by GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A man accused of murdering his former girlfriend in Grand Rapids has been extradited back to Michigan after being arrested in New Mexico, following a nationwide search that stretched from Michigan to Wyoming and beyond.
Randy Buckner, 47, was officially charged with open murder on Tuesday in the death of 61-year-old Aleta Lung. He is currently being held in the Kent County Jail without bond.
Authorities say Lung was beaten to death in her home, with investigators believing the crime occurred on Super Bowl Sunday. Her body wasn’t discovered until the following Wednesday, when concerned family members went to check on her after she stopped responding to messages.
After the murder, police say Buckner stole Lung’s car and fled across the country. Investigators tracked his route through multiple states — including Wyoming — before ultimately locating him in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he was arrested on the same day Lung’s body was found.
Officials also revealed that Buckner had a documented history of domestic violence. Law enforcement sources confirmed that Grand Rapids police had responded to a domestic disturbance at Lung’s home in June 2024, during which she warned officers that Buckner had threatened to kill her. No charges were filed at the time.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Contact the National Domestic Violence Helpline at 1-800-799-7233.
Buckner is scheduled to appear in court again on June 10.
