Day 49: A 5-year-old girl sexually assaulted and murdered but her tears help find her killer
December 20th, 2009, 2:00 am · 30 Comments · posted by Larry Welborn
2002: Alejandro Avila was sentenced to death on July 22, 2006 after a lengthy trial for the kidnapping, sexual assault and murder of 5-year-old Samantha Runnion in July 2002.
Samantha Runnion,
Alejandro Avila
A forensics expert testified that Samantha’s DNA – perhaps from her tears – was found in Avila’s car.
Samantha’s body was unceremoniously dumped in the hills above Lake Elsinore, where Avila lived.
When he sentenced Avila to die, Orange County Judge William R. Froeberg said, “for the temporary gratification of his lust, the defendant destroyed an entire family’s future, a family he did not even know. He has forfeited his right to live.”
Pictured Above: Well-wishers place flowers, stuffed animals and candles on the hood of a police cruiser after residents closed the memorial for Samantha Runnion at her Stanton apartment complex Sunday July 21, 2002. Photo by Kevin Sullivan, The Orange County Register
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Mike Carona used and Samantha and Her Mom, Erin, to pull the wool over your eyes, Orange County.
The OC Sheriffs department had this maggot holed up and in their custody in a hotel room for two days while our indicted, felonious ex Sheriff put together a media campaign with the OC Republican Party to get Carona a bigger name.
What did you say to Avila for the media, Mikey? Something like: you can run, but don’t sleep, we will catch up to you?
Did Schroeder and Jon Fleishmann think that up for you, Mikey?
Too bad hes isolated from the general population.
Im sure the inmates would give him some true justice.
What you are talking about is not justice, it’s vengence…they are two different things.
Talkin out of both sides of your mouth today, huh Bryan? See below
I still fail to understand why the OCR chose the holiday season to help us re-live these morbid events.
Merrry…..oh, nevermind!
Bryan – go cry yourself a river.
Talkin out of both sides of your mouth today, huh Bryan?
So in one post, you’re splitting hairs with the vengeance vs. justice craap, yet in this post you’re whining about the morbid events posting at holiday season. Which is it? And WHO CARES about the terminology in reference to a monster finally getting his JUST deserves… just as long as he gets them?
Justice is giving what one is due. Vengeance is getting back at someone.
Vengeance robs the state of justice and robs the victim’s families.
It is a pathetic injustice to Samantha Runnion’s family that this SCUMBAG is still alive!!!
Sickening.
One way you could look at it is as a reminder to appreciate and cherish what you have, and hopefully be thankful that none of your family members have been featured in this series. The holiday season is a time when we think of others and remember those we’ve lost, because when you lose someone you love, especially before their time should have been up, you remember them forever.
If it’s still too disturbing for you Bryan, you could also stop clicking on the links.
Brian you are so right…why do these morbid stories at this time of year. I guess a slow time with news…Hey I have an idea, why not do really happy, giving stories like the ones where a dog finds his home after so many years, or a long lost family member is reunited with their family, etc.
Anyway, Happy Holiday’s
I agree with Bryan – is the OCR against Christmas? Are they TRYING to dampen the ‘good tidings and joy’? Or is the Christmas spirit just outdated and not important any more? Who thought this would be a great series to run during the Christmas holiday? Especially after a year that was already difficult enough – allow us to enjoy the Christmas season.
I have to agree with Bryan, why did OCR run these stories now. I am sure all these victims families are having a rough time anyway with the holidays, then to re read their stories…Thats why OCR is slowly die on the vine the people in charge do not think….Death row inmates should be in general population. ALL prisioners are just that, prisoners…
That would be a very bad idea. Death Row inmates have nothing to lose. So what’s stopping them from killing other inmates? What if they banded together and formed their own gang and terrorized the general prison population? Say the kill some teenager in prison for drug violations. How’s that justice for the teenager?
Secondly, there’s no such thing as prison justice. That a myth that all rapists and sex offenders will face justice at the hands of their fellow inmates. It’s only the weak offenders that face that.
Brian~ Heart warming, or Horrific news sells newspapers I guess. I agree it’s not something that will put you the spirit for the Hoilsays.
I heard this man has been acquitted prior to this. Our justice system is messed up. The criminal has more rights then the victim. He deserves to die for what he did.
I’ll never forget this case, Sam, the little beautiful angel tortured and killed by this monster.Her advice to her mom come into my mind often “be Brave”
I don’t care what role Sheriff Carona in any other issue, He Stood by Sam’s mom all the way though this and was truly” Americans Sheriff”
He, was “Americas Sheriff” for A MOMENT in time!!!
Jus Sayin,
Your clueless…..Carona used the death of the girl and capture of the murderer for his own personal gain. He knew prior to his “don’t sleep, don’t eat”, speech in front of the camera’s that homicide detectives already had the suspect identified and were on him. Carona’s America’s Felon!
This happened just a mile from my home, it was a sad time to live in Stanton.
Worse if you lived in Lake Elsinore, where Avila had family.
I personally don’t one good GD about Sheriff Coronas crimes he just got caught. You think Brad Gates never did the dame thing? Wake up!
Dirty politicos are rampant in this country.
As far as Avilia is concerned it’s a shame that the arresting officers didn’t hold court then and there, as in the first story of this fine series.
Too bad more don’t take justice into their hands when they KNOW this maggot did this, and he DESERVES to die.
Choke on that to all the Liberals who think this sicko shouldn’t be sentenced to DEATH via HOLLOW POINT bullet to the temple!
Just kill the B@stard already
OMG I HADNT READ THIS WHOLE THING BEFORE.. HE JUST BROKE MY HEART WHEN IT SAID DNA RESULTS FROM HER TEARS… HOW AWFUL.. MAY THE LITTLE BEAUTIFUL GIRL REST IN PEACE AND BE DANCING WITH GOD AND HIS ANGELS… LOVE YOU PRECIOUS SAMANTHA…
HOPE THE FAT DIRT BAG BEANER ROTS IN PRISON AND HELL.
Please, really? This is the end of 2009 and you’re still typing in all caps? I’m surprised the Stuart Tay case didn’t make the top 50.
mexican.
Carona just used this case to further his own career. He cared nothing about the case excepte what it could do to make him look good to the public.
No mames guey
All caps, lacking critical thought, bordering bipolar, and to top it off–racist, geez! What a nut case~nonetheless, a good laugh in the middle of reading sad and morbid stories.
Death Row…what a joke that is! They die of natural causes and get better protection until they do so. We need to abolish the death penalty and put the White Supremist’s who like to shoot their mouths off about other gangs of like minds, and child killers, and serial killers, in with the rest of the population. Why should we pay so much extra to see that they are coddled until they never get the needle?
I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS STORY ON THIS BEAUTIFUL GIRL.
I WAS WORKING IN CYPRESS WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I DRIVE THROUGH STANTON EVERYDAY STILL. SHE ALWAYS COMES TO MIND. SUCH A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL. I STILL FEEL FOR THE FAMILY AND THERE LOSS.