Runnion's Killer Receives Death Sentence

Fox News ^ | July 22, 2005

[redstatecitizen]

SANTA ANA, Calif. — A judge on Friday formally sentenced to death the man who kidnapped, sexually assaulted and murdered 5-year-old Samantha Runnion (search) in 2002 — a case that led to the expansion of child abduction alerts on electronic billboards along California's freeways.

A jury convicted former factory worker Alejandro Avila (search), 30, in April and voted for the death penalty in May. On Friday, Superior Court Judge William R. Froeberg endorsed the jury's recommendation.

"You shall suffer the death penalty," the judge told Avila, who looked away.

[redstatecitizen]

Death is too good for him.

[Types_with_Fist]

I'm hearing sound bites on the radio of the mom talking to Avila. She was quite elequent.

So far, though, only this AP text story is circulating on the Internet. Anybody have a more comprehensive link yet?

[happinesswithoutpeace]

"Death is too good for him."

Convicts on death row are less likey to die than the average citizen. Sadly, this animal will outlive many of the people who cherished the little girl he slaughtered.

[So Cal Rocket]

He becomes the 646th person on California's death row. At the current rate of executions (12 in past 27 years) in the state, I calculate his execution date to be June 15th in the Year 3458

[redstatecitizen]

http://www.nbc4.tv/news/4758312/detail.html?rss=la&psp=news

[redstatecitizen]

Here's an excerpt from the article @http://www.nbc4.tv/news/4758312/detail.html?rss=la&psp=news:

"I know she looked at you with those amazing brown eyes and you still wanted to kill her," Samantha's mother, Erin Runnion, tearily told Alejandro Avila in court before the sentencing. "And I don't understand it, and I never will. It's like you never learned to think. You have absolutely no concept of how heinous, how egregious your acts were. I can't help but wonder how it is you survived as long as you did, being so stupid."

[anniegetyourgun]

I hope he is stupid enough to get himself killed in prison.

[fatnotlazy]

One could only hope that his death penalty will be carried out by one of the other inmates.

[SJSAMPLE]

"You shall suffer the death penalty," the judge told Avila, who looked away.

Suffer? Not really. In time, maybe, he'll just take a nap and never wake up.

And, if California execution rates are imposed, he'll outlive us all. The Death Penalty means nothing if you don't use it.

[jackibutterfly]

"I can't help but think he would have gotten life if I had presented a better case," Assistant Public Defender Denise Gragg said."

Maybe he didn't, on purpose? : - )

[MissEdie]

Oh please don't give that scumbag's attorney an idea for a possible appeal!

[fatnotlazy]

The Death Penalty means nothing if you don't use it.

***

Exactly. We've had guys in my state sit on death row for 25-30 years or more. It's an outrage.

[paltz]

guys like this get theirs in prison anyway. They are considered the lowest on the rung of scum in the cell blocs.

[exnavychick]

A jury convicted former factory worker Alejandro Avila (search), 30, in April and voted for the death penalty in May. On Friday, Superior Court Judge William R. Froeberg endorsed the jury's recommendation.

GOOD!!!

[jackibutterfly]

"Oh please don't give that scumbag's attorney an idea for a possible appeal!"

Oh, dear!!!! You're right! I take that back.