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American Morning

Authorities ID Second Set of Remains on Property of Ward Weaver

Aired August 27, 2002 - 09:01   ET

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

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get up front again in the American Northwest. An Oregon community there facing facts the grim facts and the grieving. Authorities say a second set of remains found on the property of Ward Weaver belonged to 12-year-old Ashley Pond.
James Hattori live now in Oregon City, tracking the investigation and where we go from here on this grim story.

James, good morning.

JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.

The cause for grieving has certainly doubled, as evidenced by the growing, makeshift memorial, behind me in front of Ward Weaver's home. Now that it has been confirmed. The second set of remains recovered from Ward Weaver's home are those of 13-year-old Ashley Pond. She was the first two of young girls kidnapped from the apartment complex right next door, that word coming as investigators, wrapped up, processing the crime scene last night.

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CHARLES MATTHEWS, FBI: The search of the property concluded late last night, and we're confident that we have obtained the evidence that's there, and a format suitable to assist the prosecution.

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HATTORI: Now as friends and family continue mourn for Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis, the other young kidnapping victim found dead here, the legal work is already starting in the case against Ward Weaver. The prosecutor saying yesterday, he will seek charges, but only after presenting all of the evidence to a grand jury, and he has set no timetable for that to happen.

Bill, one other thing, we are told that Ward Weaver is of course in jail on an independent rape charge. He is accused of raping his son's girlfriend. We are told that he has been placed on suicide watch, or the possibility of that he may try to harm himself, so they're keeping eye on him -- Bill.

HEMMER: The FBI agent in charge earlier, James, told us that the investigation at the house and the backyard is finished and done with for now. He left open the possibility. Again, I want to stress "possibility" another search for evidence may continue somewhere else around the town. Have you heard much on that? HATTORI: No confirmation on that, but that would be a logical thing for them to do. There is also some indication, or some suspicion that that the bodies may have been moved to this location from another location. That would be one explanation for why earlier searches of this property that police conducted of this property, including with dogs, turned up nothing. Of course, where else he lived in this area is I'm sure being looked into, and that may come out in the next forthcoming days.

HEMMER: Thank you, James. James Hattori live in Oregon City this morning.

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