Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Search Continues for Child Kidnapper, Murderer

Aired July 18, 2002 - 07:02   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: "Up Front" this morning, a warning from authorities in California, a violent sexual predator is on the loose, and they think he will strike again. Investigators, who released a sketch of Samantha Runnion's killer, say he left a calling card, posing the 5-year-old's body in such a way that said, "Here I am, come and find me." Authorities promise they will.

Charles Feldman is standing by live outside the Orange County Sheriff's Department. He joins us now -- good morning, Charles.

CHARLES FELDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula. And we will start with what I hope will be some encouraging new in this awful and tragic case. Law enforcement officials tell me that they have some very promising leads, and people that they are now talking to that they think and hope may pan out in the search for the kidnapper and killer of 5-year-old Samantha Runnion. So we'll watch that as it develops throughout the day and hope for the best on that one.

They are looking, of course -- I'm going to show you a sketch now -- for a suspect, and that is based on the eyewitness testimony of Samantha Runnion's 5-year-old friend. That is the best information we are told that law enforcement has in terms of the individual that they are looking for.

And, Paula, as you have already pointed out, they are very concerned that based on an FBI profile, this is a person who is highly dangerous, somebody who they believe has sexually assaulted children before, and somebody who either has killed before, or if not, has now crossed that very dangerous threshold. And by killing young Samantha Runnion, is now somebody they think may very well kill again and very possibly soon. And that's why the concern for trying to apprehend this suspect as quickly as possible.

Overnight, there was a vigil in front of Samantha Runnion's home, with area residents leaving off some candles and coming to pay their respects to the mother of the young child. A horrible and terrible story for this community and for the country as well, because this is a nationwide search, although it is believed very strongly that the person who did this horrible deed is probably still somewhere within this area, but nobody, of course, knows for sure -- Paula.

ZAHN: We'll be counting on you to keep us posted on these promising leads that they are looking at at this hour -- thanks, Charles -- appreciate that live update. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.