Bud and June Runion, a couple from Cobb County, Georgia, were eager to buy a classic 1966 Ford Mustang. Bud, who was 69, had posted a Craigslist ad looking for the car. Ronnie Adrian “Jay” Towns responded. Claiming he had the vehicle for sale, Towns convinced the couple to drive three hours to Telfair County to meet him. There was no classic Mustang.

Tragically, the meeting turned into a deadly ambush. Authorities say Towns robbed the Runions and then shot them to death. Days later, someone discovered their bodies abandoned in a rural area. The Runions were buried by grieving family and friends on January 31, 2015.

Local police arrested Towns soon after the murders. But the case dragged on for years. The court threw out his original indictment, citing issues with the grand jury selection. A second indictment in 2020 faced delays caused by the pandemic.

In an unexpected twist earlier this year, a magnet fisherman found new evidence linked to the case.

A .22 caliber rifle, a bag containing the Runions’ IDs and credit cards, and a cell phone were recovered from Horse Creek in Telfair County. This discovery helped seal the case against Towns.

In November, a judge sentenced Towns to two concurrent life sentences without the possibility of parole, KWTX News reported.

The Runions’ Mustang story certainly makes us think twice about agreeing to meet up with strangers about a car on, say, Facebook Marketplace.

Please remember these tips before looking at or selling a car online:

• Listings that sound too good to be true are probably a scam. Scammers often entice victims with unrealistically low prices.
• Meet in a public place. Choose a well-lit, busy location, like a populated parking lot.
• Bring someone with you.
• Do a gut check. If something seems off, just leave. Verify the seller. Ask for proof of ID and ownership, like the vehicle’s registration or title.