Miranda and Ashley

I don't know if any of you have been following this story, but as it happened in Oregon City, it's been all over the news. I know it was featured twice in America's Most Wanted, and in many newspapers and magazines. In January, A 12 year old girl named Miranda Gaddis (I apologize for any misspellings of the names) disappeared after leaving her apartment complex for school one morning. 6 weeks later, her friend Ashley Pond went missing as well. It's been a big story around here, and this weekend they've been searching the property of a man named Ward Weaver, who's been calling himself the FBI's "prime suspect". They've found two sets of human remains, and have identified one as Miranda Gaddis. The second identification should be taking place tomorrow. The man has also been accused of raping his son's girlfriend. I don't know where any links to this story can be found, but I just thought I'd ask you all to say a prayer for these girls and their families...I'm sure they can use all the support they can get.

Been listening to it all day. The coverage was awful, it would of been so much better had they not sat on the property all day and made inane talk about so serious of an issue. It has been 7 months since the girls first vanished, and at least this is closure for the families though not what the family members wanted this is for sure. I just hope the end was quick for both of them. 13 years old is way to young to die.

I'm on the East Coast and its front page news here too! Its horrible what he did, and to think the families had to wait so long to have some closure makes it even worse if that could be.

I only hope they are able to convict this devil and give him what he deserves.

I can't even imagine what the families are going through. At least they can have some closure now. I don't think they will have much trouble convicting this guy, if he doesn't plead guilty. How exactly can you explain away two bodies buried and obvious painstaking efforts to make sure they weren't found?

One interesting thing to note...The man's father is sitting on death row for a similar crime committed 20-25 years ago. The father even buried the body of his victim under a paved-over section of his yard (poured the pavement to hide the body). This raises the whole nature vs. nurture question, and how accountable this man can be held for his actions. Some scientists are finding an abnormality in the frontal lobe of the brain, which controls reasoning and self-control, in many serial killers and other violent criminals. I don't know if his lawyers are going to use this as a defense or not, but it does raise the age old question again. Is someone born and bred a certain way, or does the environment in which they are raised and live play the most important role?

I hadn't heard anything about this story for awhile, until I read about it today in the newspaper. I am glad that they finally found the remains and hopefully the second set will be identified as Ashley's body. What I don't understand is how someone could do something this gruesome and sick. They should have considered him a suspect a long time ago considering his father did the same thing years ago. Its a good thing that the girls' parents finally get some closure as to what actually happened to their daughters after so long.

Ditto Daniela and Spooky.

There has been press coverage of so many terrible child disappearances and murders. My heart goes out to all. Hissy's right - 13 is too young to die.

And Heidi, I hate that arguement! I'm certain the way we are raised and the role models we have totally influence us - but can they argue this in court? I've always been a believer that once you're over 21, an "adult," you have to take responsibility for your own actions. No blaming mom & dad in this house!

And by the way, I'd be willing to bet that over time they'll find out chemicals and genes have a lot more to do with it than we ever thought - which potentially raises even more horrific questions down the road.

I completely agree with you Laurie. I know that environment does play a role, but to blame the parents for everything is a cop out. My hubby was like that when I met him..."It's my dad's fault" when he couldn't hold down a job, "I had a bad childhood" (which is true - it was horrible) when he would lose his temper. It took about 2 years, but I wouldn't take that as an excuse - he had to take responsibility for his own actions with me.

At the same time, I think some people are trying to use the genetic thing as an excuse too. "I can't help it that I killed 30 people. My brain is programmed that way." I don't necessarily completely buy that one either. In the studies, they found that the prison population had a higher percentage of the lower activity in the frontal lobes, but it does occur in the non-violent population too. So somewhere there is a choice that some people make to be violent that others with the same/similar brain activity choose not to.

So, for the nature v. nurture debate, I am on the fence since I think that both play a role.

What is sad too is 5 months ago his ex-wife who he tried to kill many years ago by slamming her on the head repeatedly with a cast iron skillet, went to the police to report her suspicions about her ex maybe having something to do with the disappearance of the two girls. She pointed out to them that he had just poured a hastily put together slab of concrete behind his house and had just purchased several large barrels that were empty.

I hadn't heard that part in the news. That really is sad - on top of sadness.

That is really sad. My heart goes out to the families of these girls. I really hope that justice will be served in this case!!