It’s with much relief and sadness that the case of two Oregon City girls apparently is coming to a close. Of course, the criminal justice system is yet to crank up, but at the least, finding the girls’ remains allows the families involved to find some closure. It in no way, however, eases their pain.

Investigators announced that the remains of 13-year-old Miranda Gaddis were found in a shed behind the rental home of Ward Weaver. They also believe other remains found in a barrel buried in concrete are those of 12-year-old Ashley Pond. Final tests are coming, but it appears both girls, missing since last winter, died near the apartment complex where both lived.

This case has been tragic and exceptionally strange from the moment the first calls were made to police. Not much made sense, as far as the girls being abducted months apart. Thoughts that they ran away or were taken to another state just didn’t sound right. And all along, law enforcement officers have kept a fairly low profile. The one person who didn’t, however, was Weaver.

He’s been telling just about anyone who would listen that he’s the prime suspect, that he failed a lie detector test, but, at the same time, denied he knew anything about the girls’ disappearance. Since that time the case has become even stranger – if that’s possible.

A bizarre story about Weaver’s father being arrested for similar crimes has come to light, as well as many reports of his violent nature. Most recently he was arrested for allegedly raping his own son’s girlfriend.

This story has caught a lot of attention because of the proximity of the young girls’ homes and the similarity in their disappearances. The neighborhood has lived in terror, believing that a monster was stalking the area. And, it seems, they were correct. Evidence apparently shows that Weaver was the monster living nearby, but investigators haven’t charged him with the crimes – yet.

There’s not much good that comes out of a case like this. It leaves us all feeling a little more vulnerable and leery about strangers and even people we know. That’s one sad side effect of this. The other is knowing that friends and family of these two girls are hurting in the worst way over the senseless deaths of these two innocent girls.