Kidnap victim Jaycee Dugard broke her silence on Wednesday as the first photograph of her as an adult emerged following her release after 18 years as the prisoner of her abductor.
Dugard was at the center of a worldwide media frenzy in August when she was found alive nearly two decades after she was snatched outside her home by convicted rapist Phillip Garrido in South Lake Tahoe in 1991.
Now 29, Dugard has spent the past two months in seclusion with her mother, Terry Probyn, 50, and the two daughters Angel, 15, and Starlit, 11, who were fathered by her alleged kidnapper Garrido.
PHOTO: REUTERS
In a photo for the cover of People magazine’s latest issue due out today, a smiling Dugard appears above the headline: “I’m so happy to be back.”
The photo of a beaming Dugard bears a strong resemblance to the more familiar image of the 11-year-old abducted schoolgirl that once adorned missing posters. Dugard’s formerly blond hair is now chestnut brown, but her smile and blue eyes remain the same.
In a brief story accompanying the photo, People reported that Dugard has begun a slow process of recovery and has spent her time riding horses, cooking meals and is considering working on a book.
“I’m so happy to be back with my family,” Dugard was quoted as saying.
Terry Probyn’s stepmother Joan Curry meanwhile revealed: “They live a surprisingly normal life, considering the circumstances.”
A spokeswoman for the family, Erika Schulte, told ABC television’s Good Morning America that Dugard had broken her silence to show the world she was recovering from her ordeal.
“She has such a deep appreciation for this new life that she’s embarking on,” Schulte said. “She did want to thank everyone and really let everyone see how happy she is and how much she’s enjoying this and how happy she is to be home.”
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