Jaycee Dugard Distances Self from Biological Father

Jaycee Dugard endured an 18-year long ordeal as a kidnapped and captive young woman and has come out the other side, working to put together her life. Her biological father, Kenneth Slayton, now wants to become a part of that life.

Jaycee Dugard has been living with her mother, Terry Probyn, and Jaycee's two teenage daughters in the Bay Area of California. Dugard's daughters are children fathered by her alleged captor, Phillip Garrido, while in captivity.

Terry Probyn has never denied that Kenneth Slayton was Jaycee Dugard's biological father. Ms. Probyn relates that she told Slayton of the pregnancy and of his daughter's birth; he showed no interest in either fact. Since Jaycee Dugard's return to her family after her years of captivity, Slayton has come forward and shown an interest with being involved in his biological daughter's life--an interest that is not returned by the young woman.

Ms. Dugard and her family made it clear to Slayton there was no wish at this time on Ms. Dugard's part to be involved with him or his family, but Ms. Dugard also reserved the right to change her mind at some point in the future. She currently describes her biological father's attempts to resolve their lifelong estrangement as a "terror" to her, as reported by ABC News.

Slayton was present at a hearing for the suspected kidnappers, stating he was there because "Jaycee Lee Dugard needs a father. She needs a masculine role model" (AOL News). Slayton has retained attorney Gloria Allred and has made clear he seeks to establish paternity through the court, something Jaycee Dugard refers to as something she doesn't want, as she wants to "avoid the terror" (NY Daily News).

For his part, Slayton has said he was not aware he had a daughter until her 1991 kidnapping, when police briefly considered him to be a suspect.

Jaycee Dugard has experienced many trials in her short lifetime thus far. To her credit, she has not sought publicity about her ordeal, which would certainly garner her substantial income. She seems determined to get on with her life, and that of her two daughters. Perhaps in time she will be interested in getting to know the man who fathered her, but in the mean time she has earned the right to make whatever decision she chooses.

Sources: AOL News
NY Daily News
United Press International