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Jolie Rouge
08-24-2002, 10:15 AM
August 24, 2002 Posted: 12:48 PM EDT (1648 GMT)
Ward Weaver's Oregon City home is being searched Saturday.

http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/08/24/oregon.girls/index.html

OREGON CITY, Oregon (CNN) -- An Oregon home and property -- believed to be owned by Ward Weaver, who has described himself as a key suspect in the kidnappings of two girls who vanished last winter -- will be searched by authorities Saturday, an FBI spokeswoman said.

Spokeswoman Beth Anne Steele spoke to reporters late Friday in front of the house in Oregon City, saying it was to be searched but not mentioning Weaver's name or any link he might have to the abductions.
She said the search would begin about 9 a.m. and that news conferences were planned later in the day.

"This authority [to search] is the result of and directly related to the investigation of the Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis kidnappings. The search will cover the house and the property," Steele said. She said the girls' mothers may speak to reporters Saturday.

Friends Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis, both 13 at the time, vanished two months apart on their way to school. Ashley was last seen walking outside her apartment January 9. Miranda, who was worried about her missing friend, disappeared March 8. Investigators believe the girls were taken by the same person.

Weaver, whose home is near the apartment complex where the girls were last seen, remains in the Clackamas County Jail on charges of first-degree rape and first-degree sexual assault, unrelated to the abductions. He pleaded not guilty this week. He is being held on $1 million bond. Greg Horner, Clackamas County chief deputy attorney, said Weaver knew the 19-year-old he is accused of raping and abusing.

When asked earlier this month about Weaver's comment that he is a key suspect in the dual kidnappings, Horner said, "We've never said that, the police have never said that. The only one who's ever said that is him."

unicorn9149
08-24-2002, 01:10 PM
To clarify: The house was rented by Weaver. He was in the process of moving out when arrested on rape charges. His landlord then posted an eviction notice and no tresspassing signs on the house. This has been the top news story here.

ajksmom
08-24-2002, 02:33 PM
He does sound mighty suspicious. I hope they find something that leads them to some closure for these poor girls parents, you know this must be agony for them.:(

unicorn9149
08-24-2002, 05:22 PM
One body has been found in the shed on Weaver's property. They are still searching for second body

Angel~Chihuahua
08-24-2002, 05:25 PM
just heard that both bodies have been found now

Queensown
08-24-2002, 05:30 PM
This is what they have at CNN.com so far...


"Human remains found on the property of Ward Weaver, a self-proclaimed suspect in the disappearance of two missing Oregon girls, according to Oregon City's police chief. Details soon."

unicorn9149
08-24-2002, 05:38 PM
Wacthing a live report and only 1 has been found. They are saying "human remains" bu when asked they said 1 person

Angel~Chihuahua
08-24-2002, 07:21 PM
yep my mistake, sorry guys, just was listening to what my mom said about they found the bodies of those girls, but she was wrong too.

Jolie Rouge
08-24-2002, 09:30 PM
Remains found in search for missing girls
August 24, 2002 Posted: 8:47 PM EDT (0047 GMT)

http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/08/24/oregon.girls/index.html

OREGON CITY, Oregon (CNN) -- Investigators searching for two missing Oregon teenagers made a grim discovery Saturday on the property of Ward Weaver, an Oregon City man who has said police consider him a suspect in the case.

Authorities found one set of human remains in an outbuilding behind Weaver's rental home, said Oregon City Police Chief Gordon Huiras. The remains have been turned over to the medical examiner's office, but Huiras said it could be several days before identification can be made. It's unclear how long the remains had been in the shed.

Investigators continued to search the property, and plan to dig up a concrete slab that Weaver poured on the property after the two girls, Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis disappeared, said Charlie Mathews, special agent in charge of the FBI's Portland office. Mathews said investigators plan to bring in underground imaging equipment on Sunday.

FBI spokeswoman Beth Anne Steele said Weaver, who is jailed on unrelated rape charges, is aware of Saturday's search, and she also disclosed that investigators had already searched the property "early on" in their probe. Weaver's home is located near the apartment complex where the two girls lived.

KPTV reported that some family members had been waiting for news outside of the house, but authorities told them to leave the site.

The search, which began Saturday morning, involves about 40 agents from the FBI and state and local police, as well as three search dogs, Steele said. She said law enforcement officials obtained "legal authority" to conduct the search Friday night, but she would not say if they had gotten a search warrant.

"The investigation has proceeded to a point where the investigators had what they needed to get the legal authority to do the search," she said. "We'll be searching every inch of the property over the course of the next few days." Prior to the search, a fence was put up around the property, and two tents were erected in the yard.

"The investigation, as well as the search itself, is certainly very sensitive, and it's important to protect the investigation and aspects of the investigation if this case goes to prosecution, as well as to protect any evidence that may be in the area," Steele said.

Pond and Gaddis, both 13 at the time, vanished two months apart on their way to school. Pond was last seen walking outside her apartment January 9. Gaddis disappeared March 8. Investigators believe the girls, who were friends, were taken by the same person.

"Our No. 1 goal is to bring Ashley and Miranda home. Our No. 2 goal is to make sure whoever is responsible for their disappearances is caught and convicted," Steele said.

Weaver, who has denied any involvement in the disappearances of the girls, has said he is considered a suspect in case. However, both local law enforcement officials and the FBI are not characterizing him as a suspect.

"The FBI deals in the term subject, not suspect," Steele said. "For us to name somebody as a subject, they have to be charged. And in this case, there has been no one who has been charged in the disappearance of Ashley or Miranda."

Weaver remains in the Clackamas County Jail on charges of first-degree rape and first-degree sexual assault, unrelated to the abductions. He pleaded not guilty this week and is being held on $1 million bond. Greg Horner, Clackamas County's chief deputy attorney, said Weaver knew the 19-year-old he is accused of raping and abusing.

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