In McRae-Helena, Georgia, a person magnet fishing in Horse Creek discovered a .22-caliber rifle and a bag containing the driver’s licenses and credit cards of Bud and June Runion, who were found slain in the area over nine years ago. The Runions were robbed and fatally shot after traveling to Telfair County to meet someone offering to sell Bud a 1966 Mustang. Ronnie Adrian “Jay” Towns was arrested for the crimes, but court proceedings have been delayed due to legal battles and the Covid-19 pandemic. Towns has pleaded not guilty, and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. New evidence discovered in the creek, including the rifle, may strengthen the case against Towns as his trial is expected to begin in August.
The discovery of the rifle and personal items of the Runions in the Georgia creek is considered new evidence in the ongoing murder case. The licenses and credit cards belonging to the couple were found, adding to the existing case against Ronnie Adrian “Jay” Towns. The Runions were lured to Telfair County under false pretenses, leading to their tragic deaths. Towns is facing charges of armed robbery and murder, but legal delays and the complexity of seeking the death penalty have slowed down the trial process. Prosecutors are hopeful that the newly discovered evidence will provide a stronger case against Towns in the upcoming trial, scheduled to start in August.
The first indictment against Towns was thrown out due to issues with the grand jury selection process, leading to a lengthy legal battle that was finally resolved in 2019. Towns was indicted for the second time in 2020, but the case was further delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Prosecutors are taking additional steps due to their pursuit of the death penalty, which has added complexity to the pretrial legal proceedings. Defense attorney Franklin Hogue has not yet commented on the new evidence or the upcoming trial. District Attorney Tim Vaughn of the Oconee Judicial Circuit, which includes Telfair County, stated that the case against Towns was strong before, but the new evidence makes it even stronger.
The rifle found in the creek is the same caliber as the weapon used to kill the Runions, but investigators are still working to determine if it was the actual murder weapon. The discovery of the rifle and personal belongings of the Runions adds to the evidence against Towns, who has maintained his innocence throughout the legal process. The case has been complex and drawn out due to legal challenges and the impact of the pandemic, but prosecutors are preparing for the trial to commence in August. The newly found evidence is seen as a significant development that could potentially strengthen the case against Towns and bring justice for the Runions’ tragic deaths in Telfair County over nine years ago.
