[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13592]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


          CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF SAMATHA RUNNION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDWARD R. ROYCE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 18, 2002

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my condolences to the 
family and friends of Samatha Runnion, and to all those who have been 
affected by her tragic murder.
  Samantha was abducted from her home in Stanton, California, on 
Monday, July 15. She was sexually assaulted and murdered, and her body 
was found the next day in Cleveland National Forest.
  President George W. Bush has called on Attorney General John Ashcroft 
and FBI Director Robert Mueller to order that all federal resources 
necessary be made available to the Orange County sheriff's office. 
Rewards totaling more than $100,000 have been offered by British 
Petroleum, which employs Samantha's mother, the Coalition of Police and 
Sheriffs in Santa Ana and others.
  What happened to Samantha is deeply disturbing. Why does something 
like this have to happen to an innocent child? We shouldn't have to 
keep children off the streets. They should be allowed to go out and 
play, without fear of such horrendous acts. Parents shouldn't have to 
worry about their children disappearing the moment they turn their 
backs.
  Sadly, the television has recently been strewn with alarming news of 
missing children like Samantha, Elizabeth Smart, Jahi Turner, and 
others. We hope that justice will be served, but even finding those 
accountable gives just a slightly cathartic feeling after such a huge 
loss. Our hearts go out to Samantha's family, the families of these 
other children, and anyone else feeling the pain of losing a child.

                          ____________________