Q: What is status on that wonderful couple who went to South Georgia to buy a Mustang and were murdered by the young guy they met? So tragic.
—Gene Henry, Sandy Springs
A: Ronnie Adrian "Jay" Towns is being held at the Dodge County Detention Center in the shooting deaths of Marietta's Elrey "Bud" Runion, 69, and his wife, June Runion, 66, in January 2015.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Towns, Oconee Circuit district attorney Tim Vaughn told Q&A on the News. He should make his first appearance in that process “within the next couple of months.”
Towns likely won’t go to trial this year.
There is another death penalty case ahead of this one and they move “at a snail’s pace,” Vaughn said.
Authorities say Towns lured the Runions to Telfair County, where they thought they would look at a vintage car.
Bud Runion had posted an ad on Craigslist stating he was interested in buying a red 1966 Mustang convertible with a black interior.
Towns misled the Runions into thinking he had a car for sale, authorities have said.
The Runions’ bodies were found in rural Telfair County, near a farm owned by Towns’ parents, the Macon Telegraph reported.
They had been shot in the head.
Towns is being held at the Dodge County’s facility because it’s more modern, Vaughn said.
Andy Johnston with 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).
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