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If convicted, Towns is facing the death penalty in the January 2015 shooting deaths of Elrey “Bud” Runion, 69, and his wife, June Runion, 66, of Marietta.

Towns allegedly tricked the Runions into thinking he had a vintage car for sale on Craigslist and lured the couple to Telfair County, where they expected to look at the vehicle, authorities have said. Their bodies were found with gunshot wounds to the head in Telfair County, a rural community in south central Georgia.

The “first proceeding” in the death penalty case against Towns was March 16, Vaughn said. This is a required step after the indictment and before the arraignment. The court is required to question the lawyers about their qualifications to handle a death penalty case so that it is on record that he has qualified council, Vaughn said. The defendant is also formally advised that the state is seeking the death penalty.

Franklin J. Hogue, an attorney for Towns, said during the March 16 hearing that Towns would plead not guilty during the arraignment, the Macon Telegraph reported.

After the arraignment, the court will start scheduling motion hearings, Vaughn said. He said the trial could begin “sometime next year.”

Towns is being held at Dodge County Detention Center.

Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).