James Carol Jackson

James Carol Jackson was a U.S. Marine veteran, a welder by trade, and a man his family described as non-violent and easy-going. Originally from Texas, he was estranged from his first wife and family. He left them behind in 1987 to find work in Alabama, and in the years that followed, two grandsons were born who would never know him or even hear his story until decades after he was gone.

In 1987, at around 50 years old, Jackson drove his red 1978-to-1981 model Chevrolet Camaro to Alabama. He told his family he was heading there for a welding job, possibly to work on the expansion of Interstate 65 in the southern part of the state. Investigators believe he may have lived at a river landing or fish camps along Highway 225 in northern Baldwin County and frequented local establishments like the Tensaw Lodge or River Pub. For about a year, he kept in touch with his family back in Texas. Then, the communication stopped. His family never heard from him again.

On January 8, 1994, a person walking in a wooded area off Highway 225, just south of I-65, discovered partial skeletal remains about 30 yards into the woods. The Baldwin County Sheriff's Office determined the remains belonged to an adult male who had been shot and killed before his body was left in the rural location. Investigators believed the murder had occurred years earlier, between 1988 and 1989. For more than 30 years, the victim remained unidentified, a John Doe in a lingering cold case. Found with the remains were a few personal items: a trucker hat with the inscription "American by Birth, Texan by the Grace of God," a western shirt, a digital watch, prescription bifocal glasses, a mechanical pen and pencil set, and a torch tip from his welding work. As a heavy smoker with emphysema, he also had an inhaler with him.

The case was reopened in 2023 by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. Cold case investigator Clint Cadenhead and the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences submitted forensic evidence to Othram, a private lab specializing in advanced DNA testing. Using forensic genetic genealogy, scientists built a comprehensive DNA profile and, through genealogical research, identified potential relatives. In April 2026, the long-unidentified man was confirmed to be James Carol Jackson. His red Camaro, which had a white interior, a CB antenna, and no spoiler, has never been found and is considered a key piece of evidence that could help solve the case.

The identification brought a shocking and unexpected revelation to Jackson's family. His two grandsons, who had never been told about their missing grandfather, traveled from Louisiana to Alabama to learn about the man they never knew. "We were both shocked at the situation. I mean, we never knew anything and it’s kind of interesting to learn about what happened," his grandson, Zebediah Jackson, said. "I do find it pretty cool that there’s going to be closure for a lot of people through this testing and all. It might help a lot of people get some peace of mind."

As of April 2026, the case is an active cold case homicide investigation. Sheriff Anthony Lowery stated, "This breakthrough is the result of a refusal to let this case go cold. It represents years of work by investigators past and present, investigators who believe that every person deserves to be identified and every family deserves the truth." Investigators hope that by releasing Jackson's name and story, someone who knew him will come forward. "I’m hoping that once we get this information out there that someone says, I remember that man. I worked with him. In this case, I drank with him or whatever," Investigator Cadenhead said.

Authorities are asking for the public's help to piece together James Carol Jackson's final months and find his killer. Anyone with information about Jackson, his red Camaro, or his time in Baldwin County between 1987 and 1989 is urged to contact the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office at 251-937-0202 or Cold Case Investigator Clint Cadenhead directly at 251-972-8589, option 7.