Jaycee Dugard Sues Feds, Says 'Colossal Blunders' Let Parolee Kidnap and Hold Her Captive 18 Years
A woman held captive for most of her life in California by a parolee who had previously served time for a similar crime has sued the federal government seeking compensation.
Jaycee Dugard filed suit today in federal court in California, contending that inadequate supervision allowed her to be held by Philip Garrido for 18 years at his home after he kidnapped her, at age 11, in 1991. A press release says she is not seeking money for herself but for a nonprofit foundation in her name that helps victims of abductions and other traumas, reports CNN.
She and the two daughters she bore in captivity settled last year with the state of California for $20 million, CNN reports.
“We believe that the years of abuse experienced by Ms. Dugard are a direct result of the U.S. parole commission’s colossal blunders in the supervision of Mr. Garrido,” said her lawyer, Dale Kinsella of Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump and Aldisert, in a written statement.
A spokesman said the U.S. Department of Justice would have no comment at this time because it has not yet seen the complaint.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Authorities Reel Over Parolees’ Stunning Alleged Crimes in 2 States”
ABAJournal.com: “Couple Plead Guilty in 1991 Kidnap of Jaycee Dugard, 11, Held Captive for 18 Years at Home”
