Indicted in midstate Craigslist slayings, man ‘hasn’t confessed to anything’

A man charged with shooting to death a Cobb County husband and wife who’d traveled to Telfair County to buy a vintage car was indicted Monday.

Ronnie “Jay” Towns, 28, was arrested Jan. 26 after the bodies of Bud and June Runion of Marietta were found along a dirt road near Towns’ home south of McRae-Helena. The Runions had been shot in the head.

Monday, a Telfair grand jury indicted, or formally accused, Towns on charges that include counts of malice murder, felony murder and armed robbery.

Elrey “Bud” Runion, 69, and his wife, June, 66, were last seen while on an evening trip Jan. 22 to meet someone near tiny Jacksonville, Ga., about buying a 1966 Ford Mustang. Bud Runion had posted a Craigslist ad seeking such a car.

According to an eight-count indictment, Towns, armed with a gun, stole Bud Runion’s cellphone, wallet and the couple’s small SUV.

The vehicle was found submerged in a pond near Towns’ home.

Towns is also accused of taking June Runion’s purse and phone.

Towns’ attorney, Franklin J. Hogue of Macon, had not seen a copy of the indictment as of Monday evening.

“Right now, all I can say is he hasn’t confessed to anything,” Hogue said.

Hogue said he has spoken with Towns several times at the Dodge County jail in Eastman, where Towns is being held.

Towns, married with a 2-year-old daughter, has no prior criminal record, Hogue said.

“I’m beginning to get to know him and his family and they seem to me to be very nice people,” Hogue said. “He’s very courteous and polite. He’s a calm, easygoing kind of guy. ... Even the jailers seem to like him.”

Towns is set to be in court April 9 for a judge to consider whether to set a bond in the case. Hogue filed a motion requesting the hearing last week.

Because Towns was indicted within 90 days of his arrest, he is not automatically entitled to a bond, though the judge can set one.

His arraignment is set for June 25.

At that hearing, Towns will formally enter a plea to the charges listed in the indictment -- either guilty or not guilty.

The hearing in June also is the deadline for prosecutors to declare whether they plan to seek capital punishment in the case.

This story was originally published March 16, 2015 at 4:31 PM with the headline "Indicted in midstate Craigslist slayings, man ‘hasn’t confessed to anything’."