Authorities are hopeful that the new evidence discovered in a Georgia creek could provide crucial information in a murder case that has been pending trial for over nine years. The items, including a rifle, driver’s licenses, credit cards, and a cellphone, belonged to a couple, Bud and June Runion, who were found slain in the area back in 2015. The discovery was made by a citizen who was using a magnet to fish for metal objects in Horse Creek, located in rural Telfair County. The case had previously led to the arrest of Ronnie Adrian “Jay” Towns on charges of armed robbery and murder, but legal battles and delays have prolonged the trial process. Towns has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Runions, who were from Marietta, north of Atlanta, had traveled to Telfair County to meet someone who had offered to sell Bud Runion a 1966 Mustang. This meeting ultimately led to their robbery and fatal shooting, with their bodies being discovered off a county road. Towns had responded to an online ad posted by Bud Runion seeking a classic car, despite not actually owning the vehicle. Legal issues surrounding the grand jury selection process led to the dismissal of Towns’ first indictment, with him being re-indicted in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic further delayed the case, along with the prosecution’s decision to seek the death penalty, requiring additional pretrial legal steps.
Despite the delays, prosecutors are optimistic about the upcoming trial, with preparations underway and a potential start date set for August. District Attorney Tim Vaughn of the Oconee Judicial Circuit, which includes Telfair County, believes that the newly discovered evidence will strengthen the case against Towns. The rifle found in the creek is of the same caliber as the gun used to kill the Runions, although investigators are still working to confirm if it was the actual weapon. The items recovered from the creek led to search warrants being executed at a Telfair County home, where additional evidence was found, though specific details have not been disclosed.
Towns’ defense attorney, Franklin Hogue, has not yet commented on the new developments in the case. Legal proceedings have faced significant challenges due to the complex nature of the case and the involvement of the death penalty. The discovery of the rifle and other items in the creek has reignited interest in the case, providing a potential breakthrough in the investigation into the Runions’ murder. The community in McRae-Helena, Georgia, where the tragic incident occurred, is hopeful that justice will be served for the slain couple, bringing closure to a case that has lingered for almost a decade.
As the case moves towards a trial, authorities and prosecutors are focused on building a strong case against Towns, who has maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings. The evidence recovered from the creek, along with the subsequent search of a Telfair County home, could provide crucial leads and insights into the events leading up to the tragic deaths of the Runions. The upcoming trial is expected to shed further light on the circumstances surrounding the couple’s murder and bring a sense of closure to their family and the community at large. With the trial potentially starting in August, all eyes are on the legal proceedings as the case heads towards a resolution after years of delays and obstacles.
