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Missing Child Comes Home
Posted August 30, 2009

It’s always shocking to hear of a case where an abducted child resurfaces years later after being held captive by a kidnapper.  Jaycee Lee Dugard’s story grabbed the media’s attention earlier this week when she was found to be alive and living with the man, Phillip Garrido, who kidnapped her 18 years ago.  Dugard was just 11 years old when she was taken by Garrido on her way home from school while her stepfather watched helplessly from the window of their home.

Since then, Dugard has lived in Garrido’s backyard inside various hidden sheds and tents.  Dugard gave birth to two of Garrido’s daughters, now aged 11 and 15, who also lived in the backyard as captives with their mother.  Undersherriff, Fred Kollard, told reporters, "None of the children had ever gone to school, they had never been to a doctor, they were kept in complete isolation in this compound..."

More reports are now coming out about how this nightmare could have ended earlier.  Three years ago in 2006 someone called 911 to tip off the police that there was a mysterious woman and two children living in tents in Garrido’s backyard.  When an officer went to check it out, he only spoke with Garrido, a registered sex offender, briefly in his front yard and did not investigate the rest of the property leaving Dugard and her daughters to endure three more years of captivity.

It is also being reported that Garrido’s wife, Nancy, was also at the scene of the abduction and will face 29 felony counts along with her husband.  An article from CNN reports that the couple will face charges of kidnapping someone under the age of 14, kidnapping for sexual purposes, forcible rape and forcible lewd acts on a child.  There has been some debate over whether Nancy Garrido should face the same charges as her husband based on speculation that she may have been brainwashed as well.

What do you think of Jaycee Lee Dugard’s story?

Do you think Garrido’s wife, Nancy Garrido, should be held accountable for all of the charges her husband is facing?

46 Comments
jemappel says: on Aug 30, 2009
I can't imagine the trauma and brainwashing that Jaycee went through. And I think Nancy Garrido should also be charged. It's the female accomplices that surprise me the most in these situations...how in the world do they just go along with these things? I guess they're totally brainwashed too, but they still must accept responsibility for their actions.
cathy825 says: on Aug 30, 2009
I think she should be charged as well as Phillip Garrido because she never had the heart to do anything to get Jaycee back to her family who desperately where looking for her.
Benwren says: on Aug 30, 2009
Oh my goodness, I had not heard of this case. Wow! Yes, I think his wife should be charged as well.
Angel6 says: on Aug 30, 2009
She definitely should be held accountable for the charges her husband is facing because she knew what was going on and what her husband was doing to them and could have stopped it but didn?t.
Angel6 says: on Aug 30, 2009
She definitely should be held accountable for the charges her husband is facing because she knew what was going on and what her husband was doing to them and could have stopped it but didn't.
balladiana says: on Aug 30, 2009
I definitely think the wife should be charged. She knew what was going on, and did nothing to stop it, there for she's just as much in the wrong as her husband. It's called being an accomplice. She knew of the crime, and contiued to let it happen. Such a shame. Good thing Jaycee is home and safe.
oatmeal7 says: on Aug 31, 2009
If her daughter is 15, she must have had the child as a 13 year old, and has never seen a doctor! I feel for those poor women! How can you move on from something like that? What would possess someone to do that to a human being, much less three?
Itsydaspider says: on Aug 31, 2009
She should face the same time as her husband. There is no reason 4 her that she couldnt call the cops for help if. she knew that her man was doing a bad thing. even a crazy person knows from right from wrong. whats going to happen to Jaycee and her kids she has no job, no house, nothing but her family. those people that hurt jaycee should go to prison for life.
Alexmom says: on Aug 31, 2009
These are some truly disturbed and sick people!! It is unimaginable that a "wife" could let something like this go on for so many years without waking up one day and seeing what a sick man she was married to! This disgusting couple has ruined the lives of so many people- not only the little girl he abducted 18 years ago, but all those that he has put through hell the last 18 years! I hope that Jaycee and her 2 poor daughters will someday find a way to recover from the terrible trauma these monsters have put them through!
bgkgdw1 says: on Aug 31, 2009
I can't imagine what that poor girl had to endure all these years. I am just glad they finally found her and her two daughters. I think that the officer that went to check on them 3 years ago should be fired.
chihuahua_lady says: on Aug 31, 2009
I also think the officer from three years ago should be fired, maybe even charged with negligence. Someone notified the police that there was a woman and children living in tents in the back yard. But the policeman never even went back there. And he took the word of a sex offender. At least the lady and her daughters are away from the monsters. Yes, monsters. Both of them. They are both guilty and should be put away for life. They can not be helped.
avasmommy53009 says: on Sep 01, 2009
I cant believe the friggin cop didnt catch him the first time!!
avasmommy53009 says: on Sep 01, 2009
And yes , i think its sad but i think she should have known better as a human that its wrong and so yes i believe she is just as guilty
mariebluelily says: on Sep 01, 2009
Poor Jaycee, I feel so bad for her and her girls and family. But at least she is out and safe now. I think that nancy should face the same charges as her husband. Like every one else has commented she could have done something. She could go told someone. She was either scared or part of it. Either way she is as guilty.
Smartmommy says: on Sep 01, 2009
you have to wonder how torcherous it must feel day after day year after year to feel hopeless in a perpetual nightmare. Are the little girls able to converse, calculate, laugh? were they given any books or exposed to television, i mean do they even know anything about the world?? this evil man robbed love and a life from not just one little girl but three, two of wich were of his own blood. His wife... is an adult, who was living amungst us all in our society and should be tried before a court as one. these people deserve to rott in jail, not that they'll ever feel the true remorse for their crimes. death by papercuts and lemon juice... would probably be the only fitting punishment
msfriendly says: on Sep 02, 2009
My heart goes out to Jaycee and her family. I hope the healing can begin now and she can get beyond this horrible part of her life.
jld111106 says: on Sep 02, 2009
You know it has to be so strange for her now. She missed 2 presidents, 9/11, and so many other important things. I pray for her and her family, I hope she can get some help and learn that this wasn't her fault.
wanderlust says: on Sep 02, 2009
In some ways, the perp's wife is more guilty than he is! She lived with this sick secret for years and chose never to do anything about it. How this poor girl survived for so long in such a terrifying environment, endured countless abuse at the hands of this sick creep and gave birth to 2 babies in those unsterile environments is completely unimagineable to me. My heart goes out to Jaycee and her 2 children for the horrors they endured. What I fail to comprehend is why she chose not to escape, or even how she managed to keep 2 tiny babies inside and quiet... surely those babies cried at some point.... did the neighbors not hear???
LuckyStarxx says: on Sep 02, 2009
Yes, I think the wife should be held responsible. She was a grown woman at the time of the kidnapping from what I understand and she should have known better. My next reason is that we currently do not know if the wife not only helped kidnap that poor girl, but couldn't she also have perpetrated abuse against that girl? Not all sex offenders and psychopaths who harm children are male.
msphiiia says: on Sep 03, 2009
Yes I think the wife should be held accountable because what was she thinking. I don't understand how anyone could be so sick. It's hard to even imagine what she is going through and what her thought process is as of now. This makes me worry about what can happen to my kids. Back to the wife, she should be held accountable because it is just like conspiracy.
BlondieKAA says: on Sep 03, 2009
Yes, I agree that the wife should be held accountable as well. She certainly didn't do anything to bring Jaycee home or to make the situation right! She is just as guilty for taking part in this and not doing anything about it!! Wow! I can't imagine how terrified Jaycee must have been! It's so sad that things could have ended earlier than it did!
dlbeyer says: on Sep 03, 2009
Yes, the wife should be charged the same as her husband. How could she have lived all these years knowing what he was doing.
tigpooh1516 says: on Sep 04, 2009
This is such an amazing story to me! I am so happy for the family to be back together, but it is so sad that it ever happened. Those poor girls are going to need so much love and support to heal all of their mental wounds. I definitely think that the wife should be held for the same charges as she was there the whole time and allowed everything to happen to those poor children. Just so sad and wonderful all at the same time. May God bless that family!
misty2 says: on Sep 04, 2009
That young women should have been found years ago and that low life should never have seen the light of day
KarynH says: on Sep 05, 2009
I remember being in Lake Tahoe right after she was kidnapped. Being the same age as her, I was a young girl, and it impacted me greatly. I thought about her and prayed for her a lot in the years after. I cried with happiness when she was found to be alive, but then was pretty quickly saddened to hear what she had been through. I think the penalties should be great and to the fullest extent of the law for Garrido and his wife. I will continue to pray for Jaycee and her two girls.
VBARRERA says: on Sep 05, 2009
I think that this ending is amazing, Im a mother and cant imagine my life with out my kids. Im so happy that one missing child now adult has been found. I think that this storie will give some hope to other families with missing children. Im happu that the family is back together. I think that the wife of the child molester should be punished.
jul516 says: on Sep 05, 2009
Nobody in their right mind and that includes Nancy would be so far gone from a "brainwash treatment" to NOT know right from wrong. Nancy had the opportunity for four months while Phillip was in jail to release the girls. She should be charged to the fullest extent of the law. Nonetheless, I am so happy that another case like this has been solved and god knows how many others may still be in the clutches of these monsters.
pinkpumpkin143 says: on Sep 05, 2009
I think that they wife should be held responsible for at least something. I mean even if she was brainwashed legally she had a part.
MommyReporter says: on Sep 05, 2009
I guess the only good thing about this case is that the girl is alive and she is home with her family. I pray that she gets counseling and that she can learn to live a somewhat "normal" life.
lovemybabies2009 says: on Sep 05, 2009
Unbelievable. Not much more to say. I have been following this story. That poor woman and her children will never live a normal life.
krispy76 says: on Sep 05, 2009
What a tragic story, but I'm so thankful they got out! I do think the wife should be punished, but I think psychological testing will dictate if she should be punished the same as her husband. He's a piece of work!!
robinh618 says: on Sep 05, 2009
Do you think the wife was kiddnapped too years ago...
Whitestar says: on Sep 05, 2009
The wife obviously knew, but being that her maniac husband is being investigated for possibly murdering some women in the 90s, it's possible she was a victim herself. I mean, what kind of woman approves of her husband sleeping with little girls in the back yard. Agreed: psychological testing may reveal whether or not she should be held accountable.
wellrusted51 says: on Sep 06, 2009
At least they are safe now and the healing can begin. I think that the wife is just as sick as the husband and needs to spend the rest of their lives in jail.
raggedyanne89 says: on Sep 07, 2009
It is possible that the wife is also a victim here and if that is the case I do not think she should be held responsible. However if she is not a victim then she is obviously completely demented and should be held just as accountable as her sick husband.
Mzroza says: on Sep 07, 2009
I'm appalled and sickened by this tragedy. She has missed so much and so have her children. We will never know how much she and her children have suffered. I think anyone who was an accessory to this horrid crime needs to be charged. If the wife was not being held captive herself, she and any other person who knows right from wrong should have helped this girl, even if it meant her life would change also.
daydreamgrl1 says: on Sep 08, 2009
she should be charged! what kind of woman is she? she is as sick as he is!!!!!!!
October says: on Sep 09, 2009
That cop definitely did not do his job and should be held accountable in some way.
ajjsmom says: on Sep 11, 2009
I feel so sorry for Jaycee and her family....It is amazing that she has been found after all these years.All we can hope is that this man and his wife go away for a long,long time and that with the right kind of treatment Jaycee can go on to lead a "normal" life.
jbrandon52 says: on Sep 11, 2009
his wife definately should be held accountiable.in all these years she had ample time to tell someone of what was going on in her own home and backyard, God had to have been with them to indure the torture of this kidnapped girl and her babies.
nodivapoints says: on Sep 12, 2009
Both of these sick individuals should get the most extreme punishment for what crimes they have committed. The wife who may or may not have been brainwash herself, still must have had some access to the outside world and would have know what was being done was wrong. This young woman that they took as a child not only lost her youth and her innocence but the children she birthed for this monster have lost theirs as well. They will never be the same and it will take years of re-education and counseling to help them try to survive a normal life in the outside world. My heart goes out to Jaycee and her family.
bbred57 says: on Sep 14, 2009
This is a very tragic story that these girls lived in these conditions right in the front of an entire neighborhood 18 years. This was tent city in the middle of a neighborhood with a woman & her children living there & not being seen outside of it. Granted we know of at least 1 call 3 yrs ago but this was a massive tent over his backyard & that should have sent up red flags that he was hiding something! He was a sick pervert & his wife was just as bad, she should get life for putting Jaycee & her daughters through this. Jaycee was a little girl who lost her innocence & her choice to live the life she wanted to, to have an education, to get married & have a normal family life. For that I think both Phillip & Nancy should both be sent to prison for the rest of their life without parole. They took Jaycee's life away without a thought or consideration to her or her family, certainly no one should think twice about their life.
lbowlus says: on Sep 15, 2009
This is a miracle that she is alive. I am praying for a normal life for her and her children and I wonder if she will keep them or if they will go to the system.
amyasmom2008 says: on Sep 18, 2009
i do believe that his wife should also face the same charges as him she had the obligation as a woman, a sister, a daughter , a niece, a cousin to at least protect those girls even if she feared that her husband would do something to her . i can not explain how angered i am by this couples action . yet alone by his wife's action she should have reported her husband right away and helped that family escape.
Sscristine says: on Sep 19, 2009
They should both be charged equally. This woman new what was going on and didn't report so she is liable for the endangerment and contribution to the entrapment. You already know that when this case goes into trial, she is going to play the victim role and said that he would've killed her or maybe even say that she loved him "Sooo Much" that she didn't want to see him go to jail.
momagarry says: on Sep 29, 2009
That is just so sad that this had to happen to her.
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