The Sumter County Sheriff's Office said they've positively identified a man and woman only known as John and Jane Doe to the community since 1976. James Freund of Lancaster, PA and Pamela Buckley of Colorado Springs, CO were both found shot multiple times in Lynchburg, SC near a busy highway, investigators said. The relationship of the victims is not known yet.

At a press conference this week, Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis said both Buckely and Freund were found by a truck driver along Interstate 95 on August 9, 1976. At the time of the discovery, information and photos were circulated nationwide, but the press coverage never led to an identification.

Dennis said in 2007 both bodies were exhumed and more DNA samples were taken. It wasn't until 2019, after samples were previously given to the DNA Doe Project, that a match was made in this case.

At the time of murder, Buckely was 25-years-old. She would have been 69 today. WACH reports Buckely was the former Redwood Jaycees Sno-Queen in 1970 and was supposed to become Miss. Redwood Falls in 1971. Instead of moving up in pageants, she made a decision to tour the country with a folk trio called, "Sunlending," the report adds. Buckley was reportedly officially reported missing in 1975 by her family.

Freund was 30-years-old at the time and would be 74 today. WACH reports Freund grew up in Lancaster, PA and graduated from McCaskey High School. He was previously married before he was reported missing in 1975.

There were and still are persons of interest in this double murder, Sheriff Dennis adds.

“It is our hope that this news will bring the families some closure of what happened in 1976," Dennis concludes.

The homicide remains open today and authorities will follow up on any and all credible leads. If you know anything about this cold case mystery, please contact the Sumter County Sheriff's Office directly: (803) 436-2000.