Police focus on Nancy 'the monster' in abduction case

Antioch: Police investigating the kidnapping of Jaycee Lee Dugard turned their attention on Monday to the alleged role of Nancy Garrido, who has been described as a "monster" by acquaintances. She was arrested with her husband Phillip and faces the same 29 charges, which include rape and kidnap.

Police suggest she may have played a key role in the abduction of Dugard in 1991. A woman was reported to have pulled the 11- year-old into a car near her home in South Lake Tahoe, while a man drove.

When Phillip Garrido was jailed for four months in 1993 for violating the parole stipulated after convictions for rape and kidnapping in 1977, Dugard was still kept in the house in Antioch where they all lived until her identity was uncovered last week.

Police said Dugard was forced to live in tents and shacks concealed at the back of the property.

Nancy Garrido appears to have stood by as the convicted sex offender fathered two children by his under-age captive.

Cheyvonne Molino, a client of Garrido's printing business, said she saw Nancy Garrido and Dugard shopping alone together in a supermarket earlier this year. The encounter suggested that Garrido had faith in his wife to watch over Dugard, who was seen outside the house on several occasions, though never alone.

"She is more crazy than he is. She is the more the monster than he is," said Molino. "He may have had a mind hold over her but she let this happen."

To some neighbours, Nancy Garrido's behaviour in public was even stranger than that of her husband despite his religious rants.

She was said to have been non-communicative and looking disturbed. Garrido's brother Ron has said Nancy was "under his spell - a robot" and would "do anything he asked".

"I told my wife, 'It's no different from Manson and those girls'," he said, referring to the mass murderer Charles Manson.

It's very disturbing as well as shocking to know that such people exist in our human society, who can function worse than animals. the bad behaviour of man is brought into light! A perfect society may be far from reality, but if all the members co-operate, such psycho cases can be dealt with, eventually. The need of the hour seems to be knowing your neighbour - and report him/her if he/she behaves strange. They might be in need of our help.
Agniyah Shaikh
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: September 02, 2009, 10:21