Police find bodies, SUV of missing Cobb County couple

TELFAIR COUNTY, Ga. — Two bodies believed to be those of a missing Cobb County couple were found Monday, sheriff's officials said.

Police found the bodies, along with the couple’s SUV, in a pond in Telfair County.

Telfair County Sheriff Chris Steversen said the bodies were those of a man and a woman.

Bud Runion, 69, and June Runion, 66, of Marietta were last seen Thursday. They were leaving for Telfair County, south of Macon, to buy a car that they found listed on Craigslist.

"My heart goes out to the Runion family. We’ve done everything we possibly could do to get this family found, get their parents found, unfortunately it's a sad outcome, but hopefully there will be some closure knowing that they have been located," Steverson said Monday.

A suspect in the case is in custody. Police said 28-year-old Ronnie "Jay" Towns turned himself in to the Telfair County Sheriff's Department Monday morning.

Towns is accused in the couple’s disappearance.

Steversen named Towns as a suspect in the case Sunday. He told Channel 2's Liz Artz that investigators questioned him in the case, and issued warrants for his arrest.

The warrants were for making false statements to investigators and criminal attempt to commit theft by deception.

Authorities say Towns was the last person to talk to the couple, via phone, before their disappearance.

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The couple’s daughters said both their parents had cell phones, but they had not been heard from since they left at about 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

Their daughters told Channel 2’s Liz Arts Saturday that they first became concerned when their parents did not show up to babysit their grandchildren on Friday.

“We are worried that someone might have done something bad and taken advantage of them," daughter Brittany Patterson said.

The couple’s daughters held back tears as they talked about their last conversation with their parents.

“He was excited about the car. He had one when he got back from Vietnam,” daughter Stephanie Bishop said. Bud Runion was going to purchase a 1966 Ford Mustang, his daughters said.

They said they were focused on finding their parents, and were trying to remain hopeful.

“If someone has taken them, we have forgiven that person, because God tells us to love and forgive,” daughter Virgina Owens said.

They told Artz Sunday that they were encouraged by the naming of a suspect in the case.

“It’s not a dead end. You know there is still a trail," Bishop said.

Several law enforcement agencies were involved in a massive search for the couple throughout the weekend.

Steversen said no additional charges have been filed against Towns. He said autopsy results would be assessed in order to move forward.

Watch Channel 2 Action News and refresh this page for the latest developments.

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