Samantha Runnion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Samantha Runnion | |
|---|---|
 Samantha Runnion
|
|
| Born | July 26, 1996 Stanton, California, USA |
| Died | July 15, 2002 Riverside County, California, USA |
Samantha Bree Runnion (July 26, 1996 - July 15, 2002) was an American murder victim. Samantha was kidnapped, sexually abused and killed by a man who allegedly lured her from her front yard by telling her he had lost his dog. Samantha, a resident of Stanton, California, was about to turn six when she died. Her battered, naked body was found the following day by a couple who were jogging near Ortega Highway in Riverside County, California.
The suspect, a Lake Elsinore, California man named Alejandro Avila, was subsequently convicted for the crime (2005). He was arrested 3 days after the abduction. Avila had previously been to the apartment complex in 1998 and 1999 where the Runnions lived as his ex-girlfriend and her minor daughter had also lived there. His relationship with the woman ended in 2000. He had also been charged in 2001 with molesting the ex-girlfriend's nine-year-old daughter and another girl but was acquitted. Avila was not on the California Sex Offenders Register as he had not been convicted of any offences. On May 16, 2005 the jury recommended that he receive the death penalty. On July 22, 2005 the judge in the case formally sentenced Avila to death.
During the sentencing phase of the case, Erin Runnion, Samantha's mother, was visibly angry. She said "You better pay attention!" as well as mentioning that Avila was "a disgrace to the human race."
The Joyful Child Foundation was established in her memory. It aims to facilitate the development of child watch programs in local communities through the U.S. through the Samantha's Pride program. In addition, it also seeks to encourage research and development into the psyche of predators and develop communication programs for parents and children.
