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CNN Live At Daybreak

Orange County Prosecutor Will Seek Death Penalty Against Accused Killer of Samantha Runnion

Aired August 06, 2002 - 05:02   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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And in another high profile child abduction and murder case, the Orange County, California prosecutor will seek the death penalty against the accused killer of 5-year-old Samantha Runnion.

Our Gary Tuchman has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ultimately it was this man's decision to make.

TONY RACKAUCKAS, ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: There is no question in my mind that the person who kidnapped, molested and murdered 5-year-old Samantha should face the death penalty.

TUCHMAN: And with those words by Orange County, California's district attorney Tony Rackauckas, the judicial wheels are now set in motion to give the accused killer of Samantha Runnion the ultimate punishment.

RACKAUCKAS: This crime has shocked and outraged our community, our nation, even other nations. If there was ever a case where justice would be served by seeking the death penalty, this is the case.

TUCHMAN: Samantha's mother met with the D.A. before the decision was announced. And Erin Runnion issued a statement through a spokesperson.

JIM AMORMINO, RUNNION FAMILY SPOKESMAN: In our private meeting, he was forthright with the options available and we expressed our gratitude and trust in his judgment and expertise in prosecuting this case.

TUCHMAN: It was July 15 that 5-year-old Samantha was kidnapped from right outside her home in Stanton, California while she was playing with a friend. Her body was found two days later.

SHERIFF MIKE CARONA, ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: We didn't realize it at the time, but Samantha was not just our little girl. She became America's little girl. Samantha was all that was good in the world and what happened to her is all that was evil in the world. TUCHMAN: Three days after little Samantha's body was discovered, 27-year-old Alejandro Avila was arrested and charged with kidnapping, molestation and murder.

CARONA: I'm 100 percent certain that Mr. Avila is the man who kidnapped and murdered Samantha Runnion.

TUCHMAN: Two years ago Avila was found not guilty by a jury of molesting two other children. That fact breaks Samantha's mother's heart.

ERIN RUNNION, SAMANTHA'S MOTHER: I blame every juror who let him go. Every juror who sat no that trial and believed this man over those little girls, I will never understand. And that is why he was out and that is why his sickness was allowed to do this.

TUCHMAN: Thousands of people turned out for Samantha's funeral, a moving and emotional experience for those who attended and the millions who watched on television. The man charged with killing her was in his jail cell at the time.

(on camera): Avila has claimed he was at a mall when the kidnapping occurred. Law enforcement authorities say they have DNA evidence and cell phone records that prove he's a liar. The accused killer will issue his plea in court this Friday.

Gary Tuchman, Santa Ana, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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