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CNN Sunday Morning

DNA Evidence May Be Key in Runnion Murder

Aired July 21, 2002 - 07:03   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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: First up this hour, the investigation into the abduction and killing of Samantha Runnion moves to a new phase with DNA evidence allegedly providing a key link between the suspect in custody and the 5-year-old victim.

CNN's David Mattingly picks up our story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): His was the face all of southern California have been told to be aware of. Now behind bars, 27-year-old Alejandro Avila awaits arraignment in Orange County on Tuesday. The charges of kidnapping and murder of little Samantha Runnion, a 100 percent certainty, according to authorities, with DNA providing the definitive link.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't even have words to explain what I think he deserves for doing something like this to a little child. There aren't words to explain it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But I'm sorry, this definitely would be an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

(MUSIC)

MATTINGLY: Samantha's neighborhood in Stanton, California, a gathering place as people search for some release for the tide of emotions still lingering after a traumatic four-day manhunt.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's been hard. She's been keeping up with the news every day and asking why something like this should happen to a little girl.

MATTINGLY: The courtyard where Samantha played still filled with flowers and stuffed animals.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right. Great.

MATTINGLY: At the shopping center across the street, groups push child protection and education while store employees sell burgers to help Samantha's family. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're just a community that sticks together, just a bonding, and when something - some tragedy hits our community, we try to be there. You'd have to be inhuman not to have a heart about this tragedy.

(SONG)

MATTINGLY: And at the end of the day, one final gesture of kindness, song, community prayer, and the thanks of Samantha's grateful mother.

ERIN RUNNION, SAMANTHA'S MOTHER: I cannot tell you all how much all of this has meant to us. You are truly being wonderful to us and our family, and we come out here every night and we are working to read everything that you have written, but it takes a long time and I thank you so much ...

MATTINGLY: David Mattingly, CNN, Stanton, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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