topic Re: Another Tragic Craigslist Story........... in Community Chat

Another Tragic Craigslist Story...........

newziesuzie — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 06:45:34 GMT

A senseless sad story. Be careful with Craigslist! I'm afraid to use it.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/bodies-vehicle-found-georgia-case-missing-craigslist-car/story?id=28484457

"Bodies of Georgia Couple in Craigslist Car Case Identified

Jan 27, 2015, 3:45 PM Authorities today positively identified the bodies of a Georgia couple who vanished last week while going to meet someone to buy a vintage car they found on Craigslist.

Bud Runion, 69, and his wife, June, 66, disappeared Thursday, authorities said. The pair had posted an ad seeking to buy a vintage 1966 Ford Mustang convertible. Relatives said the Mustang was the couple’s dream car, one they’d wanted to buy since they were married decades ago.

A suspect, Ronnie “Jay” Towns, 28, the owner of the phone that last communicated with the Runions' phone, according to the sheriff's office, turned himself in earlier yesterday and was charged with murder today, ABC affiliate WSB-TV reported.

The couple's 2003 GMC Envoy was found submerged in a lake, the Telfair County Sheriff's Office said on its Facebook page without revealing the lake's location. The unidentified bodies were found at another location not far away, officials said.

Steverson said Towns had little or no criminal history.

The couple, after finding what they believed was a seller, reportedly set out on a 180-mile road trip from Marietta, Georgia, to McRae, Georgia. The Runions haven't been heard from since, and never showed up to babysit their grandchildren Friday.

The Runion family set up a Facebook page -- “Find Bud and June Runion” -- and it has about 100,000 supporters.

But yesterday, the page acknowledged the sheriff's discoveries of the vehicle and bodies, and supporters began leaving messages of shock and condolence.

"During this heartbreaking time I ask that you keep the family and friends in your thoughts and prayers,” the couple's relatives wrote.

Officials with Craigslist referred to the safety page on the company’s website, which notes, “Be especially careful when buying/selling high value items.”

Re: Another Tragic Craigslist Story...........

occasionalrain — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 06:51:15 GMT

I wondered why their families didn't intercede and warn them of the danger carrying a large sum of money to meet a stranger who claimed to have a car.

Re: Another Tragic Craigslist Story...........

newziesuzie — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 06:56:22 GMT

On 1/27/2015 occasional rain said:
I wondered why their families didn't intercede and warn them of the danger carrying a large sum of money to meet a stranger who claimed to have a car.

Good question. Maybe their family didn't know the details enough to warn them.

Re: Another Tragic Craigslist Story...........

Marmalade_1 — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 06:58:07 GMT

With age you get wiser. I guess that is not necessarily true.

Re: Another Tragic Craigslist Story...........

colliemom4 — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 06:58:45 GMT

I heard about this yesterday. Very sad.

Re: Another Tragic Craigslist Story...........

Shorty2U — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 07:06:24 GMT

I read that yesterday. Horribly tragic! Id never use Craigslist! There have been MANY robberies in PA of people who went to buy something.

My daughter and son in law just bought something on there from someone before this incident happened. I was worrying when they went to the house (having read stories in the paper). My daughter assured me she checked out the homeowners (a married couple) online before hand.

Re: Another Tragic Craigslist Story...........

colliemom4 — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 07:13:07 GMT

I'm not a fan of Craigslist either. Too dangerous for me though I realize many people use it.

Re: Another Tragic Craigslist Story...........

occasionalrain — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 07:15:31 GMT

It's not just buyers who get robbed and killed. A few years ago a man selling his car got killed and his car stolen.

Re: Another Tragic Craigslist Story...........

newziesuzie — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 07:20:42 GMT

On 1/27/2015 Marmalade said:
With age you get wiser. I guess that is not necessarily true.

I know, Marmalade. I remember reading somewhere (can't remember where) that sometimes we get more trusting when we get older. Maybe too trusting. Which might not be wisdom.

Re: Another Tragic Craigslist Story...........

newziesuzie — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 07:21:41 GMT

On 1/27/2015 occasional rain said:
It's not just buyers who get robbed and killed. A few years ago a man selling his car got killed and his car stolen.

How sad.

Re: Another Tragic Craigslist Story...........

Kachina624 — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 08:07:17 GMT

My elderly parents did almost the same thing. Buying a car for a grandchild, they answered an ad in Craigslist. It turned out okay because it was right here in town and they bought the car, but other things could have happened.

Re: Another Tragic Craigslist Story...........

June Lands — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 15:38:10 GMT

I have used Craigslist twice. Once when I adopted my sweet doggie( best thing I ever did!) and another time to give away a TV. Since using Craigslist... and hearing about several terrible outcomes, I would continue to use it and just be very cautious. There are just some things you can not predict in life.... This couple probably could not have known they were dealing with a crazy murder. Some things are just not foreseeable. Maybe they were too trusting... Maybe they should have had the seller come to them??... I suppose they were so excited about buying the car they never even thought about an evil person with evil intents. That is so so sad.

I heard another very sad story about a couple selling a diamond ring. The buyer came to their home and ended up murdering the couple and stealing the ring.

Re: Another Tragic Craigslist Story...........

LilacTree — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 16:19:26 GMT

On 1/27/2015 newziesuzie said:
On 1/27/2015 Marmalade said:
With age you get wiser. I guess that is not necessarily true.

I know, Marmalade. I remember reading somewhere (can't remember where) that sometimes we get more trusting when we get older. Maybe too trusting. Which might not be wisdom.

Not me. The older I get, the less trusting and more careful I am. I would never deal with anyone on Craig's List, or even eBay. I do not like one on one transactions with strangers. There is almost always something wrong with the product, at the very least. I also don't like second-hand stuff. I would rather pass it up or pay more for a new, unused product from an established business. I have never been into garage sales or anything like that. I don't believe there is any such thing as a "bargain."

Re: Another Tragic Craigslist Story...........

nunya — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 16:25:19 GMT

Such a sad story. It could have happened to whomever replied to the ad, scary.

My husband has used Craigslist for old car parts without problems. This is a good reminder to be cautious though.

Re: Another Tragic Craigslist Story...........

June Lands — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 16:35:22 GMT

On 1/28/2015 chrystaltree said: ....the add no doubt said bring cash. You have to be incredibly foolhardy and dimwitted to set off to meet a total stranger under such circumstances. I feel very bad for their family, friends, loved ones. No sympathy at all for the victims, they should have known better.

Wow! How insensitive. Calling them dimwitted? Hope you never are judged in the same light.

Re: Another Tragic Craigslist Story...........

Qwackertoo — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 16:38:12 GMT

Very sad.

Not nice to call them dimwitted. They were older and probably very trusting.

Naive perhaps but to call them dimwitted is pretty heartless considering how they died.

Compassion goes a long ways.

Re: Another Tragic Craigslist Story...........

151949 — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 16:39:28 GMT

My DH tried to sell our old camper a few years ago and among other things listed it on Craiglist. Some very questionable characters came to view it - some things were even stolen. really stupid things like chauckies, and a compass. Why would anyone take that stuff. It did not sell and we removed it from Craigslist. The next spring we put a sign in the window and within an hour it was sold.

After the characters we experienced I would stay away from craigslist in the future.

Re: Another Tragic Craigslist Story...........

Lucibee — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 16:42:38 GMT

What a mean thing to say Chrystaltree! These were good people. The gentleman worked and retired from the same company as I did. I did not know him personally but I have heard nothing but nice things about them.

Re: Another Tragic Craigslist Story...........

Say Nay — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 16:44:26 GMT

Too many people get robbed and/or assaulted using craigslist. That's both sellers and buyers.

The last time I used craigslist it was to advertise a used old sofa that I was giving away for free. I had it by the curb and someone picked it up the next day. That was years ago.

Re: Another Tragic Craigslist Story...........

Say Nay — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 16:45:34 GMT

On 1/28/2015 Lucibee said: What a mean thing to say Chrystaltree! These were good people. The gentleman worked and retired from the same company as I did. I did not know him personally but I have heard nothing but nice things about them.

Not out of character for that poster.