Ronnie Jay Towns has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for his involvement in the deaths of Elrey “Bud” Runion and June Runion, a couple that went missing in 2015 after traveling to buy a car. The couple’s remains were found in January of the same year. Towns, who the couple had contacted through Craigslist, was charged in connection to their deaths and initially pleaded not guilty. New evidence was discovered in April 2021, leading to Towns’ trial being set for August 2024.
The couple, who traveled from Marietta to Telfair County to purchase a vintage car, were in communication with Towns before their disappearance. Towns was found to have had a disposable cell phone that the couple had reached out to, leading to his arrest. The bodies of the Runions were discovered with gunshot wounds, and their personal belongings were found near a creek in Telfair County, leading investigators to a home in the area where further evidence was collected.
Towns faced additional charges, including armed robbery and giving false statements, with the case experiencing delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and prosecutors seeking the death penalty. The court proceedings were further delayed after new evidence was found in 2021. Towns’ defense attorney stated that they had filed a motion to delay the trial as prosecutors pursued the death penalty.
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