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American Morning

Interview With Sister of Miranda Gaddis

Aired August 26, 2002 - 09:07   ET

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

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Medical examiners in Oregon City working to identify a second set of remains found over the weekend. Family and friends of Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis now grieving. Authorities identified Miranda's remains just yesterday. Miranda Gaddis's sister, Marissa, and Miranda's friend, Robin, speaks to us now live from Oregon. With them, Linda Beloof, attorney for the mothers of both girls. We know this is a very trying time for all of you, but we certainly appreciate the time you are taking with us.
Marissa, I want to know from you, how are you doing today?

MARISSA GADDIS, MIRANDA'S SISTER: I am still in a lot of shock. It's not all hitting yet, I think.

HEMMER: What kind of support are you getting from your family and your friends around you?

GADDIS: I'm getting a lot of support. It is really overwhelming from all support that I'm getting from everybody.

HEMMER: How well did you know Ward Weaver?

GADDIS: I've only met him a couple of times. I've only seen him a couple of times, too.

HEMMER: You had ever spent the night at his house like a number of other girls have there?

GADDIS: No, I've only been in his house once.

HEMMER: What kind of a man is he?

GADDIS: I don't know. I've never actually talked to him. He gave me a ride home from school when I was at Gardner a couple of times.

HEMMER: You say you are hanging in there the best you can. I would imagine that you are holding out hope until the very end. Is that about right?

GADDIS: Yes. I was.

HEMMER: Tell us about your sister.

GADDIS: She very outgoing, everybody -- she was always smiling, making everybody else smile. She was a great dancer, and she always wanted to be a model. HEMMER: What about your friend Robin? Robin, how are you doing?

ROBIN SPEAKS, MIRANDA'S FRIEND: I'm doing OK.

HEMMER: What is the community doing today? How is it feeling? How are people reacting, because we can see the flames flicker behind you, and the notes, and the cards and roses and flowers come to the fence? Can you give us an idea of how people are reacting today?

SPEAKS: People are still, like, kind of shocked at what they heard and like the news and everything, but they are doing pretty good. They're like supporting the family and doing good at everything like that.

HEMMER: Have you thought about how things are going to be at school when classes resume soon?

GADDIS: Yes, it's going to be really weird just kind thinking about kind of what happened and everything. Yes, it's going to be really weird.

HEMMER: Do you ever stop to think, why here, and how here in Oregon City?

GADDIS: Yes, I used to think, like, nothing happened here, and it was a boring city, but not no more. It's kind of weird that it happened here.

HEMMER: Hey, Linda, let's bring you in if I could here, how are the mothers of two women doing? Hello, and good morning to you.

I know you represent them. How are they holding up?

LINDA BELOOF, MOTHERS' ATTORNEY: They are holding up pretty well. They are in seclusion. They are asking all members of media not to contact them, to give them their privacy. They also would like to thank the community, both locally here and nationally, for all support that they have received over the last few months, for everything that's on the fence behind us here. They really appreciate it. It helps them a lot.

HEMMER: Yesterday, both women came to the scene there, they were wearing hooded sweatshirts; Linda, how important was that for them to visit the location?

BELOOF: Actually Lori Pond did not come yesterday. It was Michelle Duffy and her family, and it was very important for Michelle Duffy and her family, Marissa, Mariah, and other members of the family.

HEMMER: Is fear now that second set of remains, Linda, may be that of Ashley?

BELOOF: I am sorry, I am not going to speculate on that or tell you what may be the fear. I apologize HEMMER: Can you give us a sense of community then, like asked the two young women also about how people are thinking, and feeling and reacting today?

BELOOF: I think people are really giving a lot of support to the family. Earlier yesterday, before the family came down here, we stopped in a staging area, which was a local restaurant, and people just came up to us and said, you know, our hearts go out you to. Perfect strangers, people who have never met the girls before are expressing their sympathy and their sorrow.

HEMMER: Listen, we want to express to all three of you our appreciation for talking at a time that is so difficult. Linda Beloof, the attorney for Michelle Duffy and Lori Pond, Robin Speaks in the middle, and certainly Marissa Gaddis, the sister of Miranda, thank you for your time, and best of luck to you all three of you during this tough, tough time in Oregon City.

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