Shattered Innocence: The Abduction of Jaycee Lee Dugard - The Untold Story

by Robert Scott

Jaycee Lee Dugard was kidnapped on June 10, 1991, when she was 11 years-old and remained missing for more than 18 years until August 26, 2009, when a 29 year-old Dugard, along with her two daughters and Phillip Craig Garrido appeared on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley, to hand out religious literature. The case attracted national media attention. "Shattered Innocence" is the previously untold story of the Jaycee Lee Dugard abduction. Seeking to set the record straight, it examines the case that stunned the nation first in 1991 when 11-year-old Jaycee was kidnapped, and then again nearly 20 years later, when her captors were finally arrested so she could go free. Through extensive research, interviews and investigation, Scott reveals startling new information about Phillip Garrido that has not been reported anywhere else, including 16 pages of shocking photographs never before available to the media or the public. Written by an acclaimed investigative journalist and insider who grew up in the same time and place as Phillip Garrido, this harrowing account reveals new insights and evidence about Garrido's criminal past and manipulation of the legal system. With police and psychologist testimony, this book answers the question: How could someone so evil get away with his crimes for so long?

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Biography, Crime, Ebooks

394 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Robert Scott was an investigative journalist and crime expert.

Reviews

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only saving grace of this book is Jaycee Lee Dugard. The book itself is a bland telling of the hour-by-hour thoughts of a few involved. There is nothing about Jaycee, really, just how she was discovered, the police, Phillip's criminal past, how she was taken, her mother and stepfather's turmoil, her biological dad (whom she had never met) making it all about him, the failings of the legal system, and reactions from the people surrounding the case.

Jaycee's own memoir A Stolen Life is worlds more informative, engaging, and horrifying. If you know a little about the case, you don't need to read this book, but I'd suggest reading Jaycee's instead. It is truly amazing.

[Nancy Narma · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a child of the Fifties, I was able to walk up and down our rural, country road alone or play all by myself on our front lawn, unattended and unafraid. How much this world has changed is well illustrated by the documented account of the abduction that kept our eyes glued to the news and our Prayers winging their way to give a bit of support to Jaycee Lee Dugard and her Family. What a glorious August day in 2009, when we learned that Jaycee was alive after being on the missing persons file for 18 years! We were also sad and sickened at what this child, now woman, had endured at the hands of her kidnappers. With the courage of Ms. Dugard, plus changes in the way Law Enforcement and the Court treat these kind of cases, hopefully, many lives can be saved and the despicable individuals brought to justice for the crimes they have committed. You’ll feel the waves of fright and emotion throughout Mr. Scott’s well-written accounting of this horrific crime, as well as anger and frustration at our country’s court system and lack of law enforcement. The documentation proves time is of the essence is cases like this one as well as “no stone should be left unturned”, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. If you are like me, with no children of your own, (I do have Nieces and Nephews and friends who have children), I implore you to take the time to read this heart-wrenching volume. It will definitely make you stop and think. Thank-you Mr. Scott, for tactfully and tenderly bringing this tragedy to light, so many, through renewed vigilance, may be found and brought safely home. Last, but not least, I send Ms. Dugard , her Daughters and her Family, Prayers for a sunshine and happiness-filled future. Nancy Narma

[Rachael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rehashed details of a very public case

Poorly written, with paragraphs seeming like they have been thrown together, often with "shocking moments" that have already been mentioned in previous chapters! Very erratic and disappointing.

[Sherry · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't bother buy or reading this book. It was a fast read, but not fast enough. If you have followed the case of Jaycee Lee Dugard you already know what is in this book. While reading this book you are thinking, I already knew that. John Glass did a better job with his book than Robert Scott. Like a said in the beginning, don't wast you 8 bucks to buy the book, it's not worth it. Very disappointing. The book is a rerun.

[Shar Hoff · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't care much for it. I thought I was going to be more about Jaycee but it was about the kidnappers. And not very well written, very repetitive a lot of the time. A lot of it isn't even about the Jaycee Dugard case but a previous case from the 70s. Don't waste your time, is basically what I'm saying.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best true crime novel I've ever read, but certainly not the worst.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this because Jaycee Dugard had some strong opinions on Elizabeth Smart's female captor being released so early and allowed to live near a school.

Now I understand why. The story is mostly about well-intentioned people being caught in bureaucracy or fear, lazy or inattentive people not doing their jobs right, and Bad Guys being super persuasive about their relationship with God and their willingness to reform.

It's moderately interesting and frustrating to see how the tragedies unfold, but there's a lot of extraneous material.

I don't know much about the genre, so can't compare it to other books, but it's no "In Cold Blood" or "Helter Skelter". I am very pleased at how details were omitted so there's no prurient interest in the material, thank goodness. The happy ending doesn't hurt.

[Yvonne Mendoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book it is a book of her strength and wiliness to save herself and her 2 children. she was kidnapped as a child and held hostage for more than 17 years not letting to say anything about her past by her kidnappers. i loved this book it was amazing and it showed how a young girl that grew up in a horrid place grew up to be a kind and gentle person. knowing that she might never see her family but still fighting through what is going on in her life. Shnowing her kids as little as she knows but still giving them an education and showing them not what they are living through but the wonderful things in life.

[Traci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great wealth of information occasionally a dry read.

This case was huge to me since Jaycee and I were very similar in age when all of this happened. It was a big case but I was young and a lot of details were not made available to me. I wanted to read this to get more information about what really happened in this case. Information I got! Definitely a ton of information, occasionally repetitive, and occasionally off subject. Also a bit dry and so fact packed that it was hard to plod through at times. But I did learn a lot more about the case and I am glad to have read this book.

[Jane Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

True Crime

Very disappointing book. The author quotes from the perpetrator. Writes about similar crimes, and discusses the physical conditions she was kept in. Only a couple of pages quote from Jaycee sand that is a routine court appearance. Nowhere does discuss her feelings old thoughts about the kidnappinglr her seizure. Most of the information co!e from newspaper stories of newscasts.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely heartbreaking

There is a special place in hell for people like Phil and Nancy Garrido. My heart breaks for what that put Jaycee through.

This book was much longer than it needed to be as the author repeated himself over and over on many occasions. He also went into great detail of other cases of missing girls. I just felt like it took way longer than it should've to get through this book because of it.

[Diane Finnegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much “stuff”

Much of the book covered incidental remarks from people totally unrelated to the case. It is a sad story and one that shouldn’t had happened if the court and parole system wasn’t so messed up. Getting through it was painful. Add to that the extra non related information, made it even more painful.

[Holly Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read the Wikipedia for free or better yet, just read Jaycee’s book(s). This book was mostly a compendium or people interviewed by the press. It’s not informative or helpful and made everyone seems like they were out for themselves, not because they cared about Jaycee. Garrido’s prior kidnapping and rape charge was the most interesting thing to come out of this book.

[leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just.... wow.

Heartbreaking. I grew up with this story, now nearly 34 years old, I finally know what happened after the rescue. I'm glad there was a real happy ending for once, despite taking over a decade. And I'm seriously ashamed for the police agencies involved with the perp... you live and learn, I guess.

Well written and informative. Thank you for writing this.

[Yvonne Almeida · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not enough about Jaycee

I was looking for how Jaycee and her girls are getting through life since her terrible abduction and life 18 years later. Too much details of the animals who took her and their sick minds. Not what I was looking for at all. The sick persons responsible have had enough publicity!

[Judi McPhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

This was very well written. It was easy to follow. It really gave you an insight to the plight of Jaycee Dugard and all the atrocities she had to endure at the hands of this monster. She is today an amazing woman.

[Maribeth Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author obviously did a huge amount of research and this book was very technical, but it's not the story of Jaycee Lee Duggard, it's the story of Phil Garrido. Interesting, but not quite as advertised.

[Augusta McGowan-Hass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect title

The author supplies the reader with facts from the case. A timeline and history of the abductors and plausible explanations for the horrific kidnapping and what follows. He helps one understand the professional manipulator.

[Elizabeth Rodriguez · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was all about Phillip Garrick. It had not so much to do with Jaycee. I thought this book was about her story. What she went through, the challenges that she was faced with and how she was able to survive the ordeal for so many years. It was nothing of that.

[Kaylyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent book about an abduction in the 90’s. This book describes every detail every thought every movement, def see why it wouldn’t be for everybody, you truly have to enjoy reading about true crime to love this book. Can’t wait to read more about Jaycee Duggard.

[Maggie Czaikowski · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very little is actually shared about Jaycee herself.

[Diane Waddington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book have read several about the kidnapping of little Jayce Dugard.

[Sinead · Rating 4 out of 5]

The worst aspect of this case aside from the 18 year ordeal that Jaycee Lee Dugard endured at the hands of evil were the many missed opportunities by so-called professional agencies to bring that horrific ordeal to an end. I pray that Jaycee Lee & her daughters find the peace & happiness they so richly deserve.

[Bailey Herrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrifying true story, especially for parents of girls.

[Niels Mejia Ibarra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really shocking

It was a great narration of the terrible things that happened to an innocent girl. I didn't know this story before.

[Hannah Gunn · Rating 2 out of 5]

it wa okay

[Therese]

$.98

[Robert and Katherine Piva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointed

The title indicates a story about Jaycee. 3/4 through and it was all about the sick abducter. I wanted to read about the girls story.

[Sally K. Parker-Yap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well presented, very respectful of the victums.

[Donna Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really interesting but it was more about Phillip then Jaycee.