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Missing girl 'found 18 years on' Missing girl 'found 18 years on'
(about 3 hours later)
A woman who walked into a US police station claiming she was kidnapped 18 years ago is likely to be telling the truth, police in California say. A US woman who says she was abducted as a girl in 1991 is on the verge of reunion with her family after walking into a police station, reports say.
DNA tests were being carried out, local police said, with officers almost certain that the results would back up the woman's story. Police in California say they are "99% sure" the woman claiming to be Jaycee Lee Dugard is telling the truth.
A convicted sex offender and his wife have been arrested, and DNA tests are being done to establish her identity.
Jaycee Lee Dugard disappeared in 1991, aged 11, from outside her Lake Tahoe home, apparently taken by two people.Jaycee Lee Dugard disappeared in 1991, aged 11, from outside her Lake Tahoe home, apparently taken by two people.
Two people are now said to have been taken into custody, US reports say.
Police in California are due to hold a news conference later on Thursday, at which it is widely expected that they will formally confirm that Ms Dugard is alive and well.Police in California are due to hold a news conference later on Thursday, at which it is widely expected that they will formally confirm that Ms Dugard is alive and well.
Lt Les Lovell of the sheriff's department at El Dorado, California, said a woman walked into a local police station and announced that she was Jaycee Lee Dugard. Lt Les Lovell of the sheriff's department at El Dorado, California, said a woman walked into a police station in Concord, a suburb of San Francisco, and announced that she was Jaycee Lee Dugard.
"We're 99% sure it's her," Mr Lovell told the Associated Press, adding that her family had been contacted and a meeting was being arranged."We're 99% sure it's her," Mr Lovell told the Associated Press, adding that her family had been contacted and a meeting was being arranged.
Ms Dugard's stepfather, Carl Probyn, told ABC News in the US that her family was now convinced that she had been found. "It's a pretty spectacular story just to find someone like that. Someone we assumed was dead," said Bill Clark, a senior prosecutor in El Dorado County.
The San Francisco Chronicle newspaper reported that the couple now suspected of kidnapping Ms Dugard walked into the police station with her.
Phillip Garrido, 58, and his wife Nancy Garrido, 54, from the Antioch area also near San Francisco were being held as they investigate allegations of kidnapping and conspiracy.
Jimmie Lee, a local police spokesman, said Mr Garrido was also being held for investigation of rape by force, lewd and lascivious acts with a minor and sexual penetration.
Under suspicion
As news spread of Ms Dugard's apparent re-appearance, her stepfather Carl Probyn told ABC News in the US that her family was now convinced she was coming back to them.
She sounds like she's okay. I hope she's been well treated this entire 18 years Carl ProbynStepfatherShe sounds like she's okay. I hope she's been well treated this entire 18 years Carl ProbynStepfather
"I had personally given up hope," he said, saying that he just wanted to find the people responsible."I had personally given up hope," he said, saying that he just wanted to find the people responsible.
Mr Probyn was watching on 10 June, 1991, as the young girl was apparently taken away by two unidentified people.Mr Probyn was watching on 10 June, 1991, as the young girl was apparently taken away by two unidentified people.
The incident occurred as she was walking from her home to a school bus stop in the southern Lake Tahoe town of Meyers.The incident occurred as she was walking from her home to a school bus stop in the southern Lake Tahoe town of Meyers.
Her stepfather has described how a stranger drove up and grabbed Ms Dugard, bundling her into a grey car even as she tried to resist by kicking and screaming. Her stepfather - who initially came under suspicion in her disappearance and is now estranged from Ms Dugard's mother - has described how a stranger drove up and grabbed Ms Dugard, bundling her into a grey car even as she tried to resist by kicking and screaming.
Mr Probyn believed a man and woman were in the vehicle. Despite several false reports of sightings in the intervening years, Ms Dugard was never seen again.Mr Probyn believed a man and woman were in the vehicle. Despite several false reports of sightings in the intervening years, Ms Dugard was never seen again.
But the FBI has now assured his wife that her daughter is safe and that the men she was with are in custody, Mr Probyn told ABC News.
"She sounds like she's okay," he said."She sounds like she's okay," he said.
"She had a conversation with my wife and she remembers things. I hope she's been well treated this entire 18 years.""She had a conversation with my wife and she remembers things. I hope she's been well treated this entire 18 years."
"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," he told the Sacramento Bee newspaper.