Cassandra Lynn Williamson

Cassandra Lynn Williamson

November 23, 1995 - July 26, 2002

Cassandra Lynn Williamson was six years old when she passed away. Her nick-name was Casey, and many people called her that. She liked riding her bicycle with other children in her neighborhood. Casey was last seen alive wearing her only her nightgown. She was barefoot. She was getting a piggyback ride from a man. He was taking her down the street. It is believed that Cassandra went with this man willingly. The police charged Johnny Johnson with Cassandra's murder. Johnny Johnson was a twenty-four year old homeless man who was from the area. He was charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, armed criminal action and attempted forcible rape in the killing. The preliminary findings from an autopsy showed that Casey died from blows to the head. Johnny Johnson had spent the previous night in Casey's home with her family. He told investigators that the abduction was planned, and that Casey trusted him. Shortly after she went missing, Casey's body was found in the ruins of a glass factory less than a mile from her home. A neighbor who had helped search for Cassandra had a six year old son who played with her. The little boy asked "Can I still play with Casey even though she's in Heaven?"

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.

Ava Florence-Beth Rosemeyer

Ava Florence-Beth Rosemeyer

August 22, 2003 - February 5, 2007

Ava Florence-Beth Rosemeyer was born on August 22, 2003. She already had two older brothers when she was born. Ava's mother really loved Ava's brothers, but she was so, so excited to finally have a daughter. Ava was a charming little girl who loved to dance and dress in a very girly way. Her favorite color to wear was pink. The only thing girly that Ava didn't like was hair clips. She would always rip them right out.

On the day Ava had her accident, Ava and her mother went to her grandfather's house. Her grandfather only lived a few meters away, and there was a fence around both Ava's home, and her grandfather's home. Ava visited with her grandfather often. It was around 10:30 in the morning when they visited Ava's grandfather. Ava sat beside her mother while her mother worked on the computer. Eventually, Ava's brother asked if he could re-arrange his bedroom.

Ava, her brothers, and her younger sister.

Halfway back to their house (which was just a few meters away from their grandfather's) Ava complained that she had left something there. Her mother told her to go get it, and then went with her sons to re-arrange the room. Ava never came back, but her mother assumed that she was with her grandfather, because she often played at her grandfather's house, and sometimes, even ate lunch there. She wasn't very worried.

Eventually, her mother went over to ask where Ava was. Her grandfather said that Ava had come over, and then said that she was going to get something from the car and go back home. Ava was found inside the car, she was still breathing, but she wasn't conscious. She had been in the car for thirty minutes while her mother believed she was with her grandfather, and her grandfather believed she was at home.

Ava was taken to the hospital and put on life support. She seemed to get better for a few days, but eventually, she suffered a heart attack that killed her. She was three years old.