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CNN Live Today

In Southern California, Police Scrambling to Find Man Who Killed 5-Year-Old

Aired July 18, 2002 - 11:03   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: In Southern California this morning, police are scrambling today to find the man who killed 5-year-old Samantha Runnion. They're afraid that he may strike again, and soon.

CNN's Charles Feldman is covering the investigation for us. He joins us now with new information -- Charles.

CHARLES FELDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon.

Yes, new information indeed. We've been told by a law enforcement source that there are now several suspects, potential suspects, that they are tracking down, and all of them we are told have a history of child sexual abuse, abusing children sexually. All of these potential suspects -- and it has been told come via tips from the public, which has been very important in this horrible case. And now it's a question of finding these people, seeing if the forensic evidence matches, and they're hoping maybe one of them will turn out to be the suspect that they are, in fact, looking for.

And, of course what -- the person they're looking for is the sketch we're about to show you, and that is the best description that law enforcement has. It is based on the eyewitness testimony of Samantha Runnion's 5-year-old friend although law enforcement agencies are saying that this person may have changed identity by now, and this is best description that they have.

Also what they're saying, Leon, they are confident in this case, at least they say they are that they're going to eventually get their man, because, they say, at the crime scene and elsewhere, he made many mistakes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF MICHAEL CARONA, ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: He acted impulsively, and in doing so, he left a lot of evidence at the crime scene in Stanton, where the kidnap took place. He also left a lot of physical evidence for us at the crime scene where Samantha was murdered in Riverside County. We have collected all of that, working with our forensic laboratory here in Orange County, and our counterparts with the FBI. We're digesting all of it, but we're excited about what we came across, and we believe that will help us put the puzzle together, bring this man to justice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FELDMAN: That's the street right over there were that truck is turning. That's the street where only a few days ago, little Samantha Runnion was playing outside her home here in Orange County, just days away from what would have been her sixth birthday. And instead, this horrible event, kidnapped by this suspect, sexually abused, and then brutally murdered. But as I said at the top, Leon, law enforcement officials that I've talked to say that they're encouraged by the fact that the public has been coming forward with what they say is crucial and important information about the suspect.

And as I've also said, we're told that this has led to at least several potential suspects, all of whom have a history of child sexual abuse, and so they feel somewhat encouraged this morning. They also point out in a case such as this things can always fall apart, and they may be right back where they started from a day or so ago. Right now, at least, a little, little ray of sunshine in an otherwise very dark story -- Leon.

HARRIS: Here's hoping there's more of that to come. You can imagine what the family is going through right now.

Charles Feldman. Thanks very much. Talk to you later on.

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