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CNN Live At Daybreak

Suspect in Killing of 5-Year-Old California Girl Scheduled to be Arraigned Today

Aired July 22, 2002 - 06:20   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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The suspect in the killing of a 5-year-old California girl is scheduled to be arraigned today.

CNN's Lillian Kim is covering the story in Santa Ana, California and she joins us with a live report -- good morning, Lillian.

LILLIAN KIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

The arraignment is scheduled to take place at this Orange County courthouse later this afternoon. It will, no doubt, be the first of many court appearances for the factory worker from Lake Elsinore, California.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KIM (voice-over): He's 27 years old, who became the target of an intense manhunt. And now, Alejandro Avila will make his first appearance in court for allegedly killing 5-year-old Samantha Runnion.

The Orange County sheriff says he's certain they've got their man.

SHERIFF MICHAEL CARONA, ORANGE COUNTY CALIFORNIA: I'm not the judge and I'm not the jury, but I do know the evidence and the investigative teams have done a magnificent job to bring it forward. Now we're just going to hope that the justice system serves us well and he's convicted.

KIM: Authorities say a tremendous amount of physical evidence, including DNA, is what led to Avila's arrest Friday, just five days after Samantha Runnion was snatched in front of her Santa Ana, California home. Her body was found near a highway more than 50 miles away. Investigators say she had been sexually assaulted and strangled.

ERIN RUNNION, SAMANTHA RUNNION'S MOTHER: I want you all to know each other. Watch out for your babies. Watch out for each other's babies. Take care of one another.

KIM: Avila has been in trouble with the law before. He was on trial for molesting two 9-year-old girls, but was acquitted of all charges almost two years ago. Investigators are now looking to see if evidence can link Avila to other cases in the area. CARONA: We're trying to determine if that matches up against known crimes that we have convictions on and unknown crimes that we're still trying to solve.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KIM: The district attorney is reviewing whether to seek the death penalty in this case. He will be discussing the matter with Samantha Runnion's family, as well as attorneys for Alejandro Avila.

Reporting live from Santa Ana, California, I'm Lillian Kim -- now back to you.

COOPER: Lillian, let me just ask you, this arraignment today, how long a process is this supposed to be and is it open to the public?

KIM: It is open to the public, but it is expected to be very short. This is his first appearance in court. It's kind of a procedural matter of about 15 minutes or so. And he could enter a plea today, as well.

COOPER: And is there any word of if the parents of Samantha Runnion will be at this hearing?

KIM: We have no idea if family members are scheduled to attend, but we can't imagine that other people will be here who probably want to voice their opposition towards Mr. Avila. This has generated a lot of emotions here in the Santa Ana area, in the Santa Ana, California area, and people here are very upset about this whole situation and are looking for vengeance.

COOPER: All right, Lillian Kim, thanks very much for joining us with that live report.

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