Avila Gets Death Sentence in Samantha Runnion Case
Saturday July 23, 2005
Orange County Superior Court Judge William R. Froeberg sentenced Alejandro Avila to death for the kidnapping, sexual assault and murder of five-year-old Samantha Runnion, telling the killer he had "forfeited his right to live."
Avila was convicted April 28 after a jury deliberated for nine hours. The jury later recommended the death penalty, which was officially imposed Friday.
"You don't deserve a place in my family's history," Samantha's mother told Avila before his sentencing. "I want you to disappear into the abyss of a lifetime in prison where no one will remember you, no one will pray for you and no one will care when you die."
Avila will join 644 others on California's death row. Donald Beardslee was the last person executed in California in January, after spending 20 years and 10 months on death row.
See Also:
Avila Gets Death Penalty in Runnion Murder
Background:
The Trial of Alejandro Avila
Profile: Samantha Runnion
Comments
I am glad he gets death. This would have never happeden had his sisters stood up for themselves and told the police what he had done to them in their childhood. I knew the family. A close friend of mine had a child from his brother. Samantha woudl still be alive today if people spoke up about what is happening in the household. I bet a lot of other lives could have been saved.
May God have mercy on him, cuz I sure as hell don’t. I have been following this from the beginning. I have to say the laws suck when it comes to sexual abuse or asult on a child. My daughter was molested by my grandfather, and they said it was her word against his.. She was only 5 years old and they made me do a scan on her, which meant a microscope was put inside her between her legs..she was a baby.. good lord and this sob got off, even after there was previous report of him doing it to my cousin. My baby will have to live with this for the rest of her life. I am glad this SOB got the death penality.. I wish they would let the inmates handle it though.. that way he would know what it feels like to be helpless and feel the pain and suffering that, that precious precious angel went through.. I hope you find the Lord buddy cuz if not you will be burning in hell for the rest of your life.. FOREVER!!!… For those who don’t stand up.. dammit we need to stand up and make noise.. for the sake of our children, not at their sacrafice. My prayers are with the mama.. always.. I am so sorry..but she was to good for this world and the Lord took her home.. now she can be an angel and never feel any pain or sorrow again…
God Bless you Samantha – you will always be remembered for being such a bright little girl with nothing but love for your friends and family, with God now and forever..xox..
I hope you burn in hell, people like you make me sick how could you want to hurt a angel. You deserven to be raped and tortured everyday for the rest of your life. I know she is in heaven but she should be in her mommy’s arms but you put so many people in tears when you hurt that angel. I prayed and cried everyday for that little girl. And as god as my witness I hurd a voice a woman voice say “SHE IS OK” I knew she was in heaven before she was found. Not sure who the angel was but she answered me and peace came over me and I new you could not hurt her anymore now it is her mother that suffers everyday! God wants us to forgive and forget but I cannot you will never NEVER have my forgivness rot in hell and I hope those men in there do to you what you did to that angel please hurt him every chance you get PLEASE TORTURE HIM EVERYDAY UNTIL THE DEVIL TAKES HIS SOUL!!!!! And I hate you for making me wish this on another human being but your not human you are a monster. When you die I hope it hurts like hell you SOB! Dear sam hunny bring your mommy kisses everyday show her your not far she is missing you so much. I have 3 girls and I could not go on if they were taken from me so Erin I send lots of hugs from one mom to another You are so much stronger then me I know it is probably Sammantha that is giving you the strength and fighting everyday that comes but know someday when it is your time know she will be first in line to wrap there arms around you. HUGSX3 CHRISTINE MOTHER OF 3 GIRLS 1 BOY BE BRAVE!!!
What this ‘man’ did is absolutely disgusting, there should be different sentences imposed on people like him e.g. alot more torturous so they know what sort of pain they put someone through…knowing their life is going to end. R.I.P Samantha.
I use to work with this guy back in 02 at a company in temecula called Guidant, he did seem kind of weird and a little off but i never would suspect he would do such a evil thing