After 18 years in captivity -- and the past six months of avoiding the spotlight -- Jaycee Lee Dugard is talking publicly.
It's unknown where Dugard and her two daughters are, but for the first time in a televised interview, she's letting the world know that she's OK.
On camera, she says: "Hi, I'm Jaycee." "I want to thank you for your support, and I'm doing well."
"It's been a long haul, but I'm getting there.
"Dugard's mother, Terry Probyn, "We are happy and well and when we have more to share … we will."Phillip and Nancy Garrido are charged with abducting Dugard.
KCRA in Sacramento asked Nancy Garrido's attorney why he thinks Dugard is now talking to the media.
"I think the family and some people got together and decided this is probably the best way to avoid the press, and who are trying to find out where she is by saying here we are; therefore it's no big deal anymore, so please leave us alone," attorney Steve Tapson said.
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Tapson said he doesn't think the Garridos will see Dugard's comments on television.
The attorney said he'll try and get a videotape of the interview later to Nancy Garrido, who he says misses the girls.
"She brings it up, says, 'I'd like to see the kids,' and obviously that's not going to happen," Tapson said.
And regarding Phillip Garrido, Tapson said the defendant is crazy and manipulative.
"He's looney tunes. There's no question about it whether it's legal looney tunes or not is another question. In my view maybe he's crazier than a hoot owl but he's still able to manipulate people … as he did before," Tapson said.
There's debate as to whether Dugard will appear again publicly soon, or need to testify at the Garridos' trial.
One attorney said that all the prosecution needs is DNA evidence to link the Garridos to Dugards kids to prove guilt.
Phillip Garrido's attorney, Susan Gellman, said she saw Dugard on television and issued "no comment" in response.
This article originally appeared on KCRA.com.
