Deaths of Bud and June Runion: Fisherman finds 'new evidence' including rifle used in 2015 killing of Georgia couple as trial approaches

McRAE-HELENA, GEORGIA: A fisherman using a magnet to find metal objects in a Georgia creek on April 14 found a gun and other artifacts that are now expected to be important evidence in the trial of a man long suspected of killing an elderly couple nine years ago.

When an unidentified searcher first retrieved a .22-caliber rifle from Horse Creek, authorities quickly recognized it as the same type of weapon used in the 2015 murders of Elrey "Bud" Runion, 69, and his wife June E Runion, 66. The trial for this case is still pending.

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the object hunter discovered the Runions' credit cards and driver's licenses when they returned to the site on April 15. Additionally, a cell phone was found.

What happened to Bud and June Runion?

In January 2015, June and Bud Runion were fatally shot after being robbed, and their bodies were found off a county road. Both victims had been shot in the head.

The Runions had responded to a false advertisement for a 1966 Mustang, leading them to drive three hours from their Atlanta home to Telfair County for the supposed deal.

Bud had posted an ad on Craigslist on Jan 19, 2015, for a 1966 Mustang convertible. Three days later, the slain couple, both in their 60s, went to meet with a potential seller and never returned. 

The Runions' daughters reported them missing when they failed to show up to babysit their grandchildren. They informed WSB-TV that their parents had left home with their cellphones and chargers, but no one had heard from them.

Suspect in Bud and June Runion's murder

Ronnie Adrian "Jay" Towns was taken into custody by police a few days later on suspicion of murder and armed robbery, according to CBS News.

Initially, Towns faced charges of making false statements in the case, and later, officers of the Telfair County Sheriff's Office announced that he was also facing charges of murder and armed robbery in 2015.

They indicated that although Towns did not own a classic car, he lured the couple to Telfair County by responding to an internet ad posted by Bud.

According to CBS News, the sheriff mentioned that Towns was the owner of a cellphone used to make the last known contact with the Runions. He also shared that Towns had turned himself into the police accompanied by family members in January 2015.

Towns is scheduled to stand trial in August 2024, with the discovered items being entered as "new evidence" against him, the New York Post reported.

District Attorney Tim Vaughn of the Oconee Judicial Circuit remarked, "This strengthens the case even further. It was already a strong case."

Towns' initial indictment was overturned due to issues with the grand jury's selection process. However, he was arrested a few days later on charges of armed robbery and murder.

What caused a delay in the Bud and Runion case?

Towns encountered a second indictment in 2020; nevertheless, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a postponement in the proceedings.

According to the DA, Towns' trial could commence as early as August this year, with the prosecution intending to pursue the death penalty in this case. Towns entered a plea of not guilty to the charges.

Although investigators are still working to confirm whether the rifle from the creek was the weapon used in the crime, Vaughn stated that it is of the same caliber as the gun that killed the Runions.

The items discovered in the creek also prompted the authorities to obtain search warrants and search a house in Telfair County, where they uncovered additional evidence.

No further information was provided in the GBI statement, and Vaughn refrained from discussing the findings.

At this stage of the case, Vaughn said he didn't want to be on camera because he thought it would affect the trial.

In 2019, defense attorney Frank Hogue stated that if there had been a different error, the case would have concluded entirely.

"If the second indictment for the same crime gets dismissed on some irregularity in that indictment, the DA is done. He's not allowed to seek a third indictment," Hogue said.

Towns' bond was denied back in 2015. The indictment was dismissed in October 2019, and a second indictment was issued in 2020. He remains incarcerated at the Dodge County Jail, 13 WMAZ stated in a report.