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CNN Live Today

Oregon City Grieves

Aired August 27, 2002 - 11:01   ET

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

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Up first this hour on CNN, an Oregon community's worst fears confirmed. Authorities have identified the remains of a second missing girl. Now, prosecutors plan to seek an indictment against the suspect in the disappearances of Ashley Pond and her friend, Miranda Gaddis.
CNN's James Hattori joins us now live from Oregon City, Oregon, with the latest -- James.

JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon. We are again outside the home of Ward Weaver where those bodies were found over the weekend, and take a look at the fence that was erected by police in front of the home, which has become, of course, a half-block long memorial for the two young women who were killed, kidnapped from their apartment complex just next door to Ward Weaver's home. An outpouring, as you mentioned, of grief from the community. This is the public grieving.

Of course, the private grieving also goes on among the family members now that it has been confirmed that the second set of remains found in Weaver's home is that -- are those of 13-year-old Ashley Pond. She was the first of the two young girls kidnapped from the apartment complex. The word coming from investigators, who have actually wrapped up their processing of this crime scene, so the activity here should be much quieter, at least in terms of police investigators and forensic experts. Friends and families are mourning not only Ashley Pond, of course, but also Miranda Gaddis who was found earlier. She was the second kidnap victim, having disappeared around March of this year.

Of course, the legal work is ongoing in terms of preparing a case against Mr. Weaver. The prosecutor yesterday announcing that he will seek charges, but of course, before that happens, all the evidence has to be processed and presented to a grand jury, and there is no timetable as to when that will happen. However, the defense attorney has been appointed for Mr. Weaver, is also looking ahead to a possible trial. He has told a local newspaper that he will likely seek a change of venue for the trial because of all of the publicity that surrounds this case. Right now, he apparently believing that his client will not be able to get a fair trial -- Leon.

HARRIS: James Hattori in Oregon City, Oregon, thank you very much. Sure hope there is some better news to report out of there fairly soon.

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