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American Morning

Oregon Girl's Body Found Behind Neighbor's Home

Aired August 26, 2002 - 07:01   ET

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

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We want to get "Up Front" this morning in the northwest -- Oregon. Authorities have identified the remains of 13-year-old Miranda Gaddis. She is one of two teenage girls missing for months.
They made the discovery on the property of neighbor, Ward Weaver, and it was not the only discovery there this weekend.

James Hattori this morning, early this morning, live in Oregon City for more.

James -- hello.

JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Bill.

Behind me is what can only be described as a chain-link memorial, a fence erected by police to protect the property. As the search of Ward Weaver's home went on over the weekend, it has become a living memorial to the two kidnapped girls.

Now, months of uncertainty appear to be over with the discovery of a second set of remains yesterday. Those have not been identified, as you say, but relief has definitely come from the family of Miranda Gaddis. The remains of her body were found Saturday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLES MATHEWS, FBI: The Oregon State medical examiner has positively identified the remains discovered yesterday as the body of Miranda Gaddis. This identification has been made -- positive identification has been made by the use of dental records. The cause of death won't be officially determined until other laboratory results are obtained.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HATTORI: There were sobs and tears as the announcement was made, an announcement that surprised no one, but was shocking all the same.

The second set of remains was found in a barrel buried beneath a slab of concrete in Weaver's backyard. They have not been identified, but are presumed to be those of Ashley Pond.

The body of Miranda Gaddis was discovered in a shed in Weaver's backyard.

Authorities now say this case appears to be resolved. Weaver, whose house sits at the top of the road leading into the apartment complex where the two girls were kidnapped in January and March, is already in custody on an unrelated rape charge.

And as we have mentioned before, Bill, perhaps one of the most bizarre aspects of this case is that Weaver's father is on Death Row in California. Among his crimes, he murdered a woman and buried her beneath concrete in his backyard -- Bill.

HEMMER: James, so many questions this morning as to why police, investigators, perhaps the FBI, did not go in that backyard or inside that home at an earlier time. They defended themselves again yesterday. What is the defense for those questions?

HATTORI: Well, they are saying that they have had to tread a very careful path legally, before they could get onto the property. They maintain that they have gotten onto this property as quickly as they could have, given the information that they had and the leads that they had.

They did say that Weaver was among a number of people they had been looking at. Of course, some other folks in the community say that they expressed concern to the FBI months ago, and that perhaps more effort should have been directed toward Weaver -- Bill.

HEMMER: Thank you, James -- James Hattori in Oregon City.

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