Guest Author - Gina Cowley
The case of Jaycee Dugard evidences that there is no evil beyond the reach of man - or woman.
While attention is currently focused on Jaycee and the sex offender who abducted her eighteen years ago; her daughters conceived by rape (led to believe she was their sister); why she didn’t run; how he eluded capture for so many years; the mystery of the backyard living conditions; the cost of therapy for getting all involved straight again, if possible – and that no one near that backyard either suspected nor discovered anything sinister was occurring – one must consider the mindset of the wife who assisted her husband in Jaycee’s abduction based only upon whatever her guilt is ultimately determined to be.
Stockholm syndrome is discussed each time a young, abducted woman returns from capture. Always after the insensitive and ignorant question is asked, “Why didn’t she run?” We all like to believe ourselves possessed of the strength which would enable us to maintain the presence of mind to run, no matter what. We all like to believe we would not succumb to the evil will of another, no matter what. Jaycee will be cruelly judged by some despite the facts of her ordeal as women who are the victims of sex crimes often are.
Nancy Garrido will likewise be publically judged by many, most viciously as a woman who failed to protect a child.
This wife who is alleged to have assisted her predator husband with Jaycee’s abduction, and other women like her (remember Elizabeth Smart’s abduction) are curiosities. Given the public mindset that there is only a certain allocation of sympathy which can occur in cases like these – said collective sympathy allocation will assuredly go with Jaycee and her daughters. Nancy Garrido’s defense attorneys will certainly offer evidence of alleged abuse at the hands of her husband to the court on her behalf – perhaps Battered Women’s Syndrome – perhaps some other impairment. Ironically, she may be found to suffer from the same syndrome as is the reason offered by the professionals as to why Jaycee did not run. What woman in her right mind would not run from such a man? There is not much information circulating as to Nancy Garrido at this point other than outrage that she could be involved in such a crime committed against a child and so for now, we are left to our speculation as to whether she is brainwashed, sick or evil. Worthy of our compassion or due our contempt.
Until Nancy Garrido’s actions are judged by the court, it is wishful thinking to hope she will be afforded some compassionate consideration if the facts of her involvement in the Dugard abduction warrant compassionate consideration. This is not to suggest that she should not be held accountable by the criminal justice system for her participation in the crimes committed against Jaycee Dugard - she must be in some fashion. It is to suggest that she should be held accountable for being an offender as her alleged participation in the crime is determined to be as weighed against whatever evidence in mitigation might be offered and accepted on her behalf. She should not be held accountable to a higher level of judgment nor public outrage simply for being a woman involved in crimes committed against a child. It is possible she is a victim herself.
An evil heart is genderless and must only be judged thusly.
