Girl murder accused threatened with execution

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.

“Anyone who commits an act like this in Orange County will either die in prison of natural causes or be executed,” Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said. “It is almost impossible to overstate the damage this type of crime causes in our community and the entire nation.”

Alejandro Avila of Lake Elsinore was charged on Monday with murder, kidnapping and two counts of forcible lewd acts on a child. Prosecutors could seek the maximum punishment under special circumstances included with the charges: the murder occurred after a kidnapping and the crime involved lewd acts with a person under 14.