A recent discovery made by someone using a magnet to fish for metal objects in a Georgia creek has provided new evidence in a murder case that has been pending trial for over nine years. The items pulled from Horse Creek in Telfair County included a .22-caliber rifle and belongings of a couple who were robbed and fatally shot in the same area in 2015. The couple, Bud and June Runion, had traveled from Marietta to Telfair County to meet someone who claimed to have a 1966 Mustang for sale. Ronnie Adrian “Jay” Towns was later arrested for their murder after luring them to the area by responding to an online ad posted by Bud Runion.
Towns’ first indictment was thrown out due to issues with how the grand jury was selected, leading to a lengthy legal battle that was finally resolved in 2019. He was indicted for a second time in 2020 but the case was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Towns has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, which has further slowed down the court proceedings as it requires additional legal steps prior to the trial. Towns’ defense attorney, Franklin Hogue, has not yet commented on the new evidence found in the creek.
District Attorney Tim Vaughn of the Oconee Judicial Circuit, which includes Telfair County, stated that the trial for Towns is expected to begin as early as August, although no date has been set. The newly discovered evidence from the creek, including the rifle that matched the caliber of the gun used in the murders, has bolstered the case against Towns. This evidence led investigators to search a Telfair County home and recover additional items, although the specifics of what was found have not been disclosed. The GBI is still working to determine if the rifle retrieved is the same weapon that was used in the crime.
The discovery of the rifle and belongings of the Runions has provided a significant breakthrough in the murder case that has been pending for nearly a decade. The items pulled from Horse Creek have helped strengthen the case against Towns, who has been charged with armed robbery and murder in connection with the deaths of the couple. The delays in the court proceedings, caused by legal issues and the COVID-19 pandemic, have further extended the time it has taken for the case to go to trial. Prosecutors are hopeful that the new evidence will help secure a conviction in the upcoming trial.
The case of Ronnie Adrian “Jay” Towns, who stands accused of killing Bud and June Runion in Telfair County, Georgia, has seen significant developments with the recent discovery of new evidence in a nearby creek. The items retrieved from Horse Creek, including a rifle matching the caliber of the murder weapon, have provided investigators with crucial leads that have led to additional evidence being recovered from a Telfair County home. The ongoing legal battle, delays caused by the pandemic, and the decision by prosecutors to seek the death penalty have all contributed to the extended timeline for the trial. The newly discovered evidence has brought renewed hope for justice in the long-awaited case.
