GN Commentary: September 1, 2009 - Jaycee Dugard Found After 18 Years

May God speed the day when society, under the reign of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, will be safe and secure. Where every man will figuratively sit under his vine or his fig tree and none will make them afraid.

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Video Transcript

Jaycee Dugard has been found after being kidnapped over 18 years ago.  She is now 29 and was tortured, raped and kept in general seclusion for all those years.  Her parents are delighted that she has been found.  Can you imagine seeing your eleven year old daughter taken away and having her show up 18 years later?  What an emotional time that must have been and still is!  She has two children from her male abductor who is also a convicted sex offender. 

Finding her was a great first step, but bringing her back to normalcy will be an even bigger step.  You see, once a person has been in the hands of a kidnapper, they often begin to relate to the kidnapper.  They adopt the criminal's habits and ways in order to cope and develop in "safety".  Her two daughters, 11 and 15, have only known their captive circumstances and are less developed socially.

There aren't many cases on which to base successful treatment, but sessions with skilled therapists have almost certainly begun.

"Jaycee's stepfather Carl Probyn said on "The Early Show" Monday, Jaycee and the two daughters she bore while confined are taking in their new life in California step by step."

" 'It's like being on Mars," Probyn said. "This is a brand new situation. ... It's pretty remarkable what they have to face.'"

"Probyn said it's going to take a long time for his stepdaughter and her daughters to integrate into a life outside of captivity, but they are receiving assistance from National Center for Missing & Exploited Children." (CBS NEWS, Early Show, 8/31/09)

My heart hurts for what happened to Jaycee, her daughters and her family.  May God show mercy to them as He promises to care for those in need.

As for the alleged perpetrators, Phillip and Nancy Garrido, I hope a jury will judge the facts and give them the sentence they deserve so that they will no longer be free to perpetrate their evil on anyone again.

May God speed the day when society, under the reign of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, will be safe and secure.  Where every man will figuratively sit under his vine or his fig tree and none will make them afraid. (Micah 4:4)

For GN Magazine, I'm Gary Antion.