Garridos deny involvement in disappearance of Bay Area girl
By Eric Kurhi, Oakland Tribune
HAYWARD — Nearly two years after Hayward police mounted a major search of the property near Antioch belonging to Phillip and Nancy Garrido in hopes of finding clues related to the disappearance of Michaela Garecht, investigators finally talked to the couple, who maintained their innocence.
Investigators spoke with each of the Garridos for more than two hours last week.
“It was nothing earth-shattering,” Sgt. Corey Quinn said. “Both denied having anything to do with Michaela’s disappearance.”
Philip Garrido, a twice-convicted kidnapper and rapist, previously told El Dorado County investigators that while he is responsible for at least three more abductions and dozens of date rapes, he had nothing to do with the high-profile abduction of 9-year-old Michaela in 1988.
Hayward investigators remain interested, however, and plan to look at evidence taken from the Garridos’ compound in the next week and to conduct more interviews with the pair.
Shortly after Jaycee Dugard surfaced in August 2009, police from various agencies converged on the Garridos’ compound, where Dugard was held for 18 years.
Hayward police conducted what was called the most extensive search in the history of the department because of strong similarities to the 1988 disappearance of Michaela, snatched from a Hayward grocery store’s parking lot.