In July of 2002, 5-year-old Samantha Runnion and a friend were playing in a driveway near their homes when a man asking about a missing puppy abducted Samantha. A man found her battered, naked body the following day on a cliff about 60 miles away. DNA collected from under her fingernails matched the genetic profile of a suspect who had been previously acquitted of molesting two girls. Upon investigation, a sample of Samantha’s DNA was found in the murder’s car. This case was the first in its jurisdiction to have all three types of DNA testing (STR, YSTR and MtDNA) admitted for trial, and Avila was subsequently convicted of all counts. In July of 2005, a judge formally sentenced him to death. After establishing The Joyful Child Foundation in 2002, Samantha’s mother, Erin Runnion, remains dedicated to protecting children from sexual abuse and abduction through community programs.
Samantha Runnion – California
October 7, 2016
Written by dnasaves2k16