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CNN Live At Daybreak

Funeral Services Scheduled Tonight For 5-Year-Old Samantha Runnion

Aired July 24, 2002 - 05:03   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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Developments now in a kidnapping case that ended in tragedy. Funeral services are scheduled tonight for 5-year-old Samantha Runnion. Samantha, as you know, was kidnapped outside her California home last week and found murdered a day later. Thanks to quick investigative work and tips from the public, a suspect has been charged in the case.

Despite that arrest, however, a sense of security has not returned to Stanton, California.

Here's CNN's Anne McDermott.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNE MCDERMOTT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Kids still stay close in Stanton, California, when you can find them. On this day, this hour, front yards were empty, a park was empty. So the rec guy came over here for something to do.

JASON FISH, STANTON PARKS & RECREATIONAL DEPARTMENT: Ever since the whole event took place last week, our park's just been dead.

MCDERMOTT: But some things have changed. The massive tribute to Samantha is gone. The cops? They used to be everywhere, now down to a token few. Things are changing, people are changing, says a neighbor. They're going through phases.

EDITH FAGAN, NEIGHBOR: They went through at first the devastation, how could this happen and this type of thing. Then about three days later, say Wednesday or Thursday, the anger.

MCDERMOTT: Some of those who came here to the nearby Orange County Fair are angry, all right. After checking out the sheriff's booth, where you can see how many registered sex offenders live in your neighborhood.

RALPH FRANKFIELD, ORANGE COUNTY RESIDENT: Most of these guys look pretty normal. I mean, you know, you couldn't necessarily look at most of these guys and say oh, yes, this guy is a criminal.

MCDERMOTT: A criminal. But it's over now, isn't it?

ALLAN LEMUS, BARBER: You know, it's still in the back of everyone's mind, I think. And I think everyone's still a little scared.

MCDERMOTT: The barber has a 9-year-old sister.

(on camera): Do you still worry about her?

LEMUS: Oh, yes.

MCDERMOTT (voice-over): But what about the neighborhood kids? Well, some are still scared.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: A little bit, because there's still people out there that can do the same thing to you.

MCDERMOTT: As she says, there's still people out there, maybe not this one, but they're out there.

Anne McDermott, CNN, Stanton, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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