Samantha Bree Runnion

Samantha Bree Runnion

July 26, 1996 - July 15, 2002

Samantha Bree Runnion was born on July 26, 1996. People described Samantha as beautiful, bright, and joyful. Samantha loved to read, write stories, play her guitar, paint, draw, sing, and dance. Samantha especially loved playing games with her family and friends. Samantha was looking forward to growing up. At five years old, she had already planned to become a mommy and a teacher.

On July 15, 2002, five year old Samantha was outside her home playing with her friend, Sarah. Sarah was the same age as Samantha. A man approached the girls in a car and asked them "Have you seen my chihuahua?" Samantha was a very nice and kind little girl, and she loved animals. She spoke with the man briefly, telling him that she didn't see his dog. Before anything else could happen, the man had pulled Samantha into his car and started driving off.

Samantha fought to get free, and managed to scream out to her friend Sarah, "Help me! Tell my grandmother!" Sarah ran and told her mother about what had just happened to Samantha. The search began quickly. Sarah as only five years old, but she was able to give a very good description of the man who she saw kidnap her friend. She was also able to give details about his car. 

On July 16, 2002, the day after Samantha was kidnapped, a distraught man called 911 reporting that he had found a body. He said the body was that of a little girl, and that she was nude. He found the body along rural Highway 74. Authorities soon confirmed that the body belonged to Samantha. An autopsy reported that Samantha had been sexually assaulted, suffered physical trauma, and was strangled. The murderer spent several hours with Samantha before he killed her.

Orange County Sheriff Michael Carona delivered a strong message to the killer: "Don't sleep. Don't eat. Because we're coming after you. We will take every resource that's available to us to bring you to justice." Caller’s tips lead the FBI to Alejandro Avila, 27, a production line supervisor from nearby Lake Elsinore. Avila reportedly denied any involvement in the murder, telling the police that he was 30 miles away on the day of the abduction. Phone and credit card records did not support his alibi. 

Avila had previously been to the apartment complex where Samantha lived during 1998 and 1999. His ex-girlfriend’s daughter lived in the same complex as the Runnion family. His relationship with the woman ended in 1999 and in 2000. In 2001, Avila was charged with molestation of her nine-year-old daughter and another young girl, but was acquitted on all charges.Avila was arrested and charged with the murder, kidnapping, and two counts of forcible lewd acts on Samantha Runnion.