Suspect in Cobb Craigslist Couple's Disappearance Appears in Court

Photo Credit: Telfair County Sheriff’s Office

A Telfair County man who police say was the last person to have contact with a Cobb County couple looking to purchase a car on Craigslist but are now feared dead made his first appearance before a Telfair County judge Tuesday morning.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Ronnie Adrian “Jay” Towns, 28, faces charges of making false statements to police and attempted theft by deception. Towns has yet to be charged with the deaths of missing Cobb County couple Elrey “Bud” Runion and his wife June Runion, whose bodies were likely discovered on Monday.

The Runions went missing in the area last week, reportedly on their way to retrieve a 1966 Ford Mustang that Bud wanted to buy after browsing Craigslist, their daughter told WSB-TV. The Runions were supposed to return Friday to babysit their grandchildren, but they never arrived.

Police believe that Towns posted the ad, but did not own a Mustang; instead, police believe that Towns intended to rob the couple when they came to Telfair County with a large amount of money meant for buying the supposed car, the AJC reports.