A Georgia man has been sentenced to two consecutive life terms for the 2015 murders of Bud and June Runion, a couple lured to their deaths in a Craigslist scam.
The conviction of Ronnie “Jay” Towns, 38, was aided by evidence uncovered nearly a decade later by a magnet fisherman who retrieved a gun and the victims’ personal items from a river.
Towns pleaded guilty to two counts of murder on Monday, admitting to deceiving the 69- and 66-year-old couple into traveling three hours from Cobb County to Telfair County under the pretense of purchasing a 1966 Ford Mustang.
Instead, Towns robbed and killed the couple, leaving their bodies in a pond.
During the sentencing hearing, Brittany Patterson, one of the Runions’ daughters, delivered a heartfelt victim impact statement, describing her parents as generous and community-minded.
She highlighted their acts of kindness, including giving bicycles to children and assisting strangers during a winter storm. “That’s who my parents were,” she said. “That’s who we lost.”
The breakthrough in the long-delayed case came in April 2023, when a magnet fisherman searching Horse Creek in McRae-Helena discovered a .22-caliber rifle, followed days later by a bag containing the Runions’ IDs, credit cards, and phone.
This evidence led investigators to execute search warrants at a nearby property, yielding further evidence that linked Towns to the crime.
The Runions were reported missing after failing to arrive to babysit their grandchildren. Four days later, authorities located their SUV and bodies. It was revealed that Towns had communicated with the couple by phone before their disappearance.
Though Towns was arrested shortly after the murders, the case faced multiple delays due to a dismissed indictment, subsequent appeals, a re-indictment in 2020, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The Runions, married for 38 years, were remembered for their faith and community service. Bud Runion was the founder of Forever Grateful Ministries, which reflected the couple’s dedication to helping others.
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