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CNN Live At Daybreak

In Search for Samantha Runnion's Killer, Investigators Looking At More Than 10 Suspects

Aired July 19, 2002 - 05:01   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: And now more on the search for Samantha Runnion's killer. Investigators are looking closely at more than 10 possible suspects in the case. New developments come after a series of false reports in the case.

Here's David Mattingly with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The order of the day in the massive search for the killer of young Samantha Runnion, rumor control, an erroneous report by another news organization of an arrest in the case temporarily chilling a public tip line that has so far produced more than 1,000 leads.

SHERIFF MIKE CARONA, ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: There have been no arrests with respect to this case and we have no confirmed suspects as of this date.

MATTINGLY: Yet authorities report a "significant number of substantial leads," their eyes on several potential suspects with a history of child sexual abuse similar in appearance to the now infamous description of a Latino man, 25 to 40 years of age, driving a green car.

CARONA: We were very concerned that this individual could strike again in a relatively short period of time. Whether it's 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, a week, two weeks, this individual is a sexual predator that has a sexual deviancy.

MATTINGLY: Samantha's family reportedly dealing as best they can as descriptions of how their 5-year-old died on every newscast. Her biological father in Massachusetts heartbroken, missing his daughter.

DEREK JACKSON, SAMANTHA RUNNION'S FATHER: I will always stay connected with her. She will live in my heart, you know, when I wake up, when I wake up every day. I will think of her and I will think of her when I go to bed at night. I will think of her all day long. I love her dearly. I miss you, Samantha.

MATTINGLY: Investigators now concentrating on the abundance of evidence collected at the site where Samantha was abducted, as well as from where her body was later discovered, so much evidence that it continues to bolster confidence and raise hopes that her killer will soon be found.

David Mattingly, CNN, Stanton, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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