In a significant development, a man has admitted guilt in the murder of a Georgia couple whose lives were tragically cut short nearly ten years ago. The couple was killed after being duped into traveling to a rural area by an enticing offer to purchase a classic vehicle.
Ronnie “Jay” Towns entered his guilty plea on Monday in Telfair County Superior Court, where he faced two charges of malice murder connected to the January 2015 deaths of Bud and June Runion.
The court, presided over by Superior Court Judge Sara Wall, sentenced Towns to a life imprisonment term without the possibility of parole. His guilty plea allowed him to avoid the risk of receiving the death penalty had the case proceeded to a jury trial.
According to investigators, the Runions made a journey of over three hours from their residence in Marietta, located outside of Atlanta, under the impression that they were going to purchase a 1966 Ford Mustang from someone who had reached out to Bud Runion online. Unfortunately, they were met with violence, as they were robbed and subsequently killed. Their remains were later discovered beside a rural road.
Towns was taken into custody a few days after the incident, facing charges of armed robbery and murder. However, the legal process faced setbacks when the initial indictment against Towns was dismissed due to issues with the grand jury’s selection process. A second indictment was issued in 2020, and the proceedings were further delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the plea hearing, Judge Wall reflected on the lengthy journey of the case, stating, “This has been an extremely long 10 years.”
A breakthrough occurred in April when new evidence related to the Runions’ murder emerged unexpectedly. An individual using a magnet to search for metal artifacts in a nearby creek retrieved a .22-caliber rifle along with a bag containing a cellphone, driver’s licenses, and credit cards belonging to the Runions.
District Attorney Tim Vaughn from the Oconee Judicial Circuit noted that this new evidence bolstered the prosecution’s case against Towns.
Brittany Patterson, the daughter of the Runions, shared in a statement back in 2015 that her father had eagerly made the trip to Telfair County with hopes of acquiring a classic 1966 Mustang convertible—a nostalgic purchase reminiscent of a vehicle he had bought upon returning from the Vietnam War years prior.
In their community, the Runions were well-respected for their charitable work, having established a local initiative known as “Bud’s Bicycles,” through which they provided refurbished bicycles, educational supplies, clothing, and food to assist those in need.