Nosy neighbors have their place

Most of us don't like to be nosy neighbors, and we certainly don't like to have them, but they have their place.

It's unfortunate that neighbors and customers of Phillip Craig Garrido weren't a little nosier when it cam to his "daughter," who turned out to be Jaycee Lee Dugard, who he kidnapped 18 years ago and with whom he had two children.

Authorities have apologized for missing the clues -- including neighbors' warnings -- that something was amiss with Garrido, a convicted sex offender, the woman he called his daughter and their two daughters, 11 and 15.

Now he and his wife, Nancy Garrido, face 29 charges, including kidnapping, rape and false imprisonment, and authorities are looking into the murders of prostitutes in the 1990s.

It's apparently another example of the "Stockholm syndrome," where captives develop an attachment to their captors, purportedly as a defense mechanism.

Jaycee, now 29 and called "Allissa," went so far as to become an important part of Garrido's printing and poster business, doing graphic design and taking care of customers.

Now her parents, who have suffered for 18 years, have the heart-wrenching task of reuniting with their daughter and grandchildren of a twisted relationship.

It's easy to second-guess those who had a chance to put an end to Jaycee Lee Dugard's long captivity, but it should compel all of us who have that nagging feeling to ask questions and get involved when we have we should.