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American Morning

Police in Oregon Awaiting Results of Autopsy

Aired August 26, 2002 - 09:01   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Police in Oregon this morning are awaiting the results of an autopsy on a second set of human remains found in the yard of an Oregon City man. Ward Weaver admits being a suspect in the disappearance of two 13-year-old girls. The remains of one of the girls, Miranda Gaddis, were identified yesterday.
Our James Hattori is outside Ward Weaver's home with more.

James, good morning.

JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

For the families of two kidnapped girls, months of uncertainty have finally come to an end. Less than a block from the apartment complex where they disappeared, at the home of Ward Weaver. That's where yesterday authorities positively identified a set of remains as those of 13-year-old Miranda Gaddis who disappeared last March. Her remains were found Saturday in a shed behind Weaver's home. Weaver's a neighbor, and was a friend of both girls, an acquaintance.

Searchers yesterday found a second set of remains that were buried in a barrel beneath a slab of concrete next to Weaver's rented house. An autopsy is expected today. It is presumed to be the body of Ashley Pond, who was kidnapped in January.

Ward Weaver is now officially a suspect. Charges of course are pending until all the evidence is processed. And, Daryn, investigators will be back on the scene here today to continue the search. They don't expect to find any other major findings, no bodies really, but they want to be thorough nonetheless -- Daryn.

KAGAN: But, James, going back as long as a year ago, Ashley Pond made allegations that Ward Weaver had raped her. And yet no charges were filed then. This is the first time they are going and looking at his house. Is there criticism in the Oregon area of the timing of this search?

HATTORI: Well, there is a lot of mumbling, and some people have spoken out that perhaps authorities should have look at the Mr. Weaver more quickly. The police in their defense say that, they have done everything by the book, and they, apparently, didn't have legal cause to search the property, until they did. They said they pursued that. They did point out that Weaver was among a number of people they have been looking at. Of course, he at one point did say he was considered a suspect, even though police for many months had not publicly named him so.

KAGAN: James Hattori in Oregon City, in northern Oregon, thank you so much.

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