
His next-door neighbour Haydee Perry said that when Garrido helped her jump-start her car a month ago, he had a pre-adolescent girl clinging to him in a manner that struck her as odd.
The girl told Perry that Garrido was her father and that she had older sisters, including one who was 28 – a year younger than Jaycee is believed to be now.
“She stayed close to him at all times,” Perry said of the girl. “It wasn’t normal behavior. She had a blank stare on her face. Now it seems like a cry out for help.”
Sadly, this is a true — and horrific — story. The victim was forced to bear two children by her (married!) kidnapper. (The wife of the brute has also been arrested.)
The victim’s stepfather is the one who’s been on all the newscasts — he and the victim’s mother are separated and/or divorced — because of this incident, he says. He apparently witnessed the kidnapping… but the authorities always suspected his involvement.
Until now.
This is a remarkable story, although I can’t see Jaycee and her children ever living normal lives.
With the right kind of counseling, love, support, and our prayers; they will make the best of what is left of their lives..We can only hope for the best..Oh and by the way,”Jean-Luc” when the bloody hell are you going to have another Trek television show..Since NASA has NO more space program, as if mounting the Shuttle on backwards was such, all we’re left with is the dreams Trek provides…Isn’t that right “Picard…”
And of course the other impact is on all parents of young children as we have our mostly irrational fears stocked up.
I hope the woman concerned and her children can get back the lives they deserve, but it won’t be easy.
I am back from a week without tv, papers or internet. I’ve only just caught up with this story. Chiling
This is truly an appalling story, the poor, poor young woman, and the children, fathered by this monster. The wife must be as evil as him too, in condoning his vile behaviour.
It’s very worrying, to envisage what sort of mental condition the young woman and her children are in.
Di.
P.S. I have enjoyed your post about ‘the cruise’. Glad you had so much fun….I can’t remember whether or not I commented at the time.
There’s a new post up on my site about Liverpool, my teen years, including The Beatles, etc.D.
Hope she can overcome the mental challenges that are sure to come with re-introduction to a normal life. thanks for sharing.
I also think in a way that happy ending stories possibly compound the misery of parents whose children have gone missing in the sense that it will only punctuate their agonies. I mean, I think this is a wonderful true story but, even in my own community we have a girl who has been missing since 1993 and she would be about the same age as Jaycee is now. Her mother has never given up, but sometimes you wonder when the day comes that one loses hope.
Really wonderful piece of information and it will alive the hope of the parents whose childrens are still missing.All the best wishes for Jaycee Lee Dugard for her new life.
I mean, I think this is a wonderful true story but, even in my own community we have a girl who has been missing since 1993 and she would be about the same age as Jaycee is now.
This makes for not just a happy story, but a sad one, too. How is she ever going to trust anyone again? I hope she has a wonderful support system and the best counsellor at her disposal. What happened to the other little girl the neighbor mentioned? I hope they looked for and found her and any others. The man couldn’t have been talking to any God I know. Lightening would have hopefully struck down on him by now.
Kelvin
It’s a great story. I hope she can now live a normal life and try to put it behind her. God bless her and her family.
Someone somewhere was fervently praying. o/
Great article, so many negative stories these days. Really nice to see something positive. Hope everyone is OK.