Bush Declares Suspect in Samantha Case ‘the Killer’

President Bush left no doubt Friday that he considers Alejandro Avila guilty of murdering Samantha Runnion, referring to the arrested suspect as “the killer.”

But Bush’s comments earned a strong rebuke from Avila’s attorney, who chastised the president for judging her client before he has had his day in court.

“President Bush has proclaimed Mr. Avila guilty on the basis of nothing more than law enforcement statements,” said Denise Gragg, Orange County deputy public defender. “If he used the same method to determine the guilt or innocence of those men and women who were executed under his watch in Texas, it’s easy to understand how innocent people get executed.”

Avila has been charged with kidnapping, sexually assaulting and murdering Samantha.

Avila said in an interview with The Times that he had nothing to do with the crime and was at an Ontario mall at the time of the kidnapping.

Gragg, who has represented defendants in some of Orange County’s most sensational murder trials, said she has declined numerous media requests to discuss the Avila case, but broke her silence because she was outraged by Bush’s statement.

Avila was arrested July 19 and hasn’t yet entered a plea in Orange County Superior Court.

The president volunteered his view during a speech on homeland security before an audience of lawmakers, fire and rescue workers, police officers, and other state and local officials.

Among those in attendance was Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona.

In his opening comments, Bush mentioned Carona while singling out various public officials gathered in an auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House.

“I want to acknowledge Mike Carona of Orange County, California, who’s with us to share--Where are you, Mike? There you are, Mike. Looking right at you,” Bush said.

“I appreciate you coming,” the president added, telling the crowd:

“He represents the local officials, what we call in Texas the high sheriffs ... He’s the fellow who recently apprehended the killer of Samantha Runnion there in California. I want to congratulate you for your good work, helping make your community as safe as possible.”

Bush’s comments are reminiscent of similar remarks made in the 1970s by President Nixon, who pronounced Charles Manson guilty in the middle of Manson’s trial for the murders of actress Sharon Tate and four others.

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Orange County sheriff’s officials named the department’s command center--used for the first time during the recent murder investigation--after the little girl.

The two trailers that make up the center were officially named “Samantha 1” and “Samantha 2” at a small dedication ceremony attended by the girl’s mother and stepfather Friday evening.

At the height of the investigation, the trailers housed dozens of telephone operators who fielded more than 1,000 tips as the public scrambled to help detectives identify Samantha’s killer.

Authorities received several tips from the public suggesting that they check out Avila, a 27-year-old Lake Elsinore man. Police sources said DNA found on Samantha’s body matches a DNA sample taken from Avila.

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Times staff writer Jack Leonard contributed to this report.