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Latest on Missing Oregon Girls' Murders

Aired August 27, 2002 - 14:17   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: In Oregon, prosecutors are seeking an indictment against Ward Weaver, the man accused of killing two missing girls. Yesterday, authorities confirmed a second body found in Weaver's yard is that of Ashley Pond.
CNN's Rusty Dornin is following this story from Oregon City.

What's the latest -- Rusty.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, first of all, I don't think there is any way you can really measure the impact of something like this on a community like this until you are actually here and see it. This memorial wall that has been constructed here for Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis has been growing by leaps and bounds. People just can't seem to get enough of being able to come here with their families, and especially with little kids too who have written notes; who have brought their teddy bears; who have written very personal things to girls, many times that they do not know themselves. But notes like they feel they are sisters, that they want the angels to take care of them. There just seems like there is no sign of it stopping.

I did speak with the landlord yesterday afternoon. This fence was constructed actually to keep people out of the search area. The landlord is asking the FBI to keep it up. both so it's a memorial for the community until the healing process has taken place and also to keep curiosity seekers off the property.

Now, of course this is the place where the remains of 13-year-old Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis were discovered over the weekend. Now, the DA says they are seeking an indictment of 39-year-old Ward Weaver, who rented this property and also knew the two girls. The FBI is saying that back-hoes are silent, they are not seeking any more evidence here, but they are busy building their case.

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CHARLES MATTHEWS, FBI: The search of the property concluded late last night. And we are confident we obtained the evidence that is there in a format suitable to assist the prosecution.

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DORNIN: There are some guesses that the bodies may have been moved, because there were searches with dogs on this property right after Ashley disappeared and then again right after Miranda disappeared. That was the only search that was conducted, was with dogs. And there was nothing that turned up in the shed. So there is some guesses that possibly the bodies may have been moved.

Of course, there is still a lot of criticism in this community -- those girls disappeared, those second girls disappeared six months ago -- on why this took so long.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF GORDON HUIRAS, OREGON CITY POLICE: There are certain legal standards that need to be met before we were able to obtain a search warrant to do the search that we did this weekend. And that information became available to us, and that search warrant was obtained just as soon as we could.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DORNIN: Now, there have been no charges filed yet against Ward Weaver. The grand jury will be looking at the case. Meantime, the defense attorney says he will be asking for a change of venue. And a memorial service is being planned at the local high school this Thursday night -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: So Rusty, with regard to Ward Weaver, are investigators looking into other unsolved cases? Obviously, they are finished searching his home, that area. But what other cases or other areas?

DORNIN: They say that they have, as you said, Kyra, finished here and they did not really expect to find any other remains here, although they did not say why. But certainly, they are looking into other disappearances here and possibly in California that could be connected with Weaver.

PHILLIPS: All right, Rusty Dornin, there in Oregon City. Thanks, Rusty.

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