Phillip Garrido Asks for Help for Jaycee Dugard in Jailhouse Letter

Oct. 1, 2009 — -- In a handwritten jailhouse letter full of misspellings, accused rapist and kidnapper Phillip Garrido expressed concern for his alleged victim, Jaycee Dugard, saying he believes her "civil rights have been clearly violated."

The four-paragraph letter is addressed to Walt Gray, news anchor for NBC California affiliate KCRA and was written in pencil.

In it, Garrido wrote that Dugard's "free speach [sic] rights are being violated, also she has been repeatedly denied access to have an attorney present during questioning."

Garrido urged Gray to "take this to a privet [sic] attorney who will look this matter over for her best interest."

Phillip Garrido, 58, and wife Nancy Garrido are accused of kidnapping Dugard, then 11 years old, in 1991 near her school bus stop. She was rescued in August after being held for more than 18 years in a compound of sheds and tents on the Garrido's Antioch, Calif., property with her two daughters that believe were fathered by Phillip Garrido.

In the letter, Garrido referred to Dugard as "J.C." and said her two daughters were "getting the same treatment."

The letter ends, saying, "Contact J.C. by attorney mail only. Protect her and the children's rights, use wise judgment in this matter please!"

A spokeswoman for Dugard and her family could not immediately be reached for comment.

State Investigating How Garrido Was Able to Hide Jaycee Dugard for 18 Years

California's inspector general has launched an investigation into how Garrido was able to get away with the kidnapping for 18 years while being monitored by state and federal authorities as part of this status as a registered sex offender.

Garrido was released from prison 11 years ago after being convicted of raping and kidnapping a woman in the 1970s.

Garrido is also considered a suspect in two other missing child cases; the 1988 abduction of 9-year-old Michaela Garecht and the 1989 disappearance of 11-year-old Ilene Misheloff.

He has said after his arrest in the Dugard case that he was wrong in the beginning and did things he now finds disgusting, but is reformed.

Nancy and Phillip Garrido have pleaded not guilty to 28 charges in the Dugard case. Phillip Garrido is being held on $30 million bail. His wife's attorney has not requested bail.

Dugard, now 29, remains in seclusion with her daughters and her mother, Terry Probyn.