A man accused of using Craigslist to lure a Marietta couple to Middle Georgia in order to rob and then kill them nearly 10 years ago may avoid the death penalty.
Ronnie “Jay” Towns, of McRae, will appear in court for a hearing Tuesday morning, when he is expected to plead guilty in exchange for life without parole. He is accused of killing Elrey “Bud” and June Runion in January 2015. Prosecutors had already said they planned to seek the death penalty if Towns was convicted.
Prosecutors seek death penalty for alleged killer of Marietta couple
The couple, who were in their 60s, drove 200 miles to Telfair County, about an hour southeast of Macon, with the hopes of buying their dream car — a 1966 Ford Mustang — their family has said.
Investigators said Towns contacted them after Bud Runion placed an ad on Craigslist seeking a red ’66 Mustang convertible, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported. Officials have alleged that Towns tricked them into thinking he would sell them that exact vehicle and even went as far as supplying a photo of it, but there was no car.