Cops Searched Kidnapper's House, Found Nothing

Garrido kept his dark secret despite multiple brushes with the law

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 28, 2009 2:36 AM CDT

(Newser) – Phillip Garrido had several brushes with the law during the 18 years that police say he held Jaycee Lee Dugard and their two children captive in his backyard, but managed to keep his ugly secret, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Last July, a multi-agency police task force searched Garrido's home as part of a routine check on the registered sex offender. But the search apparently stopped at his back fence, which separated the Dugard compound from the rest of the house.

The task force was unaware of a complaint made earlier about the tents and sheds in Garrido’s backyard, made by a neighbor who suspected he was illegally renting space to tenants. Sheriff’s deputies questioned Garrido at the time, but they informed the neighbor that without a warrant, they couldn’t search the entire premises. Garrido was also suspected of bilking another neighbor out of his $18,000 life savings.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

Google Map view of Garrido's registered address in Antioch, Calif. (Google Maps)

This family photo shows Jaycee Lee Dugard who went missing in 1991. (AP Photo)

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There were zero signs of kids living there. Only him, his wife and mom.
- Diane Aguinaga, Antioch police

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 12 comments

Loafer

Aug 29, 2009 1:48 AM CDT

I guess we're going to have to wait for the book. On the one hand this guy seems to be a retarded fruitcake who speaks the tongue of angels and has God solve his problems, on the other hand he fooled the cops for eighteen years and conned a neighbor out of $18,000??? This does not compute.

SalParadise

Aug 28, 2009 12:43 PM CDT

For this sort of sex offender, I couldn't agree more.

Doctor-Zaius

Aug 28, 2009 11:12 AM CDT

Anyone who is a sex offender living outside of prison shouldn't have any rights. These people don't get better. Either 1) lock them up forever 2) execute them or 3) if you do let them out then let the cops search every piece of property they own or have access to at any time without a warrant. This is a different kind of crime. They don't ever get "better".

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Crime & Courts • US

California • backyards • police • kidnapping • search warrant • warrant • Jaycee Lee Dugard • Phillip Garrido • Nancy Garrido

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Cops Searched Kidnapper's House, Found Nothing