[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 102 (Wednesday, July 24, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H5319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNITION IN THE SAMANTHA RUNNION CASE

  (Ms. SANCHEZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the tireless efforts of 
the Orange County Sheriff's Department, the Riverside County Sheriff's 
Department, the FBI, and the numerous local law enforcement agencies 
who contributed to a prompt arrest last week in one of the largest 
manhunts in Orange County's history.
  Tragically, 5-year-old Samantha Runnion's body was found last 
Tuesday, a day after she was abducted from her apartment complex.
  Four minutes after Samantha's kidnapping was reported, an Orange 
County Sheriff'S Deputy was right there on the scene. A county-wide 
alert was sounded within 10 minutes, and the Child Abduction Regional 
Emergency Signal went out within the hour, allowing local radio 
stations to broadcast a description of the kidnapper.
  When Samantha's body was found, 400 FBI and Orange County 
investigators responded to the scene, collecting physical evidence and 
following up on over 2,000 tips they received from the public. This 
investigation led to the arrest of a key suspect in Samantha's murder 
just 4 days after she was reported missing. The Orange County Sheriff's 
Department remains dedicated to this investigation until a conviction 
in this case.
  Law enforcement and the local community in Orange County have 
delivered a strong message in this case: Samantha's death and other 
such horrendous crimes will not be tolerated in our community.

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