Jaycee Dugard to People Magazine: "I'm So Happy to be Back With My Family"

By: Edecio Martinez
Topics: Daily Blotter

(AP Photo )

NEW YORK (CBS/AP) Jaycee Dugard, two months after resurfacing from 18 years in captivity, has released her first personal statement to People magazine, along with photos of herself as an adult.

Photos: Jaycee Dugard "Happy To Be Back"
Photos: Inside Jaycee's Terror Tent
Photos: Inside Phillip Garrido's House
Photos: The Search For Jaycee
Photos: Jaycee Lee Dugard Found Alive

"I'm so happy to be back with my family," she told the magazine. "Nothing is more important than the unconditional love and support I have from them."

Dugard family spokeswoman Erika Shulte also appeared on CBS News' "The Early Show" on Wednesday and said that Jaycee Dugard, her two daughters, mother and sister are close, comfortable and happy and says they "seem like any other family."

"She's a grownup, she's a mother and sister and a daughter," Shulte said with a smile. "She is so appreciative of the outpouring of love and support worldwide."

Shulte says Dugard decided to release photos of herself and her reunion with her family to People magazine because she wanted to "lift the veil" and show how well she's doing. Her two daughters, Angel, 15, and Starlit, 11, are not shown, but Shulte told People, "They're not hiding; they're enjoying their privacy."

In the magazine, Dugard is shown smiling with long, light brown hair. In other pictures, she is laughing with her mother Terry Probyn. In another picture she is seen with her 19-year-old half sister Shana Probyn.

Dugard was just 11-years-old when she was kidnapped in 1991, allegedly by Phillip and Nancy Garrido. The couple has been charged with the kidnap and rape of Dugard among other charges.

"She wants people to know that she's doing good," Shulte said. "She's really happy and now we can all see for ourselves and be relieved that she's gonna be ok."

Dugard resurfaced two months ago and is now 29.

Phillip and Nancy Garrido have pleaded not guilty.

For more on Dugard's statement, visit People Magazine.

Photos: Jaycee Dugard "Happy To Be Back"
Photos: Inside Jaycee's Terror Tent
Photos: Inside Phillip Garrido's House
Photos: The Search For Jaycee
Photos: Jaycee Lee Dugard Found Alive

THE JAYCEE LEE DUGARD STORY
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by hbjean October 20, 2009 5:39 PM EDT

Of course her disappearance led to the family breakup...the step father was the pretty much the only suspect for many years. As a parent, I can't imagine what that mom has gone through. And hey..Nacho_Steen...nobody is downplaying the horrific ordeal Jaycee endured. But...you can let yourself be consumed by anger, depression and self-pity/loathing or...you try and move forward. It seems she considers herself a mother first and those two girls need her...period! I agree...they should die for their actions but not quickly...I believe he should suffer the same pain, misery, fear and rape that she did for all those years. We are pulling for her...

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by copper05 October 24, 2009 2:37 AM EDT: According to any and all Reports about Jaycee she certaintly HAS NOT allowed anger, depression and self-pity/loathing.
Jaycee will continue to be the Humbled Adult that she was forced to become so many years ago. The lady is very wise..To wise to allow those Freaks to further damage her and her Daughters.

by piratecafe October 15, 2009 12:45 PM EDT

It seems her disappearance ultimately led to the family break-up. Does the article say anything about whether she has communicated with her (former) step-father? Just curious.

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by jazerelle October 17, 2009 2:55 PM EDT: From what I have read she has not contacted her step-father yet. Actually everything she does is being controlled by her mother so far. She may be happy to be with her mom but she has a long road to recovery.


by cjohnthan October 15, 2009 4:51 AM EDT: Mrs. Terry Probyn suffered a lot as a mother from this tragedy, especially her stepfather.

they can feel for each other, protect and support each other, this family may be not so wealthy, but is good. they didn't hurt other people for their own behalf.
they are nice people which i would like to respect.

i don't think it is necessary for jaycee to testify what gridos did to her, unless she actually hadn't been kidnapped in the first place.

subtle? look what you do? so you choose to go out and do whatever you like ha? no!

i think there should be some kind of compensation from government or gridos. "america foundation" should be somewhat about force for good, i guess. this is why people around the world take america as a great country. this is
why people around the world want to be part of it spiritually.; Reply to this comment