In a tragic turn of events stemming from a seemingly innocent online ad, 69-year-old Elrey 'Bud' Runion and his wife, June, 66, were found deceased in January 2015. The Marietta, Georgia, couple had traveled to a rural area in southern Georgia with hopes of purchasing a classic 1966 Ford Mustang, a car Bud had dreamed of owning since his return from the Vietnam War. Their journey, however, ended in a horrifying ordeal that shocked their community and the nation.
The couple's search for the vintage automobile began with a Craigslist ad they had posted. They were contacted by a man who claimed to have the car for sale, and they arranged to meet him in Telfair County, about three hours from their home. When the Runions failed to return and missed an appointment to babysit their grandchildren, their family grew concerned and reported them missing. A massive search effort was launched, and their SUV was soon discovered submerged in a pond. Tragically, their bodies were found a short time later in a wooded area nearby; both had been shot in the head.
The investigation quickly led to the arrest of Ronnie Adrian 'Jay' Towns, a 28-year-old from McRae. It was revealed that Towns had seen the Runions' ad and lured them to the remote location with the false promise of a car that did not exist. His motive, according to authorities, was robbery. Towns, who was unemployed and in need of money, had used 'burner' cellphones to communicate with the couple. He was charged with malice murder and armed robbery.
After years of legal delays, which included a dismissed indictment and the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant breakthrough in the case occurred in the spring of 2024. A man who was 'magnet fishing' in a local creek discovered a. 22-caliber rifle, which was believed to be the murder weapon. He later found a bag containing the Runions' driver's licenses, credit cards, and a cellphone. This new evidence strengthened the case against Towns. In November 2024, nearly a decade after the murders, Ronnie Adrian 'Jay' Towns pleaded guilty to two counts of malice murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
