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CNN Live Today

Gruesome Discovery Today in State of Oregon

Aired March 15, 2002 - 12:50   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Once again, a gruesome discovery today in the state of Oregon, a family of six found shot to death. James Hattori has made his way to the site and updates us on the story. He filed this story a short time ago.

Here is James Hattori.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): You can see the crime scene behind me. We are in rural Yamhill County, about 40. 45 miles southwest of Portland, Oregon. This is a manufactured home, where a grisly discovery was made last night about 9:00. A sheriff's deputy was in the neighborhood on an unrelated call, was pulled over by neighbors to check out what was going not inside of this house.

With us right now is Jenny Saunders, who is a spokes woman for the Yamhill Country sheriff's office.

What did the officer find last night?

JANAE SAUNDERS, YAMHILL CO. SHERIFF'S DEPT.: Well, receiving the information from the concerned neighbor, the officer investigated further by going around the home, placing a ladder that was laying outside of the home against the house and looking through a window, and discovering what he found to be the husband and father.

HATTORI: Mr. Bryant?

SAUNDERS: Yes.

HATTORI: And then subsequently made entry, he looked inside of the house and found the rest of the family.

SAUNDERS: Upon finding that, they took measures to gain entry into the home, and upon doing that they found the bodies of four children and the wife.

HATTORI: And does it -- what are the circumstances of the deaths? Can you...

SAUNDERS: At this point, our investigation by our major crime team has gathered that the deaths are a result of what they believe is a murder-suicide, and are as a result of some gunshot wounds. HATTORI: We understand that Mr. Bryant lived here, what, since last summer. He had not been seen recently, or the family had not been seen recently.

SAUNDERS: Information we received on the concerned neighbor was that they were concerned about not seeing the children or any family activity in about the home for approximately two weeks.

HATTORI: So they suspect something was wrong?

SAUNDERS: Yes. So...

HATTORI: And so the investigation is continuing in terms of talking with family, or potential family. We are not sure where the Bryants are from. They have been here since last summer. Obviously, investigators are talking to neighbors and anyone else they can to find out more and unravel this very tragic mystery.

I'm James Hattori, in Yamhill County.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: All right, James. Thank you.

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