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The man who discovered the bodies was indeed a trucker... Martin Durant and he lived only about 1.7 miles from where the bodies were found. Mr. Durant contacted Charles Graham, an employee at a nearby store to call the police. Interestingly, the man who was arrested for DUI and had the weapon that was used in the murder, Lonnie George Henry from Wadesboro, NC was also a truck driver. How police identified the Sumter County Does 40 years later – Film DailyAlso some good discussion here from a few pages back. There have been a couple of recent podcasts that have proposed some theories
Identified! - Mystery couple murdered in South Carolina, 1976 - Pamela Buckley & James Freund #10
Some speculation is that the area where Pam and Jim were killed was also a place where truckers hung out. The man who discovered the bodies was a trucker.
Figuring out what vehicle they were in is crucial. I tend to think they were carjacked.While catching a documentary about the murders that took place in 1960 at starved Rock in Illinois, I couldn’t help but to notice some of the deep dive forensics work that went into that case. I know I’m thinking of big city nearby Chicago and small town SC but there is a 16 year difference in technology and such too. I’m somewhat satisfied that this case has been well studied but I’m still hopeful that something breaks.
I also think local LE is not interested in determining who killed them. Sadly, the victims own families also seem to want to put it in the past. No interviews or statements to the news media, nothing. Very sad, they don’t deserve this, IMO.
That's a good question. Do we know what their last addresses were before they went on the road?Odds are one or both of them had a vehicle. Would Colorado & Pennsylvania still have records?
That's a good question. Do we know what their last addresses were before they went on the road?
There's an off chance that people who knew them in life might remember what vehicles they had. My guess would be that James had a car and Pam was hitchhiking, but it could be the other way around.
I still also have a theory that James had relocated temporarily to Colorado and he met Pam there. In that scenario, they might have been on a road trip to a race or to visit someone.That's a good question. Do we know what their last addresses were before they went on the road?
There's an off chance that people who knew them in life might remember what vehicles they had. My guess would be that James had a car and Pam was hitchhiking, but it could be the other way around.
Happy heavenly birthday, Pam! Thinking of you on what would've been your 71st birthday.
Two years ago today the Sumter county Does were identified as James Freund and Pamela Buckley.
It's been two years already??? That caught me by surprise. It seems like it was yesterday.Two years ago today the Sumter county Does were identified as James Freund and Pamela Buckley.
True that. But there's a good chance that Lonnie Henry either killed them himself or was covering for a relative, and he and all of his male relatives who were adults at that time are already dead. (There doesn't seem to be much longevity in that family.) There may not be anyone left alive who actually knows the truth.And, there's been no information since
It's been two years already??? That caught me by surprise. It seems like it was yesterday.
True that. But there's a good chance that Lonnie Henry either killed them himself or was covering for a relative, and he and all of his male relatives who were adults at that time are already dead. (There doesn't seem to be much longevity in that family.) There may not be anyone left alive who actually knows the truth.
I would still like to find out whether James or Pamela had a vehicle and whether that vehicle was ever titled or registered after the killings.
I think that they would leave it open in case anyone (such as someone's widow or child) comes forward with information, but I doubt they're putting many resources into it. It is extremely likely that the perp is already dead.I wonder if LE considers the "closed" (since there may be no one living who knows the truth).
I think that they would leave it open in case anyone (such as someone's widow or child) comes forward with information, but I doubt they're putting many resources into it. It is extremely likely that the perp is already dead.