Steve Crawford Whitmire, 68, was reported missing from Liberty, South Carolina, in May 2025. Human remains found in a wooded area in Pickens were later identified by the Pickens County Coroner’s Office as Whitmire’s. An autopsy determined he died of a gunshot wound to the head and ruled the death a homicide.

Investigators say evidence linked 32-year-old Jeremy Lee Basquette to Whitmire’s death. On May 15, 2025, officers investigating a suspicious vehicle at an abandoned home found material that raised concerns for Whitmire’s safety and began searching for him. A traffic stop later that day led to a vehicle pursuit that ended in Clemson; Basquette died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating Basquette’s death separately.

The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office continues to seek information as it works to establish the final days of Whitmire’s life and the exact connection between him and Basquette. If anyone has relevant information, please contact the sheriff’s office.