COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Thousands of family members and friends gathered Saturday to remember a Cobb County couple murdered in south Georgia.
Police say Bud and June Runion were shot to death after being lured to Telfair County by a false Craigslist ad. Police believe robbery was the motive.
Deputies have charged Ronnie Towns, 28, with killing the Runions.
"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," Telfair County Sheriff Chris Steverson said Monday.
[ On Friday, the GBI joined the search in Telfair County for the weapons that killed the couple. ]
The Runions were a beloved couple in the Cobb community and very involved in charity work. Over the past week, memorials outside the couple's Marietta home and church have grown.
Members of the Mount Paran North Church of God, in Cobb County, told Channel 2 Action News they were expecting an overflow crowd for the couple's funeral service.
The service was held at 1 p.m. at Mt. Paran North Church of God, 1700 Allgood Road, Marietta, GA 30062.
Among those in attendance were Fulton County Sheriff Chris Steverson, McRae-Helena Mayor Mike Young, McRae-Helena Councilmembers Fred Crawford and Joe Thomas, McRae-Helena Police Chief Glenn Giles, Officer Robert Johnson, Tommy Joines of McRae-Helena Fire and Rescue, Deputy Kyle Carver, Telfair EMA Director Leo Conner, Telfair County Commissioners Edwin Neal and Annie Williams, and former city official Kenneth Jones.
In lieu of flowers, the family asked that people send a gift to the House of Hope charity in Canton.