ATLANTA (WANF/Gray News) – A man will spend the rest of his life in prison after murdering a couple he lured to buy a classic car almost a decade ago.
Ronnie Adrian “Jay” Towns pleaded guilty to two counts of malice murder in connection to the deaths of Bud and June Runion. Towns was sentenced to two concurrent life without parole sentences.
The Runions, who were from Cobb County, Georgia, were robbed and shot to death before their bodies were found in Telfair County, Georgia, in January 2015.
Authorities said the couple drove three hours to Telfair County to meet someone offering to sell Bud Runion a 1966 Mustang.
Just days later, Towns was charged with murder and armed robbery, according to law enforcement.
Law enforcement officials said Towns lured the Runions to Telfair County by replying to a Craigslist advertisement that 69-year-old Bud Runion had posted seeking a classic car. Towns did not own a classic car.
Before the guilty plea, Georgia courts had thrown out Towns’ first indictment over problems with how the grand jury was selected. Towns was indicted a second time in 2020 for the killings but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the case.
In April, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said new evidence — a .22 caliber rifle, a bag with driver’s licenses and credit cards belonging to the Runions and a cell phone — was found by someone who was magnet fishing in Horse Creek in Telfair County.
The Runions were laid to rest on Jan. 31, 2015.
Copyright 2024 WANF via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.