Jaycee Lee Dugard today

Jaycee Lee Dugard today

Jaycee Lee Dugard was held in the above complex of tents and sheds for 18 years. Dugard was kidnapped when she was just 11 years old and held at this house in Antioch, CA, until just a few days ago. Jaycee Lee Dugard was kidnapped by Phillip Garrido and his wife and then raped over a period of time. She had two daughters by Garrido who were found with her when she was freed. The news about Dugard today is a little odd.

For questions are being asked about how confined Jaycee Lee actually was. There are reports that she did the graphic design work for the printing company that Garrido ran and that she not only met customers but had access to email and possibly other communications methods over the years.

However bizzare this might sound, a kidnap victim having access to the outside world but not using it to tell people of her plight, it is not in fact all that unusual among such victims. It even has a name, Stockholm Syndrome, where a kidnap victim starts to feel a sense of loyalty to those who have kidnapped them. There are various possible explanations of why this happens but that it sometimes does there is no doubt about. Patty Hearst quite famously became loyal to the Symbionese Liberation Army after being kidnapped by them, just as one example.

Death Risk Rankings

Death Risk Rankings

Yes, according to the website DeathRiskRankings.com, you can find out if you are likely to die in the next 12 months. This tool at DeathRiskRankings.com may actually come in handy when figuring out your long-term plans, or even next summer's vacation plans. No need toDeath Risk Rankings: Will You Die This Year?save money if you're going to die within the next 12 months. Right?

Who created DeathRiskRankings.com?

Who created DeathRiskRankings.com?DeathRiskRankings.com was created by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, and it uses public data to predict your likelihood of dying in the next year.

How does DeathRiskRankings.com work?

How does DeathRiskRankings.com work?When using the Death Comparison tool, you are asked to select how you would like to compare your chances of dying to others based on 66 causes of death, age, gender, race, US to Europe, regions in the US, and regions in Europe. There is an option for a secondary comparison based on those same variables listed above, plus forecast length, which can be anywhere from one to 30 years. The next step to calculate your death risk ranking is to plug in your personal information.

Shawn Hornbeck

Shawn Hornbeck

Shawn Hornbeck was returned to his family, four and a half years after being kidnapped. His parents believe this latest case proves families of missing kids should never give up hope. "It really gives you a big boost because it vindicates everything that we've been saying," said Craig Akers, Hornbeck's stepfather. "That you shouldn't give up hope, that it's possible those kids are out there."

Like Jaycee Dugard, Shawn Hornbeck was also 11-years-old when he was kidnapped. His parents searched, and hoped and prayed for his safe return. Then four and a half years later, he and another boy were found in the home of Michael Devlin. Hornbeck's parents said the child's return is not the end of the ordeal. It's the beginning of the healing process. "The first year Shawn was home was almost as hard as the four and a half years of him being gone," said Hornbeck's mother, Pam Akers.

"When we were put in that situation our thought was, we're not going to ask a lot of questions," Craig said. "When the time comes we'll get our answers." But the Akers said they are living proof that families can be successfully reunited. They say Shawn is doing well, studying hard, and planning for college. "Shawn is a picture of a normal 18-year-old at this point. He still does a lot better than I do at times," Pam said. "It's just...they can become a family, they can become whole once again."