Fake Fundraisers Reported in Death of Craigslist Couple

A Cobb County family which will likely have to mourn the deaths of two of its most cherished members must also be on guard against those who would wish to exploit the tragedy for their own personal gain.

According to a spokesperson for the family of Elrey “Bud” Runion and June Runion, whose bodies were likely found in Telfair County on Monday after an alleged robbery disguised as a Craiglist deal, at least one fraudulent fundraiser claiming to support the family has sprung up in recent days.

“The family wants everyone to know that they do NOT have any funding accounts set up for donations at this time,” wrote a moderator on the Facebook page Find Bud & June Runion, which as of Tuesday afternoon has over 160,000 likes.

The spokesperson said that a fake GoFundMe fundraiser was created, purportedly to support the Runions during this difficult time, but is actually an easy money-making scheme for some unscrupulous huckster. The fundraiser has been reported to the proper authorities, the spokesman said.

The man suspected to be responsible for the disappearance of the Runions allegedly used the same deceptive practices to lure them to Telfair County; Ronnie Adrian “Jay” Towns, 28 is accused of using Craigslist to claim he was willing to sell a 1966 Ford Mustang to Bud Runion, with the intent to rob the cash-laden man when he arrived to buy a car that did not exist.

Towns has been charged with making false statements to police and attempted theft by deception, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. He has yet to be charged with any crimes related to the likely death of the Runions.