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Kidnap victim Jaycee Dugard back to normal life after 18 year horror
by Natalie James - March 6, 2010 - comments
Jaycee Dugard had been kidnapped on her way to bus stop on June 10, 1991. She was dragged into a car as her stepfather watched helplessly from their home in South Lake Tahoe in California.
It seems like kidnapping victim Jaycee Dugard’s life is getting back to normal. Jaycee, held captive for 18 years in a ramshackle backyard compound, spoke on TV for the first time since being released from nearly two decades of slavery.
The rescued California kidnap victim made her first TV appearance Friday morning, six months after the dramatic end of her 18 year ordeal.
Jaycee talks after two decade long captivity
In an exclusive home video broadcast Friday on ABC television, Jaycee was seen riding horses, cooking with her half-sister, Shayna, 19, and mother, Terry Probyn, as well as laughing and joking with family members and thanking people for their support.
"Hi. I'm Jaycee," said the 29-year-old Jaycee, wearing a black shirt, jeans and a pink baseball cap. "I want to thank you for your support and I'm doing well ... It's been a long haul, but I'm getting there."
The video clippings ABC aired on Good Morning America first showed the round faced brunette, who was 11 when she was abducted near her home in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., decorating Christmas cookies in the kitchen with her mother and her half-sister, Shayna.
"I've never got to decorate a cookie before," Jaycee said.
Dugards thank well wishers
Jaycee, her mom Probyn, half sister Shayna and her two daughters, Jaycee allegedly fathered by Phillip Garrido, have been living in a secret location in California since their reunion in August (09).
"I'm Terry Probyn and on behalf of my daughters Jaycee and Shayna and my two awesome granddaughters we want to thank you for the love and support that you've given us these past few months. It is my desire to share our miracle with the world, but it has to be done on our terms," Probyn said, addressing the camera in an outdoor setting.
"It is my desire to share our miracle with the world, but it must be done on our terms.”
Family asks for privacy
In addition to expressing their gratitude to the well-wishers for their support, the Dugard mom asked people in the video to respect the family’s privacy.
"What my family needs is privacy during our healing process,” said Probyn. "Please give us the time we need to heal as a family without the prying eyes of photographers and the press."
She continued: "We released this video to show that we are happy and well, and when we have more to share, we will."
Reunion is a dream come true
For Jaycee’s 50-year-old mum it is a "dream come true" to be reunited with her daughter.
"As a mother I am pleading for our privacy in this very public story. It's a dream come true to have both my girls here with me.
"I'm so thankful for the precious moments that we have together."
Jaycee’s abduction
Jaycee Dugard had been kidnapped on her way to bus stop on June 10, 1991. The young girl, who was just 11 when she was kidnapped, was dragged into a car as her stepfather watched helplessly from their home in South Lake Tahoe in California.
Since her abduction, she lived with Phillip Garrido and his wife Nancy in Antioch near San Francisco about 170 miles away from her home in South Lake Tahoe. She spent nearly two decades in the backyard of the 58-year-old convicted sex offender Garrido.
Jaycee, whom Garrido had renamed Allissa, along with her children, now 11 and 15 years, lived in squalor in tents and sheds in a hidden backyard compound at Garrido’s Antioch, Calif., home. She never attended school or saw a doctor and repeatedly raped while in captivity.
Garrido and his wife Nancy have been charged on 28 counts, including rape and kidnapping. They are awaiting trial and have pleaded not guilty to kidnap and rape charges.