Angel Dugard rose to prominence as the eldest daughter of Jaycee Dugard. Although not a renowned entertainer, Angel’s mother is an author. Jaycee and her daughter gained recognition after she released her book “A Stolen Life – A Memoir,” based on her struggles as a captive of Phillip Garrido.
According to her mother’s book, Angel Dugard was born after her mother’s captor raped her at just 13 years. Hence, Angel had an unusual childhood in confinement to a physically and mentally abused mother.
In addition, her upbringing and early life experiences have shaped her life into what it is today. According to reports, she still suffers from the trauma she underwent as a child. Here’s a look into the life of Angel Dugard, her early life, career, siblings, and where she is today.
Who Is Angel Dugard?
Angel Dugard was born on August 18, 1994, in Antioch, California, where Garrido held her mother captive. Hence, she is 29 years old. In addition, she has American nationality and is of White Caucasian ethnicity. According to reports, Garrido kidnapped Angel’s mother on June 10, 1991, when she was just 11 years old.
He kidnapped her from a school bus stop in California. During her captivity, Garrido hid her in tents and sheds in his backyard, where he abused and raped her repeatedly for years. However, after two years, one of these assaults resulted in pregnancy.
Unfortunately, Jaycee could not access medical care, as her captor kept her hidden. However, Garrido gave her analgesics and showed her some labor and delivery videos in preparation for her child’s birth. Eventually, in August 1994, at only 13 years, Jaycee gave birth to Angel.
Born in such circumstances, Angel grew up in a traumatic environment. In addition, she didn’t get a chance to attend school like her peers. However, her mother homeschooled her.
How Many Children Does Jaycee Dugard Have?
Jaycee Dugard has two daughters, Angel and Starlet Dugard. However, Angel Dugard is the older one of Jaycee’s daughters. In 1997, three years after the birth of Angel, Jaycee gave birth to her second daughter, Starlet. While Jaycee was thirteen years old when she birthed Angel, she was 16 when she had Starlet.
However, as the sisters grew up, they were made to believe that Philip Garrido and his wife Nancy were their biological parents and that their mother, Jaycee, was their elder sister. Since her daughters were too young to understand what they were going through, Jaycee continued to shower them with love and care.
Moreover, even after their rescue from the captive, Angel and Starlet showed attachment toward their father for a long time. When asked about the matter in an interview, Jaycee said, “I want them to make their own choices in life, and if that’s something that they need to do, then you know I’d… I wouldn’t be OK with it. But I wouldn’t let them do it.”
Who Is Angel Dugard’s Father?
Angel Dugard’s father is Phillip Garrido, a hardened criminal with a revolting background. He is an abductor, serial rapist, pedophile, sexual deviant, chronic drug abuser, and hebephile. Before Jaycee’s case, Garrido had already spent 15 years in prison for a harassment case.
According to reports, he continuously raped women for 8 hours in a rented storage container. Moreover, he also married his childhood friend, Christine Murphy, whom he abducted after she threatened to leave him because of his abusive nature.
How Long Did Angel Dugard and Her Mother Spend in Captivity?
In August 2009, after 18 years of captivity, Jaycee and her daughters were finally free. It all began when Garrido showed up with his two daughters, Angel and Starlet, at the University of California, Berkeley campus. They reportedly went to the campus police department for approval to hold a special event related to his “God’s Desire” program.
He reportedly approached Lisa Campbell, the special events manager. However, Campbell felt that the kids acted weird and Garrido’s conduct was unusual, and their behavior sparked suspicion.
Consequently, Campbell requested Garrido to schedule an appointment for the next day, which he did, leaving his name as a reference. However, after running a background check, they discovered he was a registered sex offender on federal parole for kidnapping and assault.
After further investigations, Garrido surrendered and confessed to his crimes on August 26, 2009. Finally, Jaycee Dugard and her daughters reunited with their family in South Lake Tahoe, California.
Afterward, on June 2, 2011, Phillip Garrido received a 431-year jail sentence after being found guilty of one count of kidnapping and 13 counts of assault. In addition, his wife, Nancy, who participated in the abduction, received a 36-year prison term.
How Old Were Angel and Starlet Dugard When the Authorities Found Them?
While Angel Dugard was 15, her younger sister, Starlet, was 12. Although it was a happy moment for their mother, the girls struggled due to their emotional bond with Garrido. According to reports, the girls cried in terror when they heard of their father’s arrest and the things he had done.
Where Is Angel Dugard Now?
Following their rescue, Angel Dugard received family support and had to adapt to her new, everyday life. In addition, she had to undergo extensive therapy to overcome the trauma she experienced alongside her mom and sister. However, the renowned author’s daughter keeps her personal life out of the spotlight.
In a 2016 interview with ABC News, Jaycee described her daughters as “resilient” and “loving.” She also revealed that they both enrolled in college. In addition, she disclosed that her daughters are leading a happy but low-key life.
Like Jaycee and Angel Dugard’s story, another story that shook the world is that of Lamora Williams, the mom who gruesomely murdered her kids.