Robbery Motive for Craigslist Couple's Murder: Sheriff

The Sheriff of Telfair County said that robbery was the motive for the man who stands accused of killing Cobb County couple Bud and June Runion after luring them to south Georgia through Craigslist.

Sheriff Chris Steverson told WSB-TV that despite answering Bud Runion’s Craigslist want ad for a 1966 Ford Mustang, murder suspect Ronnie “Jay” Towns didn’t have a car to sell. Steverson said Towns drew Bud Runion to Telfair County with a large amount of cash meant to close the deal on his dream car, an easy mark for Towns.

The Runions left their Marietta home last Thursday intending to drive 200 miles south to buy the classic car, but their children became concerned when they had not returned by Friday. A thorough search for the couple ensued, but the Runions’ bodies were discovered in Telfair County on Monday.

The couple was found shot to death in a wooded area of the county near a pond where their missing SUV had been discovered earlier on Monday. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which conducted the autopsies on the Runions, both were killed by a shot to the head from a small caliber gun, said the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Towns, 28 was charged with malice murder and armed robbery on Tuesday for the deaths of the Runions. He waived his first court appearance, WSB-TV said.