BASS WEBB

By Debbie Dennie, Editor   

Some tense moments for law enforcement officers and family members on both sides of the Bass Webb murder trial gave a sigh of relief this past week on July 18 when 32-year-old Webb entered a guilty plea for the 2009 murder of his estranged girlfriend Bryia Runiewicz. She lived in Harrison County and worked at the Bourbon County Detention Center. He will appear back in Pendleton County Circuit Court on August 15 for sentencing. His guilty plea came on the day jury selection was to start in Falmouth.

The murder trial had been moved to Falmouth from Cynthiana due to a jury not being able to be seated last year in Harrison County due to pretrial publicity.

Runiewicz was found dead in her home on July 31, 2009. Had Webb been convicted of the murder he could have faced the death penalty. He agreed to plead guilty in exchange for a 50-year sentence. His court appointed attorney said this was the best thing Webb could do. It also was the best possible thing for Webb's family and Runiewicz family not having to set through a trial. She had two daughters, 10 and 9 years old. Webb and Runiewicz had dated for a time but broke up about two weeks before he murdered her.