Dugard 'happy to be back with family'

Jaycee Dugard, who spent 18 years as a captive in a sex offender's garden, released the first photos of herself as an adult - and her first statement.

An exclusive picture on the cover of People magazine, which hits US news stands tomorrow, shows Miss Dugard, 29, smiling brightly, her light brown hair loosely falling on her shoulders.

In other photos, she is snapped with her mother, sister Shayna and two daughters at an undisclosed Northern California location, where she has been since she resurfaced two months ago.

"I'm so happy to be back with my family," she said in a statement to People.

"Nothing is more important than the unconditional love and support I have from them."

A family spokeswoman said Miss Dugard wanted to release the photos because she knew people had been curious about how she was doing and what she looked like.

She trusted that the magazine, which has covered several kidnappings including hers in 1991, would be sensitive with the story, spokeswoman Erika Price Schulte said.

Miss Dugard did not want to put herself in the spotlight, Ms Schulte said, but added: "This was a kind of thank you to the people who have expressed their support and shared their joy for her.

"She's eager to live a quiet life right now with her daughters, mother and sister."

Ms Schulte said Miss Dugard did not plan to do any interviews, but her mother, Terry Probyn, would probably be writing a book.

Miss Dugard was reunited with her family on August 27 when police arrested a couple in Antioch for her kidnapping. Phillip and Nancy Garrido deny rape and imprisonment.

Ms Schulte declined to comment on whether Miss Dugard had spoken about her captors or the 18 years she was kept from her family. Her lawyer has previously said that she understands terrible things have happened to her and is prepared to give evidence if necessary.

People magazine had been in contact with family representatives since the story broke and had a strong relationship with the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, said Betsy Gleick, the publication's executive director.

"These tales of hope are few and far between," she said. "She's doing well, but there is a long, difficult road ahead."

Ms Gleick would not discuss details of the arrangement the magazine had made with Miss Dugard for the photos, but said: "People, like lots of news outlets, does pay for photos, and we have in the past."

Ms Schulte said Miss Dugard and her mother cook, go for walks, ride horses and laugh.

"I think it's a much more normal life than most people probably assume," she said.

Among the pictures is one of Miss Dugard on a horse, which she rides as part of therapy. Another shows Dugard with her daughters, Angel, 15, and Starlit, 11. That picture does not show the girls' faces.

"Jaycee has done a remarkable job with them," Ms Schulte said. "They are bright and curious and interested in all kinds of things."