A FIVE-YEAR-OLD girl who was abducted and murdered in California has been remembered as "America's little girl" at an emotional funeral attended by thousands of mourners.

MOMENTS after a factory worker was charged with murdering five-year-old Samantha Runnion, the lead prosecutor provided a stern assessment of the suspect's future if he is convicted.

The parents of a five-year-old girl who was kidnapped and murdered are to be asked if they want the prosecution to seek the death penalty for the man accused of the crime.