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Police search home in Oregon kidnappings

Ward Weaver's Oregon City home is being searched Saturday.

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 searched by authorities Saturday morning, an FBI spokeswoman said.

Spokeswoman Beth Anne Steele spoke to reporters late Friday in front of the Oregon City house 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 was scheduled to begin about 9 a.m. (noon EDT), a news conference is scheduled at 11 a.m. (2 p.m. EDT) and more news conferences are planned throughout the day.

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"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."