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CNN Live Today

Forensics Experts, Police Closer to Arrest in Runnion Case

Aired July 19, 2002 - 11:00   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: Up first this hour on CNN, the search for a killer in southern California. Forensics experts are analyzing potential evidence this morning in the Samantha Runnion case, and they are apparently moving closer to an arrest. At least that's what we've been hearing.

Let's check in now with our Rusty Dornin who's out there covering the story for us in Orange County, California -- Rusty.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Leon there have been no arrests yet, but several people have been detained for questioning. They are also saying they're not even in custody. They're only being detained for questioning. And one of those, according to "The L.A. Times" is a 27-year-old man who lives in Lake Elsinore, which is very close to where Samantha Runnion's body was found.

Now apparently four search warrants for vehicles were also served. Three of the vehicles belong to that man. They were green in color, which is matching the description of the killer's car. But there was also a white car that was impounded by the police taken in connection with this case to look for evidence.

Now, police say there has been a tremendous amount of physical evidence in this case. And Sheriff Mike Carona says at this point they're not going to confirm that there's any one suspect.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF MIKE CARONA, ORANGE COUNTY CALIFORNIA: We had a number of leads that we were working. Some of those leads took us into the Riverside County area. We felt that we had enough physical evidence at the crime scene and based upon the leads and the physical evidence we could go forward, asking for search warrant of multiple locations.

We have made no arrest in this case yet. We're looking at several individuals, and the search warrants are one more step in putting together all of the information that we need to solve this crime.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DORNIN: Now the interesting thing is they say that they don't have any one suspect and yet they say they may, in fact, know who the killer is. Optimism remains very high at the command center. Folks working 24/7. Faxes and phones ringing off the hook, that sort of thing. But the adrenaline is very high that they are very close to closing in on someone in this particular case -- Leon.

HARRIS: Rusty Dornin standing by in Stanton, California. Thank you very much, Rusty.

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