UPDATED: Couple Buying Dream Mustang Murdered By Craigslist Con Man

runionmustangAlthough the free online site warns people about dangerous situations, Craigslist has not responded to news teams from Good Morning America after calls were placed to the San Francisco company. The couple drove their SUV to meet with a man claiming to sell a classic Mustang on Craigslist, but they never returned, and that made family worry.

runions2

A trip to find their dream car on Craigslist may end in tragedy.

The Georgia couple, Bud Runion and his wife June had posted an ad on Craigslist seeking a 1966 Ford Mustang convertible. It has been their dream car since the couple had gotten married many years before. The were contacted by Ronnie Towns about their ad, and the elderly couple set out last week from Marietta, Georgia, to McRae, Georgia, making the 90-mile trip in their own 2003 GMC Envoy.

When they didn’t return last Friday, their family became concerned saying the Runions would never pass up an opportunity to see their grandchildren. A Facebook page was set up to help find the Runions, and after more than 150,000 Likes, the page has been updated stating that the couple’s SUV was found submerged in a pond, and two currently unidentified bodies were found nearby.

runiontowns

Ronnie Adrian “Jay” Towns has been arrested in the case.

Authorities have stated that the bodies have not been positively identified as of this writing. Towns’ family convinced the 28-year-old to turn himself in after arrest warrants were issued, and he has been held in custody on charges of giving false statements and criminal attempt to commit theft by deception. They traced the couples last conversation to a cell phone purchased by Towns, according to Telfair County Sheriff Chris Steverson.

The family is hoping that Towns will release more information concerning the whereabouts of the couple, and are updating the Facebook page as they obtain more information.

Our hearts go out to the family, with a reminder that Craigslist has been in the news a bit over the past few years and since they pride themselves on anonymity you should always plan on meeting in a public place, and bring others with you should you decide to meet someone who posts or responds to an ad.

runionsenvoy

The couples SUV, similar to this one, was found submerged in a pond. Two bodies have been found nearby.

UPDATE: From the Telfair County Sheriff’s Office Press Release:

“Press Release Jan 27, 2015
Today an autopsy examination conducted by the GBI Crime Lab in Atlanta on two bodies recovered from a wooded area in rural Telfair County, allowed investigators to positively confirm their Identities.

They are the bodies of Elrey “Bud” Runion and his wife June E. Runion. The cause of death has been determined to be Gunshot wounds to the head of both victims. Also today, Investigators obtained warrants for Ronnie Adrian Towns, 28 year old white male, charging him with the Murder and Armed Robbery of Elrey “Bud” Runion and his wife June Runion of Cobb County Ga.

Mr. Towns Will be arraigned later today at the Telfair County Courthouse.”

It’s also sad to note that in this time of grieving for the family, some lowlife has set up a fraudulent GoFundMe page in an attempt to solicit funds from this tragedy for their own personal gain. The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations can be made to House of Hope in Canton, Georgia, by clicking the “Donate” button in the top right corner.

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About the author

Michael Harding

Michael is a Power Automedia contributor and automotive enthusiast who doesn’t discriminate. Although Mopar is in his blood, he loves any car that looks great and drives even faster.
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