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Missing US girl found 18 years on | Missing US girl found 18 years on |
(about 11 hours later) | |
A US woman found after being abducted as a girl in 1991 gave birth to two children fathered by her alleged kidnapper - the first when she was 14. | A US woman found after being abducted as a girl in 1991 gave birth to two children fathered by her alleged kidnapper - the first when she was 14. |
Jaycee Lee Dugard and her daughters, 11 and 15, were kept in a "hidden backyard within a backyard", police say. | Jaycee Lee Dugard and her daughters, 11 and 15, were kept in a "hidden backyard within a backyard", police say. |
Alleged kidnapper Phillip Garrido, 58, and his wife Nancy Garrido, 54, are being held in custody in California. | Alleged kidnapper Phillip Garrido, 58, and his wife Nancy Garrido, 54, are being held in custody in California. |
DNA tests are being done to confirm Ms Dugard's identity, but meanwhile she has been reunited with her mother. | DNA tests are being done to confirm Ms Dugard's identity, but meanwhile she has been reunited with her mother. |
"She was in good health, but living in a backyard for the past 18 years does take its toll," El Dorado County Undersheriff Fred Kollar said. | "She was in good health, but living in a backyard for the past 18 years does take its toll," El Dorado County Undersheriff Fred Kollar said. |
Ms Dugard disappeared in 1991, aged 11, apparently taken by two people who bundled her into a car. | Ms Dugard disappeared in 1991, aged 11, apparently taken by two people who bundled her into a car. |
Jaycee's alleged kidnapper Phillip Garrido: "I'm in a very serious situation" | Jaycee's alleged kidnapper Phillip Garrido: "I'm in a very serious situation" |
Mr Kollar said that since the kidnapping she had lived with the couple, isolated from view at a property in Antioch near San Francisco, 170 miles (273km) from her home in South Lake Tahoe. | Mr Kollar said that since the kidnapping she had lived with the couple, isolated from view at a property in Antioch near San Francisco, 170 miles (273km) from her home in South Lake Tahoe. |
"The tents and outbuildings in the backyard were placed in a strategic arrangement to inhibit outside viewing and to isolate the victims from outside contact." | "The tents and outbuildings in the backyard were placed in a strategic arrangement to inhibit outside viewing and to isolate the victims from outside contact." |
She and the children spent "most of their lives" there, he said, adding that they had never been to school or seen a doctor. | She and the children spent "most of their lives" there, he said, adding that they had never been to school or seen a doctor. |
Their identities were revealed after police spotted Mr Garrido as he handed out religious literature at the University of California Berkeley campus with the two young children. | Their identities were revealed after police spotted Mr Garrido as he handed out religious literature at the University of California Berkeley campus with the two young children. |
He raised suspicions because as a registered sex offender he was not allowed to be with young children. | He raised suspicions because as a registered sex offender he was not allowed to be with young children. |
Police explain the woman's discovery | Police explain the woman's discovery |
He was called in by his parole officer for questioning, and brought the two children and a young woman he called Allissa with him. | He was called in by his parole officer for questioning, and brought the two children and a young woman he called Allissa with him. |
During questioning he revealed that Allissa was actually Ms Dugard. She also confirmed her identity to police. | During questioning he revealed that Allissa was actually Ms Dugard. She also confirmed her identity to police. |
In a telephone interview from prison with the KCRA-TV station, Mr Garrido said he had not admitted to abduction and that the birth of the first child 15 years ago had changed his life. | In a telephone interview from prison with the KCRA-TV station, Mr Garrido said he had not admitted to abduction and that the birth of the first child 15 years ago had changed his life. |
"If you take this a step at a time, you're going to fall over backward and in the end you're going to find the most powerful, heart-warming story," he said. | "If you take this a step at a time, you're going to fall over backward and in the end you're going to find the most powerful, heart-warming story," he said. |
In pictures: Girl found | In pictures: Girl found |
"I tell you here's the story of what took place at this house and you're going to be absolutely impressed. | "I tell you here's the story of what took place at this house and you're going to be absolutely impressed. |
"It's a disgusting thing that took place with me in the beginning. But I turned my life completely around," he said. | "It's a disgusting thing that took place with me in the beginning. But I turned my life completely around," he said. |
Some of those who had had contact with Mr Garrido over recent years said he had developed increasingly strong religious beliefs. | Some of those who had had contact with Mr Garrido over recent years said he had developed increasingly strong religious beliefs. |
Tim Allen, who did business with Mr Garrido's printing firm, told Associated Press that Mr Garrido gave the impression he was planning to establish a church. "He rambled. It made no sense," Mr Allen said. | Tim Allen, who did business with Mr Garrido's printing firm, told Associated Press that Mr Garrido gave the impression he was planning to establish a church. "He rambled. It made no sense," Mr Allen said. |
'Given up hope' | 'Given up hope' |
Police said they had found a vehicle hidden in the backyard of the Antioch property that matched the vehicle described at the time of the abduction. | Police said they had found a vehicle hidden in the backyard of the Antioch property that matched the vehicle described at the time of the abduction. |
It broke my marriage up. I've gone through hell, I mean I'm a suspect up until yesterday Carl Probyn, stepfather | It broke my marriage up. I've gone through hell, I mean I'm a suspect up until yesterday Carl Probyn, stepfather |
Although Mr Garrido was previously visited by a parole officer, there was nothing odd noticed about the backyard. | Although Mr Garrido was previously visited by a parole officer, there was nothing odd noticed about the backyard. |
The area occupied by Ms Dugard and her children was concealed by shrubs, rubbish bins and a tarpaulin. | The area occupied by Ms Dugard and her children was concealed by shrubs, rubbish bins and a tarpaulin. |
Ms Dugard's stepfather, Carl Probyn, who witnessed the abduction on 10 June 1991, said he had "given up hope" she would be found alive. | Ms Dugard's stepfather, Carl Probyn, who witnessed the abduction on 10 June 1991, said he had "given up hope" she would be found alive. |
"It broke my marriage up. I've gone through hell, I mean I'm a suspect up until yesterday," Mr Probyn, 60, told AP. | "It broke my marriage up. I've gone through hell, I mean I'm a suspect up until yesterday," Mr Probyn, 60, told AP. |
Mr Probyn saw the young girl being taken away by two people as she walked from her home to a school bus stop in South Lake Tahoe. | Mr Probyn saw the young girl being taken away by two people as she walked from her home to a school bus stop in South Lake Tahoe. |
He said a stranger drove up and grabbed Ms Dugard, bundling her into a grey car even as she tried to resist by kicking and screaming. | He said 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. |
"She sounds like she's okay," Mr Probyn said. "I hope she's been well-treated this entire 18 years. | "She sounds like she's okay," Mr Probyn said. "I hope she's been well-treated this entire 18 years. |