Nearly a decade after the tragic deaths of Bud and June Runion, a Georgia man has pleaded guilty to their murders, ending a case that has haunted their family and community.
Ronnie “Jay” Towns admitted to killing the couple in January 2015 after luring them to rural Telfair County under the false pretense of selling a 1966 Ford Mustang.
Life Sentence Without Parole
On Monday, Towns pleaded guilty to two counts of malice murder in Telfair County Superior Court. Judge Sara Wall sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole, sparing him from a potential death sentence had the case gone to trial.
“This has been an extremely long 10 years,” Judge Wall said, addressing the lengthy delays in the case.
A Deadly Scam
Bud Runion, 69, and his wife June, 66, traveled over three hours from their Marietta home in search of a classic car Bud hoped to buy—a 1966 Mustang convertible reminiscent of one he owned after returning from the Vietnam War.
Instead, the couple was ambushed, robbed, and fatally shot. Their bodies were discovered along a Telfair County road, days after they were reported missing.
Towns, 28 at the time, was arrested shortly after the killings. He initially faced charges of armed robbery and murder, but his case was delayed for years due to legal technicalities and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key Evidence Surfaces Years Later
In April 2023, new evidence unexpectedly emerged. A magnet fisher discovered a .22-caliber rifle, a bag containing a cellphone, and identification cards belonging to the Runions in a nearby creek.
“This discovery significantly strengthened our case,” said District Attorney Tim Vaughn, crediting the find with bolstering the prosecution.
Honoring the Runions’ Legacy
The Runions were beloved in their Marietta community. They ran a charity called “Bud’s Bicycles,” donating refurbished bikes, school supplies, coats, and food to those in need.
Their daughter, Brittany Patterson, reflected on her father’s dream of owning the car that led to his death. “He wanted a piece of his youth,” she told The Associated Press in 2015.
With Towns’ guilty plea, the family finds some closure, though the loss of Bud and June remains a deep void in their lives.
