Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Police Will Not Confirm 911 Claim About Oregon Teens

Aired August 16, 2002 - 08:04   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Beginning in Oregon on the West Coast, accused in one shocking crime, an Oregon man could be a suspect in a double kidnapping case.
Our James Hattori has details. He is in Oregon City, Oregon this morning -- James, good morning.

JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

The question on the minds of a lot of people here is did 39-year- old Ward Weaver kidnap and kill two Oregon City girls that have been missing or is he being wrongly accused by an angry son?

Weaver was arrested Tuesday night, accused of raping his son's 19-year-old girlfriend. Now, that same night, according to a report in "The Oregonian," Francis Weaver, Weaver's son, called 911 and said his father claimed to have killed Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis. These are two girls kidnapped separately from their appoint complex right next door to Ward Weaver's home about five months ago.

Authorities won't confirm the 911 call. We couldn't reach Francis Weaver but previously Ward Weaver says he was considered a prime suspect in the kidnapping by police. But he also insists that he is innocent.

Now, Daryn, the FBI says as of this moment in the kidnapping case, there is no suspect -- Daryn.

KAGAN: But they can hold him for now because they have this rape charge, I imagine.

HATTORI: That's right. They have time to sort it out. He's being held on a million dollars bond. We'll see what comes of it. But as of this moment, police say that there is no connection between the kidnapping and the rape charge.

KAGAN: All right, James Hattori in Oregon City, Oregon.

Thank you so much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com