5 months ago
ANTIOCH, CA- Many former business associates of Phillip Garrido agreed he was strange. In the years leading up to his arrest for kidnapping Jaycee Dugard, Garrido was rarely without his so-called "Black Box."
"He said he had invented this device which would allow a person to speak without physically speaking and be heard by the listener," said Contra Costa County private investigator, Ralph Hernandez.
Garrido called Hernandez to help convince people his invention worked and wanted to get a patent for the device.
Garrido often talked about God and the apocalypse and would demonstrate his box any chance he got.
"He said he was starting a new religion, he also said the box would let you hear voices from the other side and predict the future," said Antioch businessman, Tim Allen.
The black box looks like a small suitcase with a handle and a couple of jacks to attach headphones.
About one week before his arrest, Garrido asked a friend to keep the box for him.
"I thought he was a total kook but I didn't want to tell him that," said Allen.
News10/KXTV
