Identified! Mystery couple murdered in South Carolina, 1976 - Pamela Buckley & James Freund #9

[Betty P]

Thinking back to something I looked into back in 2008 has piqued my interest considering he was from Pennsylvania.

I was looking into the shirt James was wearing and wondered if he might have been a fan of the IMSA Camel GT race series. He was wearing a shirt from the Sebring( florida) race in 1975. That race was in January 1975. I went back and looked at the racing schedule for 1976.

There was a race August 7, 1976 in Talladega Alabama. They were killed August 9, 1976. The next race on the schedule was for August 15th 1976 at the Poconos Raceway in Long pond Pennsylvania.

So, I wondered maybe he was a big racing fan or was working for a team or maybe a vendor, all kinds of vendors work those events, tshirt sales, concessions etc.. Just has me wondering if perhaps they might have been traveling north to go to the Poconos race in PA.

That's a good suggestion. I noticed the same thing about the date of the 1976 race in Talladega, but didn't put it together with the next one in the Poconos.

I was also wondering if he had recently moved to Colorado and worked for Coors. Their headquarters, then and now, is Golden, CO, just outside of Denver, not far from Colorado Springs.

 

[branmuffin]

Thinking back to something I looked into back in 2008 has piqued my interest considering he was from Pennsylvania.

I was looking into the shirt James was wearing and wondered if he might have been a fan of the IMSA Camel GT race series. He was wearing a shirt from the Sebring( florida) race in 1975. That race was in January 1975. I went back and looked at the racing schedule for 1976.

There was a race August 7, 1976 in Talladega Alabama. They were killed August 9, 1976. The next race on the schedule was for August 15th 1976 at the Poconos Raceway in Long pond Pennsylvania.

So, I wondered maybe he was a big racing fan or was working for a team or maybe a vendor, all kinds of vendors work those events, tshirt sales, concessions etc.. Just has me wondering if perhaps they might have been traveling north to go to the Poconos race in PA.

The IMSA Camel GT races have come up before. I think it's a real possibility they were following the race series. Especially because he was a mechanic. I posited earlier that he may have worked for them as a casual mechanic, following the circuit for work.

If they had been doing that and they were on their way from Talladega it's very possible they were moving northeast on the I-20. It would have taken them right over to Sumter on highway 378 to hook up to the I-95. The thing is though, that it would have been a shorter route if they'd just taken the I-85 straight through from Talladega to Long Pond. So maybe someone who worked or attended the Talladega race asked for a ride to Sumter which is why they may have been on the I-20 going toward I-95.

Everything may have been hunky dory until the time came to drop the hitcher off but everything went sideways when they ended up getting carjacked, robbed and murdered.

We've discussed many times the casual aspect of hitching and traveling and that there was a certain type of naivete in regards to possible dangers. Perhaps the hitcher had something in common with either Pamela or James, maybe a musician or someone who was in the military.

 

[Drew5571]

This goes with my theory that it might have been a military policeman fr9m Fort Jackson or an airman from Shaw AFB. Also, forgive me for being graphic, there might have been evidence of saliva on the underwear. This is why , it is missing. Another possibility is that the shirt may not belong to James. There should be DNA somewhere on the clothing.

 

[Betty P]

The IMSA Camel GT races have come up before. I think it's a real possibility they were following the race series. Especially because he was a mechanic. I posited earlier that he may have worked for them as a casual mechanic, following the circuit for work.

If they had been doing that and they were on their way from Talladega it's very possible they were moving northeast on the I-20. It would have taken them right over to Sumter on highway 378 to hook up to the I-95. The thing is though, that it would have been a shorter route if they'd just taken the I-85 straight through from Talladega to Long Pond. So maybe someone who worked or attended the Talladega race asked for a ride to Sumter which is why they may have been on the I-20 going toward I-95.

Everything may have been hunky dory until the time came to drop the hitcher off but everything went sideways when they ended up getting carjacked, robbed and murdered.

We've discussed many times the casual aspect of hitching and traveling and that there was a certain type of naivete in regards to possible dangers. Perhaps the hitcher had something in common with either Pamela or James, maybe a musician or someone who was in the military.

Thanks for helping sort through the route. There's a convergence of so many interstate highways down there. Plausible scenario with the rider from Talledega. How did the gun end up in the hands of the locals though?

 

[Betty P]

This goes with my theory that it might have been a military policeman fr9m Fort Jackson or an airman from Shaw AFB. Also, forgive me for being graphic, there might have been evidence of saliva on the underwear. This is why , it is missing. Another possibility is that the shirt may not belong to James. There should be DNA somewhere on the clothing.

If the clothing is still in evidence, they could get someone like Paul Holes to look for DNA on it.

 

[Drew5571]

Thanks for helping sort through the route. There's a convergence of so many interstate highways down there. Plausible scenario with the rider from Talledega. How did the gun end up in the hands of the locals though?

it might have been thrown out of the car?

 

[wary]

it might have been thrown out of the car?

But then, why does Lonnie Henry end up saying that his brother gave it to him for a Christmas present? It was actually traced to his brother, I believe, via that not-obscured-enough serial number.

 

[otto]

I heard you mention the tobacco shed in your video, so I looked for it too, but didn't see it. I trust you on the location being near the intersection. I've just seen rather small, cropped versions of the crime scene, but trees are visible in the background.

What time of night was it they estimate they were killed? I'm kind of surprised, too, that one of them didn't try to run. I suppose it was because the killer had a gun. Perhaps James thought if he tried to fight the killer, they would shoot Pamela. Then again, its possible there were two persons there. Were they able to get an idea of footprints? How many people were at the crime scene? Probably not.

I was just wondering what might have happened in the hours before they were killed? Were they still traveling on the road late at night or were they kidnapped and held for a while? If it all happened pretty quickly, then it means they were traveling late at night. Either that or they were awakened from sleep.

The killer was local, most likely. Did they just cruise up and down the interstate around Sumter County looking for people to victimize?

Re historic aerials, someone used them in another old cold case here and they were helpful. I've not subscribed, but I think that's the only way you can remove the watermark.

Regarding time of death, what do we know?

They ate ice cream with fruit or fruit. The ice cream must be based on some finding in the stomach contents. If it was ice cream, I would suggest that this was eaten in the afternoon on a warm August day.

Truck driver pulled off to rest. This doesn't mean dark, but it might.

The witness that heard the car scuttling does not provide a time of day. That would be helpful.

If they had ice cream at 2 PM and died 6 hours later, that would be 8 PM. Pulling off to rest might be at 10 PM. They were discovered within 24 hours of murders.

Date of Discovery: August 9, 1976
Location of Discovery: Sumter County, South Carolina
Estimated Date of Death: Less than 24 hours

"In 1976 this female and her companion were found dead on a secluded Sumter County, South Carolina dirt road between Interstate 95 and SC 341. They were located by a truck driver who pulled off to rest at what was commonly known as Locklair Road, a frontage road just off the interstate. Neither had any identification. They had both been shot in the throat, chest and back.

On August 9, 1976, a man living in the sticks between Sumter and Florence heard a car scuttling down a narrow frontage road connecting Interstate 95 to S.C. 341. Someone climbed out. Gunshots echoed in the early morning, then the car raced back onto the highway.

... pair had eaten fruit or ice cream with fruit not long before they died"
​

Doe Network

 

[wary]

I heard you mention the tobacco shed in your video, so I looked for it too, but didn't see it. I trust you on the location being near the intersection. I've just seen rather small, cropped versions of the crime scene, but trees are visible in the background.

What time of night was it they estimate they were killed? I'm kind of surprised, too, that one of them didn't try to run. I suppose it was because the killer had a gun. Perhaps James thought if he tried to fight the killer, they would shoot Pamela. Then again, its possible there were two persons there. Were they able to get an idea of footprints? How many people were at the crime scene? Probably not.

I was just wondering what might have happened in the hours before they were killed? Were they still traveling on the road late at night or were they kidnapped and held for a while? If it all happened pretty quickly, then it means they were traveling late at night. Either that or they were awakened from sleep.

The killer was local, most likely. Did they just cruise up and down the interstate around Sumter County looking for people to victimize?

Re historic aerials, someone used them in another old cold case here and they were helpful. I've not subscribed, but I think that's the only way you can remove the watermark.

Regarding the time of night, I believe the ‘earwitness’ account of shots and squealing tires puts the time at 1:00 am.

 

[otto]

Regarding the time of night, I believe the ‘earwitness’ account of shots and squealing tires puts the time at 1:00 am.

Do you remember where you saw that? No worries if not - it's been a long discussion so no expectation that you can easily locate the source. I'm just curious, as it sounds like there is more interesting information at the link.

 

[Drew5571]

But then, why does Lonnie Henry end up saying that his brother gave it to him for a Christmas present? It was actually traced to his brother, I believe, via that not-obscured-enough serial number.

The brother might have found it lying somewhere or someone is lying.

 

[otto]

Regarding the time of night, I believe the ‘earwitness’ account of shots and squealing tires puts the time at 1:00 am.

That would mean that the truck driver drove through the night. Do we know when the truck driver found the bodies, or when police were notified?

 

[wary]

Do you remember where you saw that? No worries if not - it's been a long discussion so no expectation that you can easily locate the source. I'm just curious, as it sounds like there is more interesting information at the link.

If I see it again, I’ll notice where. I’ve been speed-reading through all the threads, amazing amount of contradictory info to be found!

 

[LadyL]

The Sumter County Coroner in elected in 1976 and took office in 1977 (Bill Gamble) sent out many many photos of the dental work. It is amazing that no one recognized them or the photos when it went on a national TV crime show. I can’t remember the name of the show

well no one probably recognized the dental work photos because the work was likely done in Germany IMO

 

[wary]

That would mean that the truck driver drove through the night. Do we know when the truck driver found the bodies, or when police were notified?

Again from my reading the previous threads far too fast, either the report came in or the police were at the scene at 6 am the same day. 6:20, or 6:40, maybe. It was a Monday morning.

On a side note, Hurricane Belle was racing up the coast at this time. There had been warnings for people to evacuate coastal areas. It might be interesting to check the exact timing of the hurricane and evacuations. People who’d planned to get a motel at the beach might have had those plans disrupted.

 

[worm]

Do you remember where you saw that? No worries if not - it's been a long discussion so no expectation that you can easily locate the source. I'm just curious, as it sounds like there is more interesting information at the link.

I seen this too and want to say it’s one of the links here on the current thread.

That would mean that the truck driver drove through the night. Do we know when the truck driver found the bodies, or when police were notified?

I thought the driver was a local on a route? I dont understand him pulling in to rest at 620 am.

 

[wary]

I seen this too and want to say it’s one of the links here on the current thread.


I thought the driver was a local on a route? I dont understand him pulling in to rest at 620 am.

I haven’t seen anything that made it clear what the driver was driving, and what sort of a route he had. Once again, could that hurricane have disrupted routes?

Now Lonnie Henry seems to have been a local truck driver, not a long distance big rig driver.

 

[worm]

Reading the early threads, I find the account of the KOA supposed encounter interesting. The camp mgr played pool with “jock”, who offered to sell a ring like the one on the male victim. It gets me as odd that this is the only report of this. It would seem if jock was trying to raise fast cash, there would have been more reports of him doing this. There is no mention of the nice watch, and jewelry was the topic of discussion? Maybe jock wasn’t wearing it or wasn’t interested in selling the watch for some reason. Also, the camp mgr says he became “friends” with this couple and they made a return trip there but very little mention of the young lady.

 

[Satchie]

Extremely helpful. I entered Locklear Road since that spelling seems to show up on all the maps.

Turns out the topography hasn't changed nearly as much as I'd been led to believe. The barren farmland from my visit in October 2019 looks like barren farmland from the two aerials on either side of the murders in 1966 and 1983. I was expecting to see tree cover on both sides of Locklair that was later removed. Instead the tree covered areas of today were the same tree covered areas in 1966. The only major difference is that I-95 looks like it was under construction in 1966. I've seen several aerials of that type on other interstates. Everything is laid out including the circular ramps but it hasn't found concrete yet. Locklair was dirt in 1966 and so was I-95.

Those old aerials make me more convinced that these murders did occur near the intersection of Locklair and Old St. John's Road, where I filmed the video. The newspaper picture from the day the bodies were discovered shows the bodies on the right bank just off Locklair, with trees on both sides then a major clearing at distant left. I drove the entirety very slowly and stopped frequently, looking both directions. There were only two areas that fit those criteria...near the intersection and then much further ahead where Locklair is closest to I-95. I filmed videos in both spots but decided to go with the intersection version because I have to believe if those murders had been within 30 yards of I-95 that aspect would have made every report. I linked the other video in the recently closed thread, to demonstrate that it does look the part but doesn't sound the part. Besides, every account says half mile from I-95 or 400 meters from I-95. That is true of intersection version not midsection version.

But now I don't understand the very specific summary of the vehicle thwarted by a tall fence and then pulling into the parking area of a tobacco stand. I've only seen or heard that from one source. It seemed credible but these aerials don't show any hint of that and the 1976 photo reveals nothing similar. While visiting the scene it was obvious that Old St. John's Church Road receives exponentially more traffic than Locklair Road. I believe the murderer went just far enough down Locklair to get away from the larger road, then committed the murders and turned around to get out of there.

BTW, I've seen that aerials site previously but always clicked away due to the watermark aspect. But it isn't bad at all if you zoom in to a specific area, essentially leaving the boxy watermarks far afield and not a bother.

Thanks for the comprensive report about the location where they were killed.

It makes sense to me a carjacker (or whomever) might take the exit to 341 after passing a dark area, and then would double back to that dark area to do the deed. Since there was no attempt to hide the bodies, that also feels to me like someone who was just passing through.

IMO there would be urgency and a short time period in terms of an actual kidnapping (though perhaps friendliness before the attack). The victims have to be taken by surprise. There's no mention the hermit heard screams or shouts. It must have been terrifying.

The man who had the gun, Lonnie Henry, lived in Wadesboro, NC, according to McDaniel's website.

To get there from the location of the deaths, according to current gmaps, you'd continue north on the I-95, turning off at the next exit, or farther on, to another highway.. Lonnie Henry was a trucker in his late 50s, and was arrested for drunk driving in Latta, SC, a town not far north of Sumter and a bit further east from the I-95. It seems to me he had plenty of connections to the I-95.

 

[Betty P]

I seen this too and want to say it’s one of the links here on the current thread.


I thought the driver was a local on a route? I dont understand him pulling in to rest at 620 am.

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