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CNN Live At Daybreak

Police in Oregon Name Ward Weaver Suspect in Disappearance of Two 13-Year-Old Girls

Aired August 26, 2002 - 05:02   ET

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


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: For the first time, police in Oregon City, Oregon have named Ward Weaver a suspect in the disappearance of two 13-year-old girls. Investigators have now uncovered two sets of remains from behind Weaver's home and one of those sets of remains has been positively identified.
CNN's Kris Osborn has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KRIS OSBORN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was the announcement many had expected and feared.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Late this afternoon, crime scene investigators processing the crime scene behind the house have recovered a second set of human remains. These remains were in the ground in a barrel underneath the area where the concrete slab was.

OSBORN: Since late Friday night, investigators had been digging in the yard around Ward Weaver's home and taking apart the concrete slab Weaver poured soon after the girls disappeared, he says, for a hot tub. Police also had another important announcement.

CHARLES MATTHEWS, FBI: At about 4:15 this afternoon the Oregon State medical examiner has positively identified the remains discovered yesterday as the body of Miranda Gaddis.

OSBORN: Miranda Gaddis and Ashley Pond, both 13, had been missing since winter. They disappeared two months apart. The last time either had been seen on their way to school. The girls live near Ward Weaver, whose daughter was a friend of the girls'.

Earlier, Weaver himself said he was considered the prime suspect, but denied being involved in the girls' disappearance.

WARD WEAVER, SUSPECT: I mean I had a lot of contact with both girls, you know? So I expect to be looked at and, you know, questioned and background checks and that kind of thing. You know, I've got no problem with any of that.

OSBORN: Weaver's ex-wife says she's not surprised.

KRISTI SLOAN, WEAVER'S EX-WIFE: I just wanted everybody to know that the FBI knew about the suspicions five months ago. I told them about the concrete poured five months ago. And it just seems like I never did any news media with anybody before this, before Ward was put in jail. Because I emphasized the importance that I did not trust him and that he is capable of killing. He tried to kill me before.

OSBORN: Weaver is now behind bars on unrelated rape charges. No charges have been filed in the killings of Miranda Gaddis and Ashley Pond. That may soon change.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would say without saying that Mr. Weaver is a suspect in the case based on our findings here on his property.

OSBORN: Outside the Weaver home, a makeshift memorial -- flowers, Teddy bears, balloons and notes, a way for a community to come together and say good-bye.

Kris Osborn, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And more about those who are grief stricken in Oregon City. As you could see, they've already made a makeshift memorial just beyond the crime scene.

Anna Katayama of CNN affiliate KPTV spoke with neighbors there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ADAM SCHWIETER, NEIGHBOR: I just came here because I wanted to show my respects towards them. And I brought them flowers.

ANNA KATAYAMA, KPTV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Young Adam Schwieter arrives at Gardner Middle School minutes after police announced they have identified the remains of 13-year-old Miranda Gaddis.

SCHWIETER: I was kind of in shock. It's just really hard because, you know, it happened in my own community, you know? I live a couple blocks away and it's just, it's hard.

KATAYAMA: Counselors, local clergy and school staff open the doors of Gardner Middle, welcoming anyone who wants to talk.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't know how he could do something to someone like that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's nice to have all these people to come around and have someone to talk to in a time like this. They have a stand over there full of Teddy bears.

KATAYAMA: A local hospital donates 750 stuffed animals to give kids something to hold onto.

RENA ADAMEK, COUNSELING CENTER VOLUNTEER: We have children that come up that take the bears and we have children that come up and are unable to speak because they're crying so hard.

KATAYAMA: A few blocks away at Oregon City Evangelical Church, another community gathering, this one to pray. REV. JON STRUTZ, OREGON CITY EVANGELICAL CHURCH: People are afraid. I mean they're just, this has rocked our community. And so for me personally, one of my goals is just to help the community understand again how important we've got to build our trust back with each other.

KATAYAMA: Pastor Jon Strutz also worked with kids at Gardner Middle School earlier in the day. Adam says the pastor and other counselors, even the Teddy bears, helped.

SCHWIETER: Yes, they do. It just, it's like a friend. I can't really imagine the grief and sorrow that they're going through.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: That report from Anna Katayama of our Portland affiliate KPTV.

And you can read the latest on the missing Oregon girls' stories and access video of the suspect, Ward Weaver, talking about the girls. All you have to do is turn to our Web site, cnn.com, AOL keyword, of course, CNN.

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