Suspect identified in missing Georgia couple case

WMAZ-TV, Macon, Ga.

Show Caption Hide Caption Suspect identified in case of missing Georgia couple Police have identified a suspect in the case of a missing Georgia couple who hasn't been seen since they went to answer a Craigslist ad. Police are searching for 28-year-old Ronnie "Jay" Adrian Towns.

MACON, Ga. — Police are searching for a Georgia couple who have been missing since Thursday after they went to buy a car from someone they contacted through Craigslist.

Elrey "Bud" and June Runion drove to McRae, Ga., from Marietta, Ga., on Thursday to meet someone who responded to an ad Bud Runion placed on the classified advertisements website seeking a 1966 Mustang. It is nearly a 190-mile drive from Marietta to McRae.

Relatives became concerned when the couple, Bud, 69, and June 66, did not return for a family function and did not answer their cellphone.

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Telfair County Sheriff Chris Steverson said Sunday that they have identified a suspect in the investigation.

Steverson said there are two active warrants out for Ronnie "Jay" Adrian Towns. One warrant is for making false statements to investigators; the other for criminal attempt to commit theft by deception.

"We were interested in who last had phone contact with the Runions, and this individual did," Steverson said. "We interviewed Mr. Towns early on in the investigation and the info he provided did not corroborate with our investigation."

Police said the number the Runions called traced back to a disposable cellphone.

Earlier Steverson had said, "We've searched the hotels, hospitals and all the obvious places." The Telfair police became involved once they learned the couple had traveled to the southern part of the state.

Craig Bishop, the Runions' son-in-law said classic cars are Bud Runion's passion.

"I believe one of (Bud's) first cars, if not his first car, was a '66 Mustang," he said. "It's surreal. Moment to moment, I'm just thinking we're going to hear something."

Georgia couple missing after answering Craigslist ad Police are searching for a Georgia couple who went missing on Thursday after they went to buy a car from someone they contacted through Craigslist.

Cobb County, Ga., detectives believe the couple was riding in a pewter- or champagne-colored 2003 GMC Envoy with Georgia license plates.

Bud Runion is described as white, 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing 165 pounds. He is balding with gray hair and blue eyes. June Runion is described as white, 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighing 135 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes.

Contributing: The Associated Press.