Elderly Couple Killed Whilst Trying To Buy Vintage Car On Craigslist

In 2015, Elrey "Bud" Runion, a 69 year old veteran, lived with his 66 year old wife, June Runion, in the suburban Atlanta town of Marietta.

The couple had been married for over 38 years and shared a deep, unwavering commitment to one another.

They were charitable and highly respected in their community, and they founded a non-profit organization called Bud's Bicycles, which provided bikes, food, coats, and blankets to those affected by destructive storms throughout the Southern United States.

That January, Bud decided he wanted to buy a vehicle he had once owned shortly after returning from the Vietnam War—a 1966 Ford Mustang. Beyond nostalgia, the car promised a spark of excitement in his retired years.

He placed an ad on Craigslist, and within days, a man living 180 miles away in McRae, Georgia, responded, claiming he had a Mustang Bud would want to see. He invited Bud to come take a look.

Turning the visit into a mini road trip, June joined Bud for the ride. As the elderly couple set out in Bud’s champagne-coloured SUV, they had no idea they were being drawn into a cruel trap…

When Bud and June’s loved ones hadn’t heard from them within 24 hours of their departure, concern quickly grew. The trip was only supposed to take about three hours, and they were expected home that same evening.

The following day, the couple was reported missing, and a police investigation was promptly launched.

Tragically, just four days after leaving home, their vehicle was discovered submerged in Telfair County, Georgia.

At first, it seemed as though the Runions’ vehicle had simply veered off the road and into the water—but the car held no bodies.

A search of the surrounding woods soon revealed them: both Bud and June had been shot in the head. It was clear this was no accident.

With a double homicide now confirmed, law enforcement quickly focused on the last person the Runions had contacted—the stranger they had planned to meet: 28 year old Ronnie Adrian “Jay” Towns.

Later that same day, Towns was arrested on charges of murder and armed robbery. Investigators discovered that he had never actually owned the vintage Mustang and had reached out to Bud solely to lure him to his home with the intent to rob him.

The murder trial was scheduled to begin in 2017 but was delayed due to issues with jury selection, and then postponed a second time because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the extended wait, new and damning evidence came to light. In April 2024, a local resident magnet-fishing in Horse Creek, Telfair County, discovered the .22-caliber rifle used in the murders, along with the couple’s driver’s license, credit cards, and mobile phone.

On November 18th 2024, the trial finally proceeded, and Towns pleaded guilty to two counts of murder, receiving a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

The loss of Bud and June has been deeply felt by all whose lives they touched with their kindness and compassion. Yet the legacy they leave behind is far stronger than the cruelty that ended their lives.

Family, friends, and community members will remember them for their selfless nature and unwavering dedication to brightening the lives of others. Their absence will be profoundly felt, and their memory cherished for a lifetime.