During a magnet fishing expedition in Horse Creek, Georgia, on April 14th, a local resident discovered a .22-caliber rifle. Intrigued by their find, they returned to the same spot two days later and made another significant discovery: a bag containing a cellphone, driver’s licenses, and credit cards. Upon inspecting the licenses and credit cards, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) determined that they belonged to Bud and June Runion, a couple who tragically lost their lives in the same area over nine years ago. The Runions were robbed and fatally shot before their bodies were found off a county road in January 2015. Investigators were led to Ronnie Adrian “Jay” Towns, who was subsequently charged with armed robbery and murder. According to the GBI, Towns lured the couple to Telfair County by responding to an online ad posted by Bud Runion, who was seeking a classic car. As the investigation continued, authorities obtained warrants to search a Telfair County home where they recovered additional evidence, although the GBI has not disclosed any further details at this time. The discovery of these items in Horse Creek has breathed new life into the cold case, and Towns is tentatively scheduled to stand trial in August, more than nine years after his arrest. His defense attorney, Franklin Hogue, has not yet responded to requests for comment. The case has faced several legal hurdles, including the dismissal of Towns’ first indictment due to issues with the grand jury selection process, and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The prosecution’s decision to seek the death penalty has also likely contributed to the protracted nature of the proceedings.
Magnet Fishing Yields Rifle and Evidence in Nine-Year-Old Georgia Murder Case
