Tobias Dustin Summers, First Calif. Court Appearance

San Fernando Courthouse, Google Maps

UPDATE 4/29: Corrected dates, spelling, clarity
Case Summary
I can't imagine a worse nightmare for a parent.  You check on your child around 1AM, and everything is fine. You hear a noise in the house and you get up to check on your child again at 3:40 AM and they're not in their room.  You do a quick search of your home. Your 10-year-old daughter is gone.  This nightmare happened to one Northridge family in the early morning hours of March 27th.  The young girl with long red hair was discovered about 12 hours later in a Woodland Hills strip mall with cuts, bruises and in shock.  In my opinion, the parents are lucky their daughter is still alive.  This nightmare could have been far worse.

Tobias Dustin Summers, 30, (described in many newspaper reports as a transient) and his accomplice Daniel Martinez, 29 are charged with the 10-year-old's alleged kidnapping and rape. Newspaper reports indicate the pair had planned to rob a house.  It's my understanding Martinez waited in the car when Summers entered the home they were going to rob, saw the child and decided to kidnap the young girl.

Martinez was arrested March 31st. Summers was caught in Mexico and returned to the US on April 24th. One media report indicated he was identified by the Superman tattoo on his chest. He made his first court appearance April 25th in a San Fernando Valley courtroom.  Martinez is facing felony kidnapping of a child under 14 and first degree burglary. His bail has been set at 1 million.  Summers is facing 37 charges and bail has been set at 19 million.

April 25th, 2013
In the morning, I got the announcement that alleged kidnapper Tobias Summers would be arraigned in the afternoon at the San Fernando Courthouse, Department S, in the city of San Fernando, CA.  I had never been to the San Fernando Courthouse and I didn't have any commitments going on, so I thought I would see if I could get a seat at the arraignment.  I don't often get to see arraignments since I usually pick up a case before or after the preliminary hearing.

San Fernando is a tiny city in the northeastern section of the San Fernando Valley that is completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles.  The city was established in 1885 and currently has about 24,000 residents, the majority being Latino.

The first thing I notice when I reach Third Street is the media presence.  Local media trucks take up the entire block in front of the courthouse on both sides of the street.   I'm able to find street parking a block up and walk towards the courthouse.

As I get closer, to the entrance, I can see it's an older building with Spanish influences.  Because of the full growth trees I can't get a good sense of how tall the building is.

San Fernando Courthouse, Entrance

When I clear security I keep going straight towards a wide, arched hallway.  The hallway walls are that bland ivory color with a hint of yellow.  The floor is brown, eight-inch square Spanish tiles.  I don't get far when I see some familiar media faces on very long, low wood benches. I note the name of the judge on the plaque outside the courtroom, but I overheard someone say that a different judge is on the bench today.

The first person I recognize is well known sketch artist, Mona Edwards and I also see Eric Leonard a well known reporter for local radio station KFI 640. I've been a fan of Leonard's long before I first met him at the Robert Blake trial in 2004-5. OCWeekly named him Best News Anchor in 2009. He does have a web page, but he doesn't post to it much.

Mona, who is there at the request of ABC Ch. 7, asks me if I'm going to the Jackson family civil case that is about to start.  I tell her that I usually only cover murder cases or cases involving children.  Mona tells me she's been drawing the Jackson family ever since '95 or '96, when a production company (Smith-Hemion Productions) sued the family in a case known as Jackson Family Honors.  There are other reporters here that I don't know, that are probably assigned to the San Fernando Valley.

Several of the TV faces show up dressed in their on-air suits.  Patrick Healy from NBC Ch. 4, and a familiar face from CBS Ch. 2.  Mary Hearn from the Superior Court's Public Information Office (PIO) arrives.  She will be the liaison between the court and the media's request to film the defendant when he's brought out.  I also wave to Claudia Peschiutta from KNX1070.

 While we wait for Dept. S to open, I politely listen while one reporter tells another about a famous incident from 2003 involving Judge David S. Wesley.  Apparently, an individual who was supposed to be arraigned that day but was freed committed a murder a month later.

When Dept. S opens, the reporter's fan out to where ever they want to sit.  In other arraignment courts, usually there are specific areas designated for the media.  The courtroom has three sections separated by two aisles.  There are about 42 seats in each of the side sections and about 30 in the center rows.  The center front row is blocked off from seating.  Trying to get the best seat to see the defendant, I sit in the center, last row.

The wood paneled courtroom is almost a much smaller version of Dept. 30 in downtown Los Angeles.  The small name plaque on the bench says Michael O'Gara, Judge. There are large green signs on several of the walls outlining court rules about no talking to detainees in custody.  There are several court staff in the well, all looking like they are busy doing 'something' and a couple of mid-level looking managers just standing, watching the gallery. Sheriff deputies come and go, but there are at least two or three in the room most of the time.

The defendant "fish tank" or cage is on the far right.  It's about five feet by 10 feet.  Hanging from the ceiling inside the cage is a microphone. The ends are wood paneling. The front is a mixture of glass at the top and screen and the bottom half. The detainee entrance is not on the far left, (like in Dept. 30) but the far right.

A child cries out from the back left of the courtroom and a bailiff tells the mother to take the child outside.  PIO Mary Hearn sits in the row of seats in the well, against the low wall.  There are several long tables in the center of the well for the defense and prosecution.

A video camera and still photographer are setting up in the well of the court to photograph the defendant.  I see Hearn speak to a few people in the media.  Mona tells me she will still do a sketch.  Mona asks if she can sit in the well to get a better view of the defendant and her request is granted.

Court is finally called to order. Several other cases are heard first.  A few defendants plead guilty. Those of us in the gallery wait.  Some reporters leave and come back. Waiting for one case, Judge O'Gara impatiently taps his pen while holding his chin in the palm of his left hand.  Looking behind me to my right, a black reporter with an ABC 7 pin on his lapel appears stretched out in his seat, his eyes closed.

Some of the defense attorneys who wander in and out of Dept. S look like characters themselves and I recognize at least one face I previously saw in Dept. 30. It's 2:40 PM an a DDA enters that the pretty young reporter next to me recognizes.  She thinks its DDA Laura Jackson, who is prosecuting Summer's co-conspirator, Daniel Martinez.

2:44 PM The judge steps off the bench for about 15 minutes.  Even though there are lulls in the proceedings, the court reporter needs a break, too.

2:58 PM The judge retakes the bench. I hear him say, "Ms. Lambert (sp?), Ms. Jackson.  The judge states something about having a long discussion at the bench with the prosecutor and defense.  The defendant is not currently present in the courtroom.  There are a number of media requesting (to photograph and video record the defendant) including the LA Times.  All will be granted.  "Have the defendant brought out," Judge O'Gara tells the bailiffs.

The defendant emerges from the back area. He's in street clothes.  When he comes out, he keeps his head down.  You can't see his face at all. Earlier, a few reporters did talk about how the defendants often try to stand behind their defense attorneys, to avoid being photographed.

Tobias Dustin Summers, first US court appearance.

The judge states that this matter would be "..put over to Dept. H, May 2nd for continuance and arraignment."  The defendant's 19 million bail stands.  The people then request a protective order for the victim and that the defendant be prohibited from any contact with the victim by his person or a third party.  The defendant will be served with this protective order. The prosecution asks that the protective order be under seal and I believe that is also granted.  The defendant is taken back to the holding area.

And that's it.  The reporters leave the courtroom back to their news trucks to get their copies of the video and the on air suits to file their video reports.

Just when I think I can take a leisurely drive back home and write up my story, I get a call from Mr. Sprocket. He tells me the new door is in for the bakery's Turbo-Air refrigerated displace case.  Since I'm so close to the distributor, I get to go pick it up.

Northridge Kidnapping Suspect Appears in Court KTLA Video

FBI Joins Search for Missing Northridge Girl

Police Hunt for Two Men in Girl's Abduction

Two Men Sought In Abduction

Northridge Girl Repeatedly Raped

Suspect Charged in Northridge Girl's Kidnapping Assault

Judicial Watch

Did She Keep a Journal of the Christian-Newsom Crimes?

~"Nessie" Coleman




Vanessa Coleman, the only female charged in the Christian-Newsom case, was once again before Judge Richard Baumgartner for another pre-trial hearing.

Her attorneys, Ted Lavit and Russell Greene, are arguing to bar Coleman's statements to federal authorities from the trial. They claim that Coleman was questioned for two hours before authorities turned on a tape recorder.

Prosecutors Leland Price and Takisha Fitzgerald countered that Coleman was declining protective custody and saying she wanted to go home to Kentucky and that she wasn't being questioned during those two hours.

But, the real bombshell in today's hearing is the fact that "Nessie" apparently kept a journal and may have memorialized the crimes against Channon Christian and Chris Newsom and Price and Fitzgerald want to use it against her.

Needless to say, Lavit argued the prosecution has to prove the journal is hers and is relevant to the trial.

Baumgartner responded by brandishing a photograph of the journal in a purse prosecutors say belonged to Coleman.

"You mean the photograph of her purse with the journal in it?" Baumgartner told Lavit, a note of sarcasm in his voice.

"A purse," Lavit replied.

"It's got her stuff in it," prosecutor Leland Price countered.

The journal has not been made public so we don't know what's in it, however it appears to be loaded with references to the 2007 murders of Channon Christian and Chris Newsom.

"I've read it, and it certainly seems to be relevant to this incident," Baumgartner said.

Talk about your jaw dropping, holy cow moment!

This could crack this case wide open and as tough as it will be for the families, they may finally know exactly what happened to their kids. Also, I certainly wonder if we will find out Eric Boyd's full participation in the crimes and will the other sources of DNA be revealed?

KnoxNews

Channon Christian and Chris Newsom - Sometimes There is a God

~Letalvis Cobbins

I've been feeling sorry for myself as the next 'snowicane' paralyzes the northeast. Even though my long-planned escapade to a weekend in the Big Apple and tickets to a show at Radio City Music Hall have been dashed, I still have a reason to celebrate!

Convicted kidnapper, rapist, and murderer, Letalvis Cobbins - previously convicted to a life-sentence in the Channon Christian-Chris Newsom slayings - got additional just-desserts today!

For the lesser charges in the conviction, Judge Richard Baumgartner merged some of the charges and then proceeded to sentence Cobbins to an additional 100 years in jail!

"This is the worst of the worst," Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner said. "If ever there was a case that deserved maximum sentencing, this case deserves maximum sentencing."

Chris's dad appealed to Cobbins during the hearing saying, "All you have to do is testify in a grand jury hearing stating who participated in grabbing Chris and Channon ... all you have to do is make arrangements before you go back to prison to testify before a grand jury and at Eric Boyd's trial." "All you have to do is tell the truth."

Hugh Newsom then asked Cobbins, "We got a deal?"

Cobbins responded with nothing but silence!

Cobbins' then-girlfriend Vanessa Coleman, is scheduled to go on trial in May.

Not a damn thing will ease the pain and suffering the parents of Channon and Chris have and will continue to endure, but hopefully they feel a sense of peace that justice for their kids is finally being served!

My heart and prayers will always hold a special place for Channon, Chris, their loved ones and friends.



WBIR

Knox News

For The Christian-Newsom Families The Suffering Continues

~Deena Christian, second from right, weeps in court

Although the brutal torture and murders occurred 3 years ago there has been no closure for the families of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom. The families have not been idle in seeking justice not only for their children, but they are attempting to have laws changed to benefit all victims. Gary and Deena Christian and Hugh and Mary Newsom still face numerous court rulings and another trial.

Tomorrow is a status hearing for Vanessa "Nessa" Coleman, the only female charged in the murder case. Coleman's attorneys want the charges dropped because they claim for Coleman's agreeing to testify against Eric Boyd, federal agents offered or indicated she could receive immunity.

If the charges stand against Coleman her trial is slated to begin May 10.

Letalvis "Rome" Cobbins was convicted last August and sentenced to life without parole on murder and rape charges. He will appear before Judge Richard Baumgartner on February 4 for sentencing on all the lesser charges.

George "G" Thomas was convicted in December and also sentenced to life without parole. He will be back in court for sentencing on the lesser charges on February 26.

Unbelievably, the Tennessee Department of Corrections sent Thomas to the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville. Yup, they did it again - Tiptonville is a medium- security facility! The same thing they did with Cobbins. Both are now residing in a maximum security facility, but only after protests by the families.

Remember, during the Thomas trial the defense filed a 24 page motion for acquittal. Judge Baumgartner reserved ruling and instructed the State to file a response

In mid-January, Thomas' attorneys acknowledge that their request is not yet complete, but they needed to file the motion for a new trial within 30 days of the order of sentence.

Thomas' attorneys argue there wasn't sufficient evidence to convict Thomas and that the admission of Thomas' statements to police was unconstitutional.

For those who followed the Lemarcus Davidson trial, you may recall the outrage of the families, as well as the public, when defense attorneys Doug Trant and David Eldridge basically besmirched the reputations of Channon and Chris by saying that is was possible that they may well have known Davidson and willing went to him to purchase drugs.

No, there is absolutely no proof of that! What was suggested by the defense was said to try to create doubt for the jury. However, the lines of honor, and respectability where crossed when these words were uttered in court. Is it acceptable for defense to lie about the victims? I think not!

Tennessee State Senators Tim Burchett, Randy McNally and Representative Ryan Haynes are working with the families on two pieces of legislation. The first would automatically make maximum-security prison the immediate destination for anyone convicted of murder in Tennesse. Logically, this should be in place in all states!

The second piece of legislation could have a dramatic effect on defense attorneys. The law would basically hold defense lawyers criminally liable for any unproven claims made during a trial. Again, this should be in place in all states!

Senator Tim Burchett said, "Those young people suffered enough indignity, and their families have, too. At some point somebody has got to do something for the victims."

Gary and Denna Christian discuss victim's reputations.

Thank you David from Tennessee for sharing some of the information!

WBIR
KnoxNews

Life Without Parole In Latest Christian-Newsom Trial

1. Eric “E” Boyd – Sentence 18 years

2. Letalvis “Rome” Cobbins – Sentence LWOP

3. Lemarcus “Slim” Davidson – Sentence Death by lethal injection

4. George “G” Thomas – Sentence LWOP

5. Vanessa “Nessa” Coleman – Trial scheduled for May 10

For those who have been following the George “G” Thomas trial, it didn’t come as a surprise when the jury read the sentence today.

After just under two hours of deliberating, the jury notified Judge Baumgartner they had reached a decision and then pronounced they unanimously decided on life without parole for each of the felony and the aggravated murders charges for Chris and Channon.

The families voiced a bit of disappointment, but accept that Thomas will die in a penitentiary.

Both Thomas and Cobbins will appear before Judge Baumgartner in February for sentencing on all of the lesser charges committed during these horrendous crimes.

Vanessa Coleman is scheduled to go to trial on May 10 and T & T will be covering the proceedings.

Christian-Newsom Thomas Guilty On all 46 Counts

One week after the beginning of the George "G" Thomas trial, the Chattanooga jury has returned a guilty verdict for all 46 counts of kidnap, murder, robbery, rape and theft!

The judge earlier reserved a decision regarding a request by the defense for acquittal and could reverse the jury decision. Imagine how hard that decision would be!

The jury is being sent home tonight and won't return until the sentencing hearing, tomorrow.

There will be 6 witnesses for Thomas tomorrow as well as the victim impact statements from Channon and Chris's folks.

Thomas showed no emotion during the reading of the verdict.

Christian-Newsom Trials Continue

~Channon Christian & Chris Newsom

Once again, the families and friends of Channon Christian and Chris Newsom arrived at a Knoxville courtroom on Tuesday, December 1 for what is the third of four trials they must suffer through. The current defendant is George “G” Thomas. Throughout the week, Thomas has been attentive, staring ahead or at the defense table, but showing no emotion.

What makes this trial different is there is no forensic evidence tying Thomas to the crimes. Thomas admits to being at the Chipman Street house and additional testimony will place him there at the time of the crimes. The strong DNA evidence in the first trials does not exist here.

As guest writer, David in Tennessee previously reported, the jury for this trial is from Chattanooga and has been sequestered for the duration of the trial.

Both David and I admit that the Cobbins and Davidson trials were difficult to watch and emotionally draining. Observing the Christian and Newsom families stoically enduring the horrific testimony about what was done to their children was almost unbearable.

Channon’s dad, Gary, rocks in his seat. His anger is palpable, visible, and painful to witness.

I’m not sure it can all be attributable to Gary, but throughout all of the trials, 3 very large officers face the spectators – backs to the bench – out of concern that someone may just explode and attempt to attack a defendant.

During opening statements, Prosecutor Takisha Fitzgerald told the jury that Thomas, by his own admission, knew co-defendants Lemaricus Davidson and Letalvis Cobbins were cooking up a carjacking. He also admitted to taking a ride in Christian's carjacked Toyota 4Runner.

So, even if “G” didn’t commit the actual rapes or murders he still, quite possibly faces the death penalty for having knowledge of the crimes being committed as he sat in the Chipman Street house, yet doing nothing to stop the crimes or notifying police.

Defense attorney Tom Dillard contends Thomas isn’t guilty of anything more than adopting a drug-induced, none-of-my-business attitude.

So, we have spent the week basically rehashing testimony we have heard. The atmosphere in the courtroom is nowhere near as tense as what we’ve experienced so far.

Having already heard most of the testimony, my mind begins to wander till it dawns on me (hopefully the jury hasn’t followed the case) that all of this testimony has to be presented so the jury fully understands how cruel and heinous these crimes were and that Thomas didn’t give a damn.

A few important things have happened this week:

Ethel Lynn Freeman was on the hot seat as the defense questioned her about inconsistencies in her testimony.

She has testified both for and against the prosecution. She has claimed to have seen Thomas walking down the street on January 7, 2007 and also claimed to have been stopped and asked for gas money by Channon on the night of January 6.

On Thursday, Freeman insisted she was totally sure of seeing Thomas, but now stated something a bit different regarding seeing Channon and Chris at the gas station.

"And in your mind you're not mistaken about seeing George Thomas before noon the following day, right," Dillard asked.

Freeman agreed.

"I knew George Thomas so I'm absolutely sure it was George Thomas," Freeman continued. "I didn't know Channon or Chris."

"Are you sure you saw them," Dillard asked.

"I'm sure they appeared to be the people that looked like Channon and Chris once I seen on the news, I said 'I saw them that night at Exxon'," Freeman replied.

When attorneys began to argue in open court about Freeman's testimony, Judge Richard Baumgartner sent the jury out of the courtroom.

The judge agreed to let the prosecution continue to redirect, but not before he admitted Freeman's credibilty was damaged.

"What's happened here is her credibility has been attacked with some regard and effectively so I might point out," Judge Baumgartner said.

As an aside, not a single person I have spoken to or comment I have read regarding Freeman’s testimony at any time she has testified, did anyone profess belief in her story.

On Friday, Detective Nevil Norman was called to the stand. This is what everyone has been waiting for! The jury heard the tapped police interrogation where Thomas described seeing Channon Christian and Chris Newsom in January 2007.

"Do you remember when "E" and "Slim" got out of the car and a white guy and a white girl with them and they had blindfolds over their eyes and their hands were tied,"

"Yeah, I remember seeing them,"

On tape, Thomas admitted to riding in Christian's stolen Toyota Four Runner, which he called a 'nice ride'.

After Thomas' taped interrogation was played on Friday, Norman continued to testify about what happened right after the conclusion of the tapped session. He says he was shocked by Thomas’ response when asked why he didn’t call for help.

"(Expletive) that white girl. She didn't mean anything to me you cops come into my neighborhood and kill us so why should I get involved in something that doesn't matter, that doesn't matter to me."

Realizing they had a problem, the prosecution quickly referred Detective Norman back to his memorandum to correct his testimony.

Norman said, "that doesn't matter to me", but his memorandum dated June 24, 2008 says Thomas ended with "it's none of my business”.

The defense immediately attacked Norman for waiting 17 months to share what Thomas allegedly said. They attempted to call into question Norman’s memory.

"And sitting here this morning during direct examination, you didn't quote it correctly did you," Thomas Dillard said.

"No, sir," Norman admitted.

Other witnesses included Jody Long who testified she drove Thomas, Vanessa Coleman and Letalvis Cobbins to Kentucky.

Natosha Hays talked about Thomas, Coleman, and Cobbins showing up at her front door in Lebanon, KY.

Hays said Coleman often stayed with her so she wasn’t concerned about their request to give them a place to sleep.

The end of the day saw the medical examiner, Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan taking the stand. She is extremely professional in her testimony even though it is so graphic.

Remember, during the Davidson trial, between her oral testimony and autopsy photos, the young intern from the District Attorney’s office actually fainted.

It has been reported that when Channon’s rape injury photos were shown one female jury began to cry and another turned her head away. Thomas showed no reaction to the photos.

I, not surprisingly, wept during the testimony – it gets no easier no matter how many times you have heard it. I cannot fathom the pain Channon and Chris’s family must experience each time!

The court was in session this morning, Saturday, for about and hour while DNA evidence was presented. At the conclusion, the prosecution rested.

Judge Baumgartner has indicated that Sunday should be a day off. And promised the jury they would be given the case on Monday for deliberation.

The defense indicated they will be submitting a motion for acquittal today for the judge’s review.

The defense has already indicated they will not offer proof on Monday, however the judge has given them the weekend to make their final decision.

Court resumes Monday at 9am for closing arguments.

Excellent print and video coverage of the trials can be found at WBIR.com.

For a Change, a Happy Outcome… Sort of …

Arial view of the Garrido compound

Jaycee Dugard, age 11

No doubt the parents of Jaycee Dugard had resigned themselves to the fact that they’d never know what happened to the 11-year old girl. Her stepfather Carl Probyn had witnessed the abduction of his stepdaughter, pulled into a stranger’s vehicle while she was waiting for her school bus in South Lake Tahoe. For all those years, the number one suspect in Jaycee’s disappearance was her stepfather, the last person to have seen her.

On August 26, Phillip Garrido reported to his parole officer at the request of UC Berkeley campus police. Garrido’s mistake: going onto UC Berkeley’s campus and passing our religious materials without receiving clearance. Garrido had two young girls with him, aged 11 and 15, and it was the behavior of the girls that alerted campus police that something was just not right. The girls were unable or unwilling to make eye contact with the officer who questioned Garrido. Campus police contacted Garrido’s parole agent, who summoned Garrido to his office. Accompanying Garrido to the parole agent was his wife Nancy, the two young girls and a young adult female that police had never seen on Garrido’s property. The young woman said her name was Allissa. The parole agent contacted Concord police in an effort to identify the young woman and the two girls.

Eventually the young woman was identified as Jaycee, the two girls as Garrido’s daughters. Some time after that, now 29-year old Jaycee was identified as being the mother of the two girls, and Garrido was indeed their father.

Do the math.

Phillip Craig Garrido was a registered sex offender who managed to just keep below the authorities’ radar. As recently as last July the two-acre Garrido property was searched his home as a condition of his parole. There was no sign that children lived on the property nor was there any sign of Jaycee and the two younger girls. The authorities had no idea there was a secret compound at the back of the property, where the three females were imprisoned apart from the world.

Two years ago a neighbor reported the “living compound” behind the Garrido residence, but because the police did not have a search warrant, they were not allowed to search the property. There was no follow-up to the complaint.

Last year Garrido was accused of stealing the life savings of Dilbert "Jack" Medieros of nearly $18,000—so Garrido could start a church. The complaint was investigated but due to insufficient evidence, charges were dropped.

Garrido is certainly a bit of a nutcase. He maintained his own blog of religious ramblings and was the inventor of a “divine machine” that was able to transmit “unearthly voices.”

This case is one of those that might have been avoided had Garrido actually served all of the time he was given as part of pervious convictions. He served time in federal and Nevada state prisons from 1977 to 1988 for a kidnapping and sexual assault committed in 1976. He was sentenced to 50 years, initially entering the federal prison system in 1977, transferred to Nevada state custody in January of 1988 and ultimately paroled to California in August 1988.

Do some more math. That 50 year sentence must have been the victim of new math. In corrections jargon, 11 years equals 50 years.

Earlier today (August 28), a search warrant was obtained by Pittsburgh, California police, who will search the Garrido property for evidence in the unsolved slayings of prostitutes in the 1990s.

Garrido’s own brother Ron doesn’t put this crime past his brother at all. Although he’s shocked to know that his brother kidnapped Jaycee all those years ago, his brother’s history of LSD use, sexual compulsions, kidnapping and past prison time lead him to believe the accusations against his younger brother are utterly true.

Jaycee and her daughters are now getting re-acquainted (or acquainted) with her mother Terry and her now 19-year old stepsister Shayna.

Garrido has already been blabbing his defense. Obviously he feels he did nothing wrong in stealing an 11-year old child, keeping her from her family, locking her up in his backyard. Oh well, I guess he was a decent God-fearing man and all, waiting until Jaycee was 13 or 14 to impregnate her.

Garrido’s statement: “Wait until you hear the story of what took place at this house. You are going to be completely impressed. It’s a disgusting thing that took place with me at the beginning. But I turned my life completely around and to be able to understand that, you have to start there.

“You’re going to find the most powerful story coming from the witness, the victim—you wait. If you take this a step at a time, you're going to fall over backwards and in the end, you're going to find the most powerful heart-warming story.”

I for one can’t wait until Jaycee and her two daughters are ready to share this “powerful heart-warming story.” Please read the “transcript” link below—this guy is positively Manson-esque. Forty years later, they are still out there!

Philip and Nancy Garrido each face 27 felony counts including kidnapping a person younger than age 14, kidnapping for sexual purposes, forcible rape, and forcible lewd acts on a child. If convicted, each faces life in prison.

Phillip Garrido will be a very popular guy in prison … crimes against children don’t exactly move an inmate to the head of the line as far as the prison hierarchy is concerned. Child molesters aren’t exactly admired by other inmates. I don't expect Nancy to fare much better unless she and her attorneys manage to convince a jury she was a victim as well.

Couple faces 28 felony counts, life in jail for alleged kidnapping

Cops searched home, but didn't see compound

Kidnap suspect had criminal past, brother says

Police to search Phillip Garrido's house for links to prostitute slayings

Entrepreneur, inventor, blogger and suspected kidnapper

Garrido’s blog

Phillip Garrido's interview: transcript

Google map of Garrido property

Sheriff Admits Fault in Kidnapping Case