Criminology Podcast – Episode 392

"The Weaver Family"

Hosts: Mike Ferguson & Mike Morford
Release Date: January 11, 2026

Overview

This episode of Criminology explores the chilling criminal legacy of the Weaver family—a rare case of multiple generations within one family spanning decades, all perpetrating violent, brutal crimes. Ferguson and Morford dive into the multi-layered history of abuse, assault, and murder that connects three generations of Weavers: grandfather Ward Weaver Jr., his son Ward Weaver III, and grandson Francis Weaver. The discussion centers around the family’s extensive criminal record, the debate over “nature vs. nurture,” and the horrifying ripple effects their actions have had on victims and communities.

Key Discussion Points & Timeline

1. Setting the Stage: A Family of Perpetrators

• [04:05] Main thesis: Unlike cases where entire families are victims, this episode looks at a family “that commit[s] brutal crimes… over decades. This is not a good family.” (Ferguson)

2. The Origins: Ward Weaver III & Maria Stout

Timeline & Early Violence

• [04:40] Ward and Maria meet in the Philippines. Ward’s Navy career is cut short due to dereliction of duty, aggravated by alcoholism.
• [05:13] Domestic violence surfaces: Maria is assaulted while pregnant; Ward is arrested but Maria won’t press charges. Even Ward’s mother, Trish, tries to intervene:

  “I kept hoping someone would listen, someone would realize there was something wrong with this guy. Someone would pick up the ball and do something.” (Trish to Oregon Live)

3. The Weaver Children: Patterns of Trouble

• [08:45 & 10:12] Francis (son) suspended from school; later arrested for aggravated assault.
• [10:12] Francis later gets lucky in court despite holding people hostage in a home invasion; Alex (another son) is sentenced for an assault charge.
• [11:24] Nature vs. Nurture:

  "It seems to me like something’s in that environment that's causing these kids to act out..." (Morford)

4. Francis Weaver: Following in His Father’s Footsteps

• [12:40] In 2014, Francis is arrested for murder during a botched robbery.
• [13:54] Sentenced to life in prison for his part, despite not pulling the trigger.
• [14:22] The hosts consider: Is this genetics, or learned evil? Francis isn’t Ward’s biological son, suggesting environment trumps heredity.

5. Ward Weaver III: Escalation and Infamy

Early Years & Legal System Failures

• [14:22] As a teen, Ward III is accused of rape by a younger female relative but not prosecuted.

• [15:21] The hosts lament these prosecutorial failures, a common theme in older cases:

  “Years ago, sometimes there was this feeling by the prosecution that it would be better if the person just left.” (Ferguson)

• [16:16] Recurrent violence—beating girlfriends, jail stints, and escaping stiff penalties due to non-cooperation by terrified victims.

The Oregon City Murders

• [18:16] Ashley Pond (12) Disappears: Last seen walking to the bus stop.
• [19:10] Revelations: Ashley had accused Ward of sexual assault 5 months earlier; despite police reports and a teacher’s concern (after seeing Ward kiss Ashley on the mouth), nothing is done.
• [20:08]

  "This is just absolutely despicable… All of this, the accusations… would put him in the spotlight." (Ferguson)

• [21:40] Miranda Gaddis (13) Disappears: Same apartment complex, same bus stop, two months later.
• [23:02] Neighbors believe it had to be “someone they knew,” not a stranger. Ward’s proximity and history raise suspicions.
• [23:48] Suspicious concrete pad poured days after Miranda’s disappearance. Ward tells the press it’s for a jacuzzi:

  “The last time I checked, that wasn’t against the law.” (Ward to reporter Anna Song, 25:17)

6. Twisted Publicity and Investigative Gaps

• [26:14] Ward gives tours of his property—including the suspicious locations—to reporters, seemingly flaunting his status as prime suspect:

  “It’s almost like he’s thumbing a nose at the investigators… Might as well have a red flashing light.” (Morford)

7. The Break: Arrest and Discovery of Bodies

• [27:31] Francis Weaver calls 911 on his father for assaulting Francis’s girlfriend. A son tells police he suspects his father is the girls’ killer.
• [28:25] August 24, 2002: Miranda Gaddis’s body is found in a shed on Ward’s property, showing signs of having been frozen.
• [28:25] August 25, 2002: Ashley Pond’s remains discovered under the concrete slab. Both girls’ causes of death are undetermined due to decomposition.
• [29:41] Discussion of killer psychology—does taunting police and media reflect arrogance or a “sick thrill”?

8. Aftermath: Arrest, Confession, and Critiques

• [30:12] Ward boasts about his notoriety from jail:

  “Yes, there were two bodies in my backyard, but that’s all there is now.” (Ward to KPTV Portland, 31:56)

• [32:42] Ward pleads guilty in 2004 to avoid the death penalty.
• [33:38] Critique of the authorities for slow action; possible missed opportunity to save Miranda.

9. The Legacy: Ward Weaver Jr.—A Precedent of Violence

• [36:49] Flashback to 1981: Ward Jr. involved in kidnapping and rape of a teen girl and attempted murder of her boyfriend, David Galbraith (who survived two gunshots to the head).
• [38:28] Echoes: Jr. also poured concrete to hide murder victims, involving his young son Rodney in the process—parallels Ward III’s actions decades later.
• [41:34] Ward Jr. sentenced to death; history of familial abuse surfaces—abused by Ward Sr., who also abused Ward Jr.’s sister and granddaughters.
• [42:12]

  “I think what it does do is give context and maybe help us understand the trauma and debauchery that may have played a role…” (Ferguson)

• [44:05]

  “People that are abused many times go on to abuse others. So it’s not surprising…” (Morford)

10. Unbroken Cycle, Lingering Questions

• [45:19] Ward Jr. suspected in as many as two dozen additional unsolved hitchhiker murders.
• [47:05] Miranda Gaddis’s sister, Mariah, confronts Ward III in prison—he claims Miranda would have been his next victim. The psychological toll is evident:

  “When I got home, I started dwelling on all the things he said. I couldn’t get it out of my mind, and I felt like killing myself.” (Mariah Gaddis, 47:53)

11. Environment vs. Biology

• [48:45–50:27] The debate re-emerges: Is a “gene for evil” present, or is it learned behavior? The hosts lean heavily toward environment:

  “I still lean towards the environment, the nurture side more than I do the evil gene side…” (Ferguson, 50:27)

• Detective Glenn Johnson:

  "Our parents are our teachers. And Ward Weaver III had a horrible teacher in his father." (Daily Iowan, 50:27)

• Detective Gary Davis:

  "It seems like he set out to get a cell next to his father." (Daily Iowan, 50:35)

12. Where Are They Now?

• [51:03]
  • Ward Weaver Jr.: 81, incarcerated in Stockton, CA.
  • Ward Weaver III: 62, serving life in Oregon.
  • Francis Weaver: 43, in prison; earliest release in 2030.
• [52:21] Legacy: The hosts express shock that three generations have followed this path, reinforcing how abuse and criminality cascaded through the family line.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On systemic failures

  "He’s got this record and here’s this incident with this young girl and it’s just basically ignored... This is not a guy you want hanging around with a young girl."
  — Morford, [21:03]

• On killer psychology

  "I think some people revel in the attention... they just think they’re smarter than everybody else and certainly smarter than the investigators. Now, very rarely are they."
  — Ferguson, [30:12]

• On learned violence

  "Our parents are our teachers. And Ward Weaver III had a horrible teacher in his father."
  — Detective Glenn Johnson, [50:27]

• On victim resilience

  "David [Galbraith] was shot twice in the head and then... it’s incredible to me that number one, he survived, but that he was able to climb up this embankment and get to the highway to flag down a car for help."
  — Ferguson, [40:36]

• On the nature of evil

  "People that are abused many times go on to abuse others. So it’s not surprising at all that these men in this family that went through this would go on to do it to other people."
  — Morford, [44:05]

Key Timestamps

• [04:05] Main theme: perpetrators across three generations
• [16:16] Recurrent violence against women; lack of legal consequences
• [18:16] Disappearance of Ashley Pond
• [21:40] Disappearance of Miranda Gaddis
• [23:48] Ward pours suspicious concrete slab
• [25:17] Ward gives press a tour, boasts about being a suspect
• [28:25] Discovery of girls' remains on Ward’s property
• [32:42] Ward pleads guilty to murders
• [36:49] The crimes of Ward Weaver Jr.
• [38:28] Jr.'s “concrete pad” murder parallels
• [44:05] Abuse perpetuating a cycle of violence
• [50:27] Detective Johnson on parenting and criminality
• [51:03] Where they are now

Conclusion

Ferguson and Morford deliver a harrowing look into an American crime family, where the lines between inherited evil and environmental influence blur. The Weaver Family episode is a painful examination of generational trauma, institutional failures, and how cycles of violence can grip entire family trees. The hosts underscore the importance of intervention, community awareness, and support for victims—reminding listeners that breaking such cycles is not easy, but absolutely necessary.