Jaycee Dugard: Finally Free From Captivity, Writes About Experience

Back in 1991, a young girl named Jaycee Dugard went missing from Meyers, California. It took 18 years for her family to get her back. Now, Jaycee is sharing her incredible story. What is that story? Well, it all began when an eleven year old Jaycee walked to her bus stop for school one morning in June. It seemed like an ordinary day, but the events that transpired forever changed the course of her life and her family’s lives. As she walking towards the bus stop, a van pulled up and before she knew it, she was abducted. We will get to the details soon enough of this horrific event. It’s something Jaycee Dugard will never be able to erase from her memory. Despite efforts from the family, police and community, they were unable to find young Jaycee for years. Many had lost hope when not a trace could be found month after month, which turned into year after year. it’s easy to see why some lost hope. Not many kidnapping stories like Jaycee’s have happy endings. However, all this time, her family never forgot or gave up. Yet, years passed and nothing changed.

After 18 years, a miracle happened when Jaycee was rescued and reunited with her family. Her kidnappers were finally arrested and soon to be charged. Jaycee’s story went viral and other trauma victims found solace in what she shared about her experience. Other families who dealt with kidnappings also found comfort in Jaycee’s story. As Jaycee readjusted to a life of freedom, she had to also go through the court case of her captors. During all of this, she decided to come forward with the very brutal and shocking details of the time in captivity in order to help others. People have been inspired by Jaycee who has endured such pain and cruelty but is showing such bravery in the face of these traumas. So after all she has been through, where is Jaycee Lee Dugard now? Dugard has decided to not only speak candidly in numerous interviews about what she went through, but also has written memoirs about her life. Now, as she seeks a life of normalcy, she reflects on her past to help herself work through the pain, as well as aid others who may relate.

Kidnapping Of Jaycee Dugard

11 year old Jaycee Dugard was walking to her school bus stop in June of 1991 when every parent’s nightmare became reality.

On this day, the shy girl was nervous about her upcoming field trip. It didn’t seem to be an unusual day in any way. However, her family and the world would remember that tragic day forever.

A Normal Morning

Everyone was going about their routine. At home, she had her mom, stepfather and an infant half sister. Jaycee was close with her mother, Terry Probyn.

That morning, her mother left early for work. Young Jaycee, in her pink clothes, ascended the hill to catch her bus. Who could have known that would be the last time they would see Jaycee for 18 years?

That Fateful Morning

Just as she was halfway up that hill, a strange vehicle approached and Jaycee thought the driver needed directions.

Of course, this innocent young girl did not expect what happened next. Sadly, this awful man rolled his window down and used a stun gun to abduct Jaycee. Before she could even call for help, she was stunned.

Failed Pursuit

Now, imagine this. Her stepfather, Carl Probyn, saw this from the house and tried to follow on a bike.

He pursued the vehicle for as long as he could, but to no avail. How incredibly heartbreaking that must have been! All he could do was describe the vehicle to police.

Who Did This?

The kidnapper, Phillip Garrido was assisted by his wife Nancy. They took Jacey to their home where she was kept secluded in the backyard.

That first day, Garrido warned her that his Doberman Pinschers would attack if she attempted to escape. Tragically, Jaycee Dugard was being held against her will in Antioch, California, about 170 miles away from her family. Phillip Garrido was not your average man, but we’ll get to that.

No Leads

Within hours, national and local news outlets were on the story. In the following days, search teams of volunteers scanned the area and put up posters.

Since young Jaycee loved pink, they even covered the town with pink ribbons in an effort to raise awareness about her disappearance. Thousands upon thousands of fliers were mailed to companies across the country. Her mom wasn’t ready to give up.

Jaycee’s Hope

Her mother founded ‘Jaycee’s Hope’ for fundraising and volunteer efforts. With help from the community, they sold shirts, buttons and sweatshirts to raise funds in order to print and mail more missing posters and flyers.

Even the Child Quest International and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children helped the cause. Additionally, the kidnapping was even on an episode of America’s Most Wanted. Sadly, even with all the support from people nationwide, no reliable leads were uncovered. As the months and years passed, they continued to raise awareness by sharing her story.

Horrible Treatment

During the beginning of her captivity, Jaycee only spoke with and saw Phillip Garrido. At times, he fed her fast food or told her entertaining stories.

She was given a bucket to use as a bathroom. Eventually, Garrido gave her a TV, but she was not permitted to watch the news. Thus, she had no idea about the search efforts. About a month and a half after her capture, Phillip moved Dugard into a bigger room where she was handcuffed her to a bed.

Mentally Unstable

Something was very wrong with Phillip Garrido. He told Jaycee that “demon angels” allowed him to kidnap her. Also, he called his methamphetamine binges, “runs,” and during them he dressed Dugard up and cut up adult magazines with her.

Garrido insisted she listen to the walls for the voices he heard. He claimed to be a chosen servant of God. At the end of his binge, he would cry to Jaycee and alternate between apologize and threatening to sell Jaycee to someone that would cage her.

The Accomplice

After seven months, Jaycee was officially introduced to Nancy Garrido. She came in holding chocolate milk and a stuffed animal for Jaycee while she cried and apologized.

In retrospect, Jaycee sees she was manipulated by Nancy, who would switch between cruelty and motherly affection. Also Nancy expressed feeling jealous of Jaycee and blamed the young girl for her situation.

Replacement Jailer

At one point, Phillip was jailed after he failed a drug test. Thus, Nancy stepped up as the replacement jailer. Both Garridos would torture Jaycee in unbelievably cruel ways, like with kittens. They gave her kittens on two occasions, but then the kittens would disappear “mysteriously.”

Also, after finding out Jaycee was keeping a journal on the kittens, they made her rip out the page on which she wrote her name. From then on, until her escape she would not be allowed to write or say her name. Oh and of course, they never let her see a dentist or doctor.

Daughters Born In Captivity

During her captivity, Jaycee Dugard gave birth to two daughters, fathered by Phillip. Her first daughter was born in late August of 1994.

Then, her second child was born in November of 1997. Using information learned from television, Jaycee raised her daughters. She worked hard to protect them from Phillip who was prone to lectures and enraged rants.

New Mother

As a method to pacify his wife, Phillip informed Jaycee and her two girls that they needed to refer to his wife as their mother.

In addition, Jaycee was to tell her children that she was actually their older sister and not real mother. Even once Jaycee and her girls were permitted to be in contact with people other than Nancy and Phillip, they kept up this facade.

Print Shop

Jaycee was the graphic artist for Phillip at his print shop. Customers interacted with Jaycee, who had access to the business email and phone, but no one suspected her true identity. Additionally, Garrido has a blog called, “God’s Desire Church.”

It was on that site that he boasted of the power to control sound through his mind. He even requested people, like his customers, to come forward with witness testimonials.

Garrido’s Backyard

In what police referred to as Garrido’s secondary backyard, it is believed that Jaycee was being held in some sheds during 2009. One of these sheds was soundproofed so Garrido could record himself singing romantic country and also religious songs. He also had two homemade tens back there.

Police also uncovered a camp-style toilet and shower. The entire area was concealed by a 6 foot fence and tall trees and shielded with a tarpaulin.

Officers’ Failed Inspection

During Jaycee’s captivity, law enforcement officers had been to Garrido’s home at least twice. However, they failed to inspect his backyard. Thus, they did not even detect Jaycee or his two girls living back there.

Yet, witnesses did say that at times, Jaycee was seen inside the home and even answered the door, but never tried to leave or raised concern. The Garrido family just seemed to keep to themselves. Jaycee’s girls could be seen playing in the backyard and even in Phillip’s car as passengers. Then came the beginning of the end for these three captives.

Suspicious Campus Visit

Years later on August 24th and 25th, 2009, Phillip Garrido made two visits to the Univeristy of California in Berkeley that aroused suspicion.

This convicted sex offender was acting very unusual and had two girls with him. His reported odd behavior led to his parole officer ordering him to bring the girls into an office in Concord. When Garrido arrived at the parole office on August 26th, 29 year old Jaycee was with him.

Neighbor’s Memory

Wait, let’s rewind a bit. Once Jaycee was rescued, a neighbor of Garrido’s named Patrick McQuaid remembered meeting Jaycee Dugard.

He encountered her, through a fence, just after she was kidnapped and she introduced herself as Jaycee. Patrick inquired whether she lived at the house or was visiting, but she answered that she lived there. Right then, Garrido grabbed her and brought her inside and shortly after, built a huge fence and set a tent up for Jaycee.

Police Investigation

Anyway, once the police actually investigated after the UC Berkeley incident, they separated Phillip from the women and girls.

Nancy Garrido, Jaycee and her two girls were taken away from Phillip in order to get their identification. Jaycee was introduced as Allissa and only revealed her true name after being pressed by investigators. She also revealed the girls were her children. Her and the children emphasized that Phillip was a good man.

Arrest

At one point, Jaycee told the investigators that she had been abused by a husband in Minnesota. Once the parole office phoned the Concord police and a sergeant arrived, then Garrido confessed to kidnap and rape. At last, Jaycee Dugard confirmed her identity.

Many saw her initial responses as signs of Stockholm Syndrome, but she told Diane Sawyer during an interview that she was just scared and trying to survive. Police arrested Phillip and Nancy Garrido. An FBI agent called Terry Probyn and after 18 years, let her speak to her daughter.

Trial

In August of 2009, both Phillip and Nancy Garrido pleaded not guilty to the numerous charges such as, false imprisonment and kidnapping.

Then in April 2011, they finally pled guilty and were sentenced. For Phillip Garrido, he got 431 years to life and his wife got 36 years to life. Jaycee chose not to attend their sentencing but had her mother read a message she wrote.

Missed Opportunities

Many people point to the missed opportunities during Jaycee’s captivity as a major failure to rescue her sooner. Apparently, in April 1992, a man called police to report seeing Jaycee staring intently at a missing child poster of herself at a gas station and then watching her leave in a big van.

Unfortunately, the van was gone when police arrived, but they did not pursue the matter. Also in 2006, a neighbor called 911 to say kids were living in tents in the back and Phillip was psychotic. After a sheriff spoke with Garrido at the front for a half hour, he left.

FBI Visit

To give you a better picture of Phillip Garrido, you should know about his August 24th, 2009 visit to the FBI office in San Francisco. He wrote a four page essay on sexuality and religion, claiming to have found a cure to his past transgressions.

That same day is when he took Jaycee’s daughters with him to U of C Berkeley, hoping to create a program called “God’s Desire” on campus. The special events manager noticed the girls looked pale and submissive and reported him after asking him to return the following day and leave his name. At the meeting, Officer Ally Jacobs was there and called Garrido’s parole officer afterwards.

Aftermath

Once Jaycee Dugard and her girls were freed and returned to Jaycee’s mother and stepmother, they took things slowly. Her stepfather Carl Probyn, said Jaycee had bonded emotionally with her captor and her daughters even cried hearing Phillip was arrested.

However, Jaycee’s aunt remarked on how intelligent and articulate the two girls are. Shortly after her release, People magazine published the very first verified photograph of her as an adult.

Bizzare Statements

In August of 2009, KCRA-TV interviewed Garrido, who was sitting in jail, over the phone. Garrido proceeded to tell the interviewer that, “In the end, this is going to be a powerful, heartwarming story.” Apparently, he continued by saying, “My life has been straightened out…

Wait till you hear the story of what took place at this house. You’re going to be absolutely impressed. It’s a disgusting thing that took place with me at the beginning, but I turned my life completely around.” He also explained he turned in a report to the FBI, which later was revealed to be about schizophrenia and controlling sounds with your mind.

Becoming A Mother

Jaycee planted a flower just outside their shed and made a little school for her daughters. She hoped to teach them all she could. Remember, Jaycee only had up to a fifth grade education herself. Jaycee said about her daughters in her interview, “They’re so resilient, and they’re beautiful and loving, and I’m really lucky.”

Apparently, some of her daughters’ friends don’t even know about anything about their background. They keep their troubled history very private, but the three women speak amongst themselves about it.

A Stolen Life: A Memoir

With such an emotional and incredible story, Jaycee decided to share her raw experience through a memoir. Once A Stolen Life was listed on Amazon, it immediately jumped to the top of the best-seller list. Written in a simple style, Jaycee tells the powerful tale of abuse and survival.

She details the mind games Garrido played, in addition to his horrific physical abuse.

Maintaining Her Sanity

Now, we know her intimate feelings during the captivity. It seems journaling helped keep her sane. However, it was incredibly difficult for Jaycee who documented her loneliness, fear and worries of being “unloved,” which the Garridos ignited.

As she wondered about her family and if they were looking for her, her kidnappers lied to her. They constantly told her that her family did not love her. She even began to question if she had anyone to run to.

Second Book

Since her first memoir, Jaycee decided to open herself up once more to the public. Though one thing she has chosen to keep private is any details about her daughters. She wants to protect their identities and allow them to make their own choices about sharing their story.

Anyway, her second memoir is called Freedom: My Book of Firsts, and it came out in July 2016. This book focuses on her re-integration into society. Jaycee also did another interview with Diane Sawyer before this second book came out.

Reclaiming Her Life

Within her second memoir, she wrote, “There is life after something tragic happens. Life doesn’t have to end if you don’t want it to. It’s all in how you look at it. Somehow, I still believe that we each hold the key to our own happiness and you have to grab it where you can in whatever form it might take.”

She told Diane Sawyer just ordering a pizza in New York was a bright moment for her during her new life of freedom. She emphasizes that now it’s about learning how to be free.

Hope For Others

Jaycee Dugard got honored with a Lifetime Leadership award in March 2012 for her courage. Her organization called JAYC Foundation works to support those dealing with abduction among other losses.

Many see her story as hope for families with long-term missing kids. People make the connection to Elizabeth Smart who also tells others to maintain a positive attitude when thinking of the future, which is especially helpful for learning to accept what has happened.

Understanding The Manipulation

Only years later was Jaycee able to fully understand the mental abuse and manipulation used by Garrido. She calls him a master manipulator. He would tell her that he had lots of followers on the outside who could capture her again if she dared to escape.

In addition, he insisted no one would ever believe her story and her girls would be taken away from her. Thus Jaycee expressed she felt, “I had no idea how to ask for the help I needed.”

Allowing Her Daughters Freedom

During Jaycee Dugard’s interview with Diane Sawyer she spoke about the possibility of her daughters wanting to see Garrido. Dugard said, “I want them to make their own choices in life, and if that’s something that they need to do, then you know I’d…I wouldn’t be OK with it.

But I wouldn’t not let them do it.” Both Jaycee and her mom, Terry Probyn do not want the two girls to see Phillip Garrido in person, but are trying to respect the decision the girls come to. Dugard added, “I would hope they wouldn’t want to, but as long as he’s behind bars, and they’re safe, then I wouldn’t hinder their ability to make that choice.”

Giving Birth In Captivity

Finding Jaycee Dugard had gone into labor (at age 14), the Garridos only gave the young girl some codeine.

In addition, Phillip told her he was prepared after watching videos about giving birth and delivering babies. In total, Dugard says she was in labor with her first daughter for around 12 hours.

Finding Humor

Often times, Jaycee has credited her two daughters with giving her the will to survive.

She also spoke with Diane Sawyer about finding humor to help them. She said of her daughters, “They saw his craziness and ups and downs and knew how unpredictable he was…To know it was OK to laugh about, you know, Phillip and Nancy and their…craziness … it helps.”

Garrido’s History

What troubled many people upon hearing about the Garridos, was the past offenses.

Apparently, Phillip Garrido was already a convicted sex offender who was on parole at that time for not just rape but even abduction. He was previously sentenced to 50 years of prison time, but released after just 11.

Previous Charges

Back in 1972, Phillip Garrido got charged for drugging and also raping a girl who was 14 years old. However, these charges got dropped because the victim wouldn’t testify. Then, in 1976, he kidnapped a 25 year old, who he raped in a warehouse, but got caught.

This was the crime he got sentenced to 50 years in prison for and 5 years to life on state charges. Yet, Garrido served 11 and got parole in 1988.

Named Suspect

However, it wasn’t only those charges that Phillip Garrido may have been responsible for.

Actually, he was named as a suspect in many other kidnapping cases in California. One included the abduction of Michaela Garecht, a 9 year old girl. However, he was never charged with any other crimes.

Facing Evil

Jaycee calls her experience, “The prison backyard,” and said, “There’s no denying it. I don’t want to deny it…what it was like being in the backyard. It was so much a part of my life. It’s always there, in the back of my mind. It never really goes away.”

During her first day, Garrido took all her clothes, handcuffed her and even burned that pink outfit, her favorite. She says of that beginning, “My first taste of pure evil. Maybe I didn’t register that and go, ‘Oh my God, you’re evil,’ but…there’s something inside of you that knows this is not right.”

Small Comforts

Initially, Dugard’s only connection to anything in the real world was the tiny TV that Phillip Garrido gave to her.

It was set to the QVC network. Thus, Jaycee has memories of falling asleep to jewelry sales and feeling grateful to hear other people’s voices.

Failure of Parole Officers

During the time Jaycee was held in the backyard, parole officers visited the home 60 times to check on Phillip Garrido.

However, they failed to inspect those sheds that sat behind a fence in the back. Even though Garrido had a GPS tracker, they didn’t monitor it too closely.

Sentencing and Repercussions Of Failure

During his sentencing, Phillip Garrido was found guilty for kidnapping and 13 counts of sexual assault.

Thus, his sentence was determined to be 431 years in prison. Also, California state awarded Jaycee $20 million. This money came as a result of the Inspector General finding that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has “repeatedly failed to properly classify and supervise parolee Garrido.”

Her Mother’s Trauma

Years after, Terry Probyn still struggles with her anger towards her daughter’s kidnappers and the failure from the police. She told Diane Sawyer, “It does eat at me, still to this day. I know I have to channel that anger into something good, because it will eat me alive…if I let it.”

Although her daughter has been home for almost a decade, she still fills with terror whenever she’s not home. Probyn said, “The thoughts flood, ‘Is she going to come back? Am I ever going to see her again?’ And then I’ll hear her skulking around the kitchen and I’ll think, ‘Oh, it’s OK! She is here, she is home.'”

Coping With Trauma

After being rescued, Jaycee Dugard works on her trauma in many ways. One way she helps herself is to go to a horse ranch owned by Dr. Rebecca Bailey, a therapist who uses the animals to help trauma victims regain their confidence.

Bailey said, “One of the most important things of working with survivors of abduction is allowing them to have choices in every single thing they do. Those things happened to her; they’re not who she is.”

Adjusting

After spending 18 years in captivity, Jaycee’s eyes are still very sensitive to the sunlight. In addition, she’s had to learn independence.

Dugard uses a coach for things like grocery store shopping and writing checks. She joked to Sawyer that she is living out those awkward teenage years while approaching age 40 just, “to try to figure out…who I am.” Also she had to learn how to drive.

Possibility Of Dating

Remember, she was just 11 when kidnapped, so she has never dated before. She explained, “The only time I was asked on a date was when I was like 8 or something like that and I was so shy.

I didn’t even look up when this boy was asking me to go out with him. He was like 8, too.” Nowadays, she isn’t using dating sites or apps, but is open to a man who likes to cook and is “caring, has a sense of humor and can laugh at stuff.” She also said her daughters are hoping she can find a nice man.

Stance Against Stockholm Syndrome

Nowadays, Dugard spends some of her time speaking with psychology residents at medical schools across the country. She specifically requests that they do not use the term, “Stockholm syndrome,” since she claims it’s degrading.

The term was popularized after a bank robbing case in Stockholm where the hostages later refused to testify against their captors. Dugard said, “Having my family believe that I was in love with this captor and wanted to stay with him? I mean, that is so far from the truth that it makes me want to throw up. It’s disgusting. I adapted to survive my circumstances. There is just no other way to put it.”

Bucket List

During her captivity, Jaycee Dugard kept a special bucket list of things she never imagined she would ever do. The very first item was, “See mom.” Since her release, she has been working with JAYC Foundation, which she founded to help trauma victims. She continues to accomplish things on her bucket list like learning how to sail and riding a hot air balloon. She claims, “It’s taken a lot of time and it hasn’t come overnight.

You have to put in the hard work and cry and, for sure, laugh about everything that you can.” We know a lot of people must have meeting Oprah on their bucket lists, so it’s pretty amazing Jaycee has met her!

Comparison To Room

When asked if she saw the movie Room about an Austrian case where a woman was help for 24 years by her dad in a basement, Jaycee said she read the book. However, she hasn’t watched the film. This woman was raped and gave birth to 7 kids during her 24 years in captivity.

Jaycee said, “People think it’s close to my story. It’s very different from what I went through.”

Revamping Policy

Luckily, Jaycee was eventually rescued due to the UC Berkeley police and also state and Concord police officers. Besides receiving $20 million for parole agents’ failure to find her sooner, things have also changed policy wise to prevent similar tragedies.

Jaycee said, “He wore a GPS tracker. You could clearly see him going into the backyard. What’s the point of a GPS tracking system if you don’t follow up?” Now, the monitoring policies have been completely revamped.

Butterfly Ring

As we said, Jaycee was stripped and handcuffed when she first got to Garrido’s home. She told him his family did not have money for a ransom, but she soon learned that her captivity in Antioch, California was not about money.

Even though Phillip Garrido took all of her clothing, young Jaycee was able to hide her butterfly ring from both Phillip and his wife. That small ring became her special treasure all those 18 years.

Bianca The Spider

During her first week, she was handcuffed in a shed and only after moved to a larger sound-proof one and handcuffed to a bed. Garrido warned she would be attacked by guard dogs if she tried running.

Speaking of the silence she was left in, she said, “I can still hear it, consciously, when I’m awake. Some sounds and smells just don’t leave you.” Her only friend during those silent, lonely moments happened to be a spider who lived in the shed. She named the spider Bianca.

Her Real Father Learned About Her From Kidnapping

While Jaycee was growing up, she never knew her real father. Her mother and step-father were raising her. Jaycee’s real father, Ken Slayton, didn’t even know of Jaycee’s existence until he found out she was kidnapped. Apparently, he had a short fling with Terry Probyn in 1979, but she never told him about her pregnancy.

Once Jaycee was rescued, Ken Slayton spoke out, saying he wanted to be in her life. However, Jaycee has stated she is not interested, and her true family is her mother, step-father, Carl, and her daughters.

First Wife Cited Abuse

Actually, Nancy Garrido was not the first wife of the infamous Phillip Garrido. They only met while he was serving his prison sentence for the first kidnapping. Nancy had been visiting her uncle there when Phillip caught her eye and the two married at the prison.

However, his first wife, Christine Murphy, was a classmate from high school who married him back in 1973 when Phillip was 22. At first, she attempted to leave because he was abusive but he kidnapped her. Three years after that first marriage he kidnapped Katherine Callaway.

Previous Kidnapping

Katherine Callaway Hall or Katie Hall got kidnapped by Phillip Garrido in South Lake Tahoe when she was 25 years old.

He held her at a warehouse in Nevada for over 5 years. Luckily, an observant police officer noticed a broken lock and car parked outside. He was charged for 50 years in 1977, but got released early in 1988.

Behavior Triggered By Accident

One theory about why Phillip Garrido has so many issues leads back to his background. Phillip’s father Manuel Garrido spoke about him growing up and said that during his youth he got into a motorcycle accident. Apparently, this accident was very serious.

From there, he got into drugs like meth and LSD. In addition, Phillip’s brother Ron said these drugs changed his mind. So some theorize that the crash and subsequent drug use triggered the deviant and abusive behavior.