Samantha Runnion
Posted on 07/23/2005 7:15:51 AM PDT by Former Military Chick
SANTA ANA, Calif. — A judge Friday formally sentenced to death the man who kidnapped and murdered 5-year-old Samantha Runnion in a case that led to the expansion of abduction alerts on electronic billboards along state freeways.
``You're a disgrace to the human race,'' the girl's mother, Erin Runnion, tearily told Alejandro Avila in court. ``... Everything in me wants to hurt you in every possible way.''
A jury convicted the 30-year-old former factory worker in April and voted for the death penalty in May. Judge William R. Froeberg endorsed the recommendation.
Avila snatched the kicking and screaming girl as she played outside her Stanton home. Her nude body was found the next day about 50 miles away, left on the ground as if it had been posed. Authorities said she had been sexually assualted and suffocated.
More than 4,000 people attended Samantha's funeral and then-Gov. Gray Davis ordered a increase in the number of electronic billboards that flash information about a suspected abduction soon after it's reported.
A friend of Samantha's gave police a description of her kidnapper that produced a police sketch resembling Avila. Prosecutors used cell phone and bank records to show Avila's whereabouts, and DNA evidence later linked him to the crime.
But the death penalty in California really does not mean much, most die of old age before they would be executed.
Nevertheless the sentence was just and now let's throw away the key and forget about this man.
Lastly, I am frankly disturbed by the lack of coverage this received. You see, when this little girl was kidnapped she became everyone daughter's. We watched day in and day out while they searched to find this little girl.
Once her little body was found, her murderer was captured. What is my gripe? The only channel that gave the sentence any news, MSNBC. If the networks are going to cover a story 24/7 than we should at least have the same networks cover the sentencing.
But the death penalty in California really does not mean much...
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Exactly - the state is run by LIBERALS who are more concerned about the RIGHT OF CRIMINALS than they are about upholding the law.
I don't know about the TV news here in L.A., but KFI radio news carried the story. The program hosted by John and Ken played the mother's message delivered at the sentencing hearing (approx. 6 minutes long) at least twice.
It was gut-wrenching to listen to the pain and anger in her voice.
Kill the vile beast.
I'm glad that b@stard got what he deserved, now I hope the inmates will carry out this sentence...painfully.
His continued existence is an affront to the human race.
kcbs2 carried it also
If he was gen pop, he probably wouldn't last six months, as it is he will probably have twenty+ years, Damn it.
"this animal deserved the death penalty and if I had my way,... "
I'd have him stoned to death today! I can forgive a lot of things, but murdering a child is not one of them.
Kidnapped her from in front of her house, kicking and screaming. My heart aches for that poor child. As the father of three young children, I want this pathetic parasite DEAD! It infuriates me that these animals are allowed to draw breath for another day, much less 10-12 years or more. As stated before, this POS will die of old age before the state of California flips the switch on him. Same thing goes for that other POS in Florida (name escapes me at the moment), that buried that poor little girl alive. I wish more of them would resist arrest, but instead, they get three hots and a cot,health care, ect,ect, at tax payers expense. Truly disgusting.
All those main stream media pukes consider the death penalty to be soooooo barbaric. They won't give it any coverage.
I only wish that the execution was soon and would be broadcast on all channels, all net, everywhere.
That might make the next pervert think twice.
public stonings would help
The idea of this beautiful little girl fighting for her life touched us all. All these child abductions are painful, but somehow this one especially touched me.
I was so impressed, also, with the story of her playmate. As young as she was, she had the presence of mind to memorize the man's features and help draw a sketch of him.
In all probability this miserable piece of fate will never be executed. He will live better in prison compared to how he lived outside. In the future there may even be a book deal or television 'special' exhibiting how he was made to suffer by a heartless 'system.' However, REJOICE! Perhaps as these examples multiply we will learn the true meaning of the words and phrases: "Tolerance," "The Big Tent," "Room at the Table," "Doing jobs that Americans won't do," "Equal Rights," "Human Dignity," etc. etc.
2) You are correct; the California justice system runs slower than a snail on quaaludes. You are more likely to die in prison or get nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize than actually get executed in Cali.
3) I have always thought that if we severely shortened the appeals process, to one appeal and one year to run its course, then the electric chair, we would have a lot less BS to hear about.
4) This guy's face during sentencing and the mother's statement was absolutely blank. What a piece of crap this "human" is.
Isn't it Texas who puts a five year limit on the appeal process?
Last I saw Cal puts 20+ per year on death row and we execute an average of 1.
Gotta get on with it!
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