10/04/2002

By KGW and AP Staff

Ward Weaver, the main suspect in the kidnapping and killing of two Oregon City girls, was formally charged Friday with of aggravated murder, sex abuse and attempted rape and abuse of a corpse in Clackamas County Court -- and prosecutors said they planned to seek the death penalty.

The 17-count indictment, handed down by a grand jury after two weeks of deliberation, included three counts of aggravated murder for the deaths of Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis; two counts of sex abuse and one count of attempted rape for Ashley; and one count of abuse of corpse for both girls.

"We know what an impact this has had on our community over the past nine months," he said. "And because of that... we will do everything within our power to make sure the right things happen in this case.

The grand jury indictment also charged Weaver with sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl on July 17 and raping and attempting to murder his son's girlfriend Randi Oneida, on August 13.

Weaver's attorney, Tim Lyons, entered a plea of innocent on all charges. He had no comment after the hearing.

Weaver showed no visable emotion as he watched the proceedings via a closed-circuit television monitor from his jail cell.

An Oct. 28 trial was scheduled with Judge Steven Maurer presiding. But Foote said it could take up to a year to try the case.

Foote also said the charges for the alleged rape and Ashley and Miranda's deaths would be rolled into one trial because they appeared to be related.

After the court hearing, the mothers of Ashley and Miranda were whisked away from the courthouse by police. But other family members said they were relieved to finally hear formal charges against Weaver.

"The only thing I can say is I'm glad he's caught and he's been indicted," said Wes Duffey, Miranda's grandfather. "We'll just have to see where it's gonna go from here."

'We're Christians. You can't judge anybody," said Miranda's great-aunt, Donna Doty. "It's a big day for the family."

Police escort Weaver to jail. (KGW File Photo)

"To the families of Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis, I want to say thank you for standing with us. Your support in these difficult times will not be forgotten," Jarvis said.

A grand jury had been meeting for two weeks to hear evidence supporting the prosecution's request for an indictment charging Weaver with abducting and killing the girls. KGW has learned that 20 witnesses testified before the panel.

Miranda Gaddis and Ashley Pond. (KGW Photos)

Weaver, a 39-year-old single father of five, was already in jail on the rape charge at the time of the search. Violence has run in Weaver's family.

Weaver's father, Ward Weaver Jr., a truck driver, was convicted of raping and murdering 23-year-old Barbara Levoy. Her body was found in 1982 buried beneath a concrete foundation for a deck at his home in Oroville, Calif.

Weaver's house (KGW Photo)

Weaver lived with his 13-year-old daughter Mallori in a rented home on a large lot near the apartment complex where the two girls lived. He had a history of violence, substance abuse and attacks on young girls stretching to the 1980s.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)