A Georgia man who lured an elderly couple to their deaths tricked them with a bogus Craigslist ad promising a classic car.
Ronnie Jay Towns was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after he pleaded guilty Monday in the 2015 double murders of Bud and June Runion in southern Georgia, according to the Telfair County Sheriff's Office.
Towns met the Runions on Craigslist and promised to sell Bud his dream car – a 1966 Ford Mustang, according to investigators, WSB-TV reported.
The Runions departed their Atlanta-area home and traveled to Telfair County to buy the car from Towns that January. Upon meeting, Towns shot them to death and dumped their remains in a body of water.
Family members reported Bud and June missing when they failed to return home to watch their grandchildren, according to the outlet. Their bodies and SUV were found in a Telfair County pond four days later.
In April 2024, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced the discovery of new evidence in the case. A citizen magnet fishing in Horse Creek in Telfair County found a .22 caliber rifle, a bag containing drivers license and credit cards, and a cell phone belonging to the Runions, the GBI said.
The discovery prompted detectives to investigate a nearby home, further solidifying their case against Towns.
"We are thankful to have closure in this case, and our prayers are with both families," Sheriff Sim Davidson said in a statement.
