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American Morning

Authorities Have Possible Suspect in Custody in Kidnapping of Two Oregon Girls

Aired August 16, 2002 - 09:30   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We have other stuff going on, including what could be a big break in the case two of missing girls in Oregon. Authorities have a man in custody who has identified himself as a prime suspect in the disappearances two months apart of two of girls, Randy Gaddis and Ashley Pond, earlier in Oregon City. Ward Weaver was arrested this week in an unrelated case, charged with the rape of a 19-year-old woman.
Our James Hattori joins us from Oregon City this morning with the latest on this city.

James, good morning.

JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello again, Daryn.

We are outside the home of 39-year-old Ward Weaver, who was arrested, Tuesday night, accused of raping his son's 19-year-old girlfriend. According to a report in the local paper, "The Oregonian," Weaver's son, Francis, in a call to 911 that same night said his father told him that he killed the two young girls who are missing here, Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis. They were separately kidnapped from their apartment complex, which is a complex which is right next door to Weaver's home, more than five months ago.

Now authorities won't confirm the 911 call, but a mother of one of the missing girls talked about the report earlier on AMERICAN MORNING.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHELLE DUFFY, MIRANDA'S MOTHER: We're trying to keep our hope up that this isn't true, our girls are OK, they're still going to home, and I'm not going to change that until someone proves me different.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HATTORI: Obviously holding out hope. Now, Weaver, the senior Weaver, has told reporters that police have considered him a prime suspect. Police are not saying that publicly. They say, officially, Daryn that there is no suspect in the kidnapping.

Now, Weaver will be charged next week on the rape case, which officials say is totally separate at this point -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Tracking it for us from Oregon City, James Hattori, thank you so much.

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