BODIES FOUND AFTER GA. COUPLE LURED BY CRAIGSLIST CONTACT

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

BY RUSS BYNUM

McRAE, Ga. (AP) -- Three days after Bud Runion posted an ad on the website Craigslist that he was seeking to buy a 1966 Mustang convertible, he and his wife set out for a small farming community in southern Georgia to meet with a potential seller. Then they vanished.

In Telfair County, where cotton and peanut fields meet dense woods a three-hour drive south of the Runions' suburban Atlanta home, days of searching by authorities and volunteers ended Monday with a grim discovery and an arrest.

Sheriff Chris Steverson said the couple's SUV had been found in a lake a few miles outside McRae, a tiny city of 5,700 about 80 miles southeast of Macon. Searches discovered two bodies - a man and a woman - nearby.

"This is not the outcome we had hoped for," the sheriff told reporters at a news conference. "But obviously it's what we have to deal with."

FULL story at link.



This photo provided Monday, Jan. 26, 2015, by the Cobb County Police Department, shows Elrey “Bud” Runion, of Marietta, Ga. Runion, 69, and his wife June Runion, 66, are missing after driving across the state to check out a classic car advertised on Craigslist, and police say the man who last had phone contact with them faces charges. Investigators have obtained warrants for 28-year-old Ronnie Adrian "Jay" Towns on charges of giving false statements and criminal attempt to commit theft by deception. Towns hasn't been accused of harming the couple. (AP Photo/Courtesy of the Cobb County Police Department)

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MISSING_COUPLE_GEORGIA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-01-27-04-31-52

[jberryhill]

1. When police are pro-active for public safety...

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Conshohocken-Police-Offer-a-Safe-Spot-for-Craigslist-Exchanges-280901512.html

One local suburban Philadelphia police department is offering its own parking lot to people buying and selling goods through online marketplaces like Craigslist to help ensure the transactions are completed safely.

“We’re a 24-hour operation,” said Conshohocken Police Officer John Storti. “We came up with this idea to have the Conshohocken Police Department be a safe zone since it has surveillance 24 hours a day.”

[7962]

2. Thats a great idea. We hear SO much about Craigslist rip offs. nt

[kentauros]

3. I'm glad to hear them making that available.

When I've used FreeCycle, their advice was to make the exchange in a busy public place. Perhaps not as safe as a police parking lot, but far safer than going to the seller's residence. It's also to keep potential burglars from casing your place if you don't go and meet the buyer somewhere else.

[SansACause]

4. I've not had any Craigslist horror stories

There are always the usual suspects trying to get you to transfer money somewhere because they are out of the country at the moment and can't meet with you personally. However, when I've needed Craigslist, it has always worked for me. I only meet people in busy public places if they want a cash payment.

[displacedtexan]

5. What a sad story.

There are so few parking spaces here that I always double park and lock a zipcar and leave the caution lights flashing when I go to someone's house for a craigslist exchange.

A personal auto can be explained away, but not a zipcar. The company knows exactly where you are, where you started from and the exact times of your movements.