SAMANTHA RUNNION - Aged 5 years - Orange County (USA)

smokie
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:45 pm



July 15, 2002 - "Have you seen my chihuahua?": Five-year-old Samantha Runnion was playing with her friend, Sarah Ahn, outside of her home. A man approached, asking if they had seen his chihuahua. Samantha spoke to him briefly and then he grabbed her and pulled her into his car. Samantha fighting to get free, screamed out to her friend, "Help me! Tell my grandmother!" Sarah ran and told her mother what had happened and the massive manhunt for little Samantha Runnion began.

July 17, 2002 - "Don't sleep. Don't eat...": Authorities confirmed that the body found was Samantha Runnion. An autopsy determined that Samantha was sexually assaulted, suffered physical trauma, and was asphyxiated sometime on July 15. Authorities reported that the killer spent several hours with her before murdering her. Orange County Sheriff Michael Carona delivered a strong message to the killer: "Don't sleep. Don't eat. Because we're coming after you. We will take every resource that's available to us to bring you to justice."

http://crime.about.com/od/current/p/runnion.htm

smokie
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 8:16 am

Wikipedia

Murder of Samantha Runnion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Samantha_Runnion

The New York Times

Friday, July 19, 2002

By JAMES STERNGOLD

California Manhunt Grows, but It Produces No Arrests in Killing of Girl, 5

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/19/us/california-manhunt-grows-but-it-produces-no-arrests-in-killing-of-girl-5.html

The New York Times

Friday, July 19, 2002

By ALESSANDRA STANLEY

In Hometown of Slain Girl, a Veiled Fear Lurks

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/19/us/in-hometown-of-slain-girl-a-veiled-fear-lurks.html

The New York Times

Saturday, July 20, 2002

By RICK BRAGG

Man Arrested in California Case Of Child's Abduction and Killing

A man who was acquitted of molesting two girls two years ago was arrested today in connection with the abduction and killing of Samantha Runnion, the 5-year-old girl whose abused body was left in a gruesome pose in the hills southeast of this suburban city.

The man, Alejandro Avila, a 27-year-old production line supervisor at a medical equipment plant, was arrested this morning on suspicion of kidnapping and murder, in a case that brought fear and dread to this corner of California. Area residents now hope the arrest is the solution to a crime too terrible to comprehend.

(continues)

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/20/us/man-arrested-in-california-case-of-child-s-abduction-and-killing.html

The New York Times

Sunday, July 21, 2002

By NICK MADIGAN

Young Witness Called Crucial In Finding Abduction Suspect

The observations of a 5-year-old girl, the only witness in the abduction of Samantha Runnion, have emerged as critical in the investigation that led to the arrest of Alejandro Avila in the kidnapping and murder case.

The girl, Sarah Ahn, who was playing with Samantha near their homes on Monday when a man drove up and snatched her, gave investigators precise details about the man's appearance, accent and car, the police said here this morning.

(continues)

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/21/us/young-witness-called-crucial-in-finding-abduction-suspect.html

CNN News

July 22, 2002

Man to be arraigned in California girl's killing

http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/07/21/girl.abducted/index.html

The New York Times

Tuesday, July 23, 2002

By NICK MADIGAN

Man Accused of Killing Girl In California Postpones Plea

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/23/us/man-accused-of-killing-girl-in-california-postpones-plea.html

Los Angeles Times

6th August 2002

Murder of Girl: Capital Case; Crime: Orange County D.A. wants death for Alejandro Avila, who allegedly kidnapped, molested and killed Samantha Runnion, 5.

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/146710891.html?dids=146710891:146710891&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+06%2C+2002&author=CHRISTINE+HANLEY&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Murder+of+Girl%3A+Capital+Case%3B+Crime%3A+Orange+County+D.A.+wants+death+for+Alejandro+Avila%2C+who+allegedly+kidnapped%2C+molested+and+killed+Samantha+Runnion%2C+5.&pqatl=google

Los Angeles Times

September 17, 2002

Cameras Are Banned From Runnion Kidnap Hearings

http://articles.latimes.com/2002/sep/17/local/me-avila17

Chennel 3000

December 2, 2002

Arraignment Set For Accused Samantha Runnion Killer

Girl's Disappearance, Murder Drew National Attention



http://www.channel3000.com/news/1813633/detail.html

The Orange County Register

Monday, December 13, 2004

By LARRY WELBORN

DNA hearing in Avila case

D.A. says the defendant can't be excluded as the source of tissue found under the fingernails of slain Samantha Runnion.

Orange County prosecutors introduced DNA evidence today that a forensic scientist cannot exclude murder suspect Alejandro Avila as a donor of a tissue sample found under a fingernail of Samantha Runnion, the 5-year-old Stanton girl who was kidnapped, sexually assaulted and killed in July 2002.

Edward L. Bose, a 15-year veteran of the Orange County sheriff's crime lab, testified that technicians could not rule Avila out as the person whose DNA was discovered under Samantha's fingernail after her body was found dumped off Ortega (74) Highway.

Deputy District Attorney Camille Hill is seeking to prove during a pretrial hearing before Superior Court Judge William R. Froeberg that the evidence and the procedure used to develop the DNA evidence is scientifically reliable and can be presented to a jury next year.

Bose's testimony came in the first day of what is expected to be a two-week hearing on the scientific credibility of relatively new kinds of DNA evidence.

Deputy Public Defender Phil Zalewski contends that crime lab officials used an unreliable technique to analyze the genetic material found under Samantha's fingernail.

He also contends that the scientific techniques used to collect two other pieces of DNA evidence are invalid and should not be used against Avila. 30, of Lake Elsinore in his death-penalty trial, now set to begin Jan. 18.

Runnion, 5, was kidnapped while playing with a friend in an alley behind her mother's Stanton home on July 15, 2002. A man in a car who claimed to have lost a puppy snatched Samantha, who went kicking and screaming.

Her nude body was found the next day off Ortega Highway in Riverside County.

Crime.about

Friday February 18, 2005

DNA Evidence Okayed in Samantha Runnion Case

http://crime.about.com/b/2005/02/18/dna-evidence-okayed-in-samantha-runnion-case.htm

North County Times

Sunday, March 20, 2005

By: JOHN HALL

Three years later, Runnion trial to begin

http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/article_02aeaeb4-be75-501a-ad26-7393d9d74d8a.html[b]

Crime About

Friday March 25, 2005

Former Victims Testify in Samantha Runnion Case

http://crime.about.com/b/2005/03/25/former-victims-testify-in-samantha-runnion-case.htm

Crime About

Wednesday April 6, 2005

Prosecution Rests in Samantha Runnion Case

http://crime.about.com/b/2005/04/06/prosecution-rests-in-samantha-runnion-case.htm

Crime About

Wednesday April 20, 2005

Samantha Runnion Trial Nears End

http://crime.about.com/b/2005/04/20/samantha-runnion-trial-nears-end.htm

Crime About

Tuesday April 26, 2005

Jury Hears Closing Arguments in Samantha Runnion Case

http://crime.about.com/b/2005/04/26/jury-hears-closing-arguments-in-samantha-runnion-case.htm

Crime About

Thursday April 28, 2005

Samantha Runnion's Killer Convicted

Alejandro Avila was found guilty of kidnapping, murder and two counts of sexual assault for the murder of five-year-old Samantha Runnion. The same jury will later decide if the 30-year-old factory worker will get the death penalty.

http://crime.about.com/b/2005/04/28/samantha-runnions-killer-convicted.htm

About Crime

Thursday May 12, 2005

Defense Pleads for Mercy for Samantha Runnion's Killer

http://crime.about.com/b/2005/05/12/defense-pleads-for-mercy-for-samantha-runnions-killer.htm

About Crime

Monday May 16, 2005

Jury Recommends Death for Alejandro Avila

http://crime.about.com/b/2005/05/16/jury-recommends-death-for-alejandro-avila.htm

About Crime

Saturday July 23, 2005

Avila Gets Death Sentence in Samantha Runnion Case

Orange County Superior Court Judge William R. Froeberg sentenced Alejandro Avila to death for the kidnapping, sexual assault and murder of five-year-old Samantha Runnion, telling the killer he had "forfeited his right to live."

http://crime.about.com/b/2005/07/23/avila-gets-death-sentence-in-samantha-runnion-case.htm

Joyful Child Foundation

The Joyful Child Foundation was established in Samantha's memory. It aims to facilitate the development of child watch programs in local communities through the U.S. through the Samantha's Pride program. In addition, it also seeks to encourage research and development into the psyche of predators and develop communication programs for parents and children.

Samantha's mother, Erin Runnion, appeared in an interview in 2008 episode of the cable TV series, Penn & Teller: Bullshit!. She appeared in the sixth season episode, "Stranger Danger", which was devoted to examining fears that parents have about their children's safety. Despite Samantha's kidnapping and murder, Erin opined that parents should be concerned about more common dangers, and not comparatively rare occurrences such as child abduction by strangers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Samantha_Runnion

The Capistrano Dispatch

Friday 4th April 2008

Runnion Brings A New San Juan Pride

http://thecapistranodispatch.com/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=309&cntnt01dateformat=%25B%20%25d%2C%20%25Y&cntnt01returnid=15