Telfair County authorities Sunday afternoon issued warrants for a man in connection with a Cobb County couple missing since Thursday, according to Channel 2 Action News and other news accounts.
Telfair Sheriff Chris Steverson said deputies are looking for Ronnie “Jay” Adrian Towns, 28, WMAZ-TV reported.
The warrants are for making false statements to investigators, and the other for criminal attempt to commit theft by deception.
“We interviewed Mr. Towns early on in the investigation and the info he provided did not corroborate with our investigation” Steverson said, according to WMAZ.
Authorities said they’ve received calls and tips nationwide about Elrey “Bud” Runion, 69, and his 66-year-old wife, June Runion. The couple’s three daughters reported their parents missing when they did not appear to babysit their grandchildren Friday.
The Runions apparently made the 200-mile trip to Telfair County Thursday to see a 1966 Ford Mustang they were interested in buying from someone on Craigslist. Steverson told Channel 2 Action News Sunday that officials were focusing their search on a stretch of the southeast corner of the county.
Police say the phone number called by the Runions traced back to a disposable cell phone. Police are tracking signals from that phone in hopes of finding the couple. The Runions were driving a champagne-colored 2003 GMC Envoy.
The Runions' daughters have created a Facebook page to help them find their parents. They posted a message that included Scripture around noon Sunday.
“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope,” quoting Romans 5:3.
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