Additional Coverage:
Georgia Cold Case Solved Through Magnet Fishing
A man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murders of Bud and June Runion, a Georgia couple killed in 2015. The case was cracked open after a magnet fisher discovered a rifle and other evidence in a creek near where the victims were found.
The magnet fisher found a .22-caliber rifle, driver’s licenses, credit cards, and a cellphone that belonged to the Runions. Investigators confirmed that the rifle matched the weapon used in the murders.
Ronnie Jay Towns pleaded guilty to luring the Runions to their deaths under the guise of selling them a classic car. The couple never returned home after driving three hours to meet Towns.
After the discovery of the new evidence, Towns pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life without parole. Sheriff Sim Davidson expressed gratitude for the closure in the case and offered prayers to the victims’ families.
Unusual Magnet Fishing Discoveries
In recent months, magnet fishing has yielded unexpected finds. A New York City couple retrieved a safe containing waterlogged $100 bills, while a New Orleans magnet fisher pulled up a human skull attached to an exercise dumbbell from a waterway.