Cold case: Suspect sought in 1977 Bluffton shooting

Questions remain unanswered 39 years after a man was found shot to death in his crashed pick-up truck in Bluffton.

James Homer Aldridge, 49, was found in his pick-up truck off of SC 170 on Feb. 25, 1977, and investigators initially believed he had died because the vehicle struck a tree, according to a Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office news release.

Further investigation revealed he had been shot prior to running off the road. The gunshot originated from the passenger side of his truck, according to the release.

Aldridge traveled frequently to Jacksonville, Fla., from Beaufort for work and may have picked up hitchhikers along the way, the release said.

No suspects have been identified.

Anyone with information on the case can contact Capt. Bob Bromage at 843-255-3402 or robertb@bcgov.net.

Anonymous tips can also be made to Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC.

This story was originally published February 25, 2016 at 8:38 AM with the headline "Cold case: Suspect sought in 1977 Bluffton shooting."