Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Authorities in California Expected to Positively Identify Body of Young Girl Today

Aired July 17, 2002 - 05:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Authorities in Southern California are expected to positively identify the body of a young girl today. The body was found about 75 miles from where a 5-year-old girl was abducted Monday evening.

CNN's Anne McDermott reports on the search for Samantha Runnion.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNE MCDERMOTT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): First, a mother's plea.

ERIN RUNNION, SAMANTHA'S MOTHER: Baby, I love you. You are such a good girl. You are so clever. Please, ask your captor to let you go.

MCDERMOTT: And then the residents of Stanton, California got into gear, looking for 5-year-old Samantha Runnion, and then a grizzly discovery.

SHERIFF MICHAEL CARONA, ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: There has been a body of a young girl approximately four to six years of age in Riverside County.

MCDERMOTT: Riverside authorities say two men stumbled across the body in a mountainous area used by hikers and hang gliders.

CARONA: It would meet the description of Samantha. But we have not confirmed that.

MCDERMOTT: The child was snatched right outside her family's town home early Monday evening in what cops call a low crime neighborhood. Samantha's playmate, Sarah Ahn, was the only witness.

SARAH AHN, WITNESS: He threw her in the car really quick. Then he left really quick. She said, "Help! Tell my grandma!" And I did.

MCDERMOTT: Who he was and what his motive was, well, nobody knows that yet. But 5-year-old Sarah was able to give police this description of the man.

CARONA: We'll do the best investigation we possibly can and we're going to bring whoever killed that young lady to justice. MCDERMOTT: Justice, no matter who the killer is, no matter who the victim is.

Anne McDermott, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com