Missing Link Finder

Case Highlights

Sumter Mystery Couple: Solved

The 1976 "Sumter County Does" case, where a man and woman found shot in South Carolina were identified in 2021 as James Paul Freund and Pamela Mae Buckley, thanks largely to amateur sleuth Matthew McDaniel who pushed authorities to use genetic genealogy (the DNA Doe Project) after 44 years, finally solving the mystery and reopening the homicide investigation and providing authorities with a new suspect.

Dale Hunter Missing: Solved

Sumter Mystery Couple: Solved

In April 2018, 76-year-old Dale Hunter, who had dementia, went missing from his Greenville County home and was found deceased days later by Matthew McDaniel, a Navy veteran who continued searching after official efforts stopped, discovering Hunter's body in a ravine near Paris Mountain. McDaniel's dedication, using his own dog, contrasted with the large-scale but ultimately unsuccessful official search, leading to Hunter's family finding closure through McDaniel's efforts, even as authorities initially discouraged volunteers.

Swapnil Srivastava: Solved

A group of volunteers found the remains of Swapnil in an inlet of lake Hartwell after authorities suspended their search.

Barbar Naive: Unsolved

Swapnil Srivastava: Solved

Barbara Nave, an 80-year-old woman working on her second PhD, disappeared from her home in Sumter, South Carolina, in February 2017.

Details: She lived an active life and was concerned about outside dogs bothering her own.
Investigation: Despite extensive searches of her 20-acre property and surrounding areas, involving volunteers, dogs, and dive teams, no leads have been found, and her bank accounts have remained untouched.
Theories: Theories range from her getting lost in the woods while looking for her dog to a potential confrontation with the owner of the outside dogs. The case remains unresolved.