Pelion, SC (Paul Kirby) - Lexington County Sheriff's Department investigators have opened a homicide investigation after skeletal remains were recently located that they believe might be that of a Pelion man. Bobby Joshua “Josh” Campbell, 26, was reported missing by his family approximately three weeks ago after he failed to show up at his mother's home in Pelion as he had said he would.
According to family members, Campbell spoke with his mother during the last weekend of August. At that point he was in Columbia. He told his mother he would travel to her home in the Pelion area of Lexington County the next morning. He never showed up. Family members later learned that he had been seen on Bushberry Road off Edmund Highway near the town of Pelion between the time he left Columbia and the time that he failed to show at his mother’s home.
A family member said that it was not unusual for Campbell to be difficult to contact for a short period; however, they could normally locate friends or acquaintances that had seen or been in touch with him. In this instance, everyone they talked with had not seen or been in contact with him. This worried family and at some point, after failing to locate him, his mother reported him missing to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department.
According to his family, Campbell's white, 1996 GMC Sierra pickup truck was later found in Orangeburg County. The truck had been set on fire and was destroyed.
The skeletal remains of what appeared to an adult male were also located. Officials have not indicated where or in what county those remains were found or if they were located at the same time the truck was found. Although those remains had not been positively identified earlier this week, officials are working to do that and fear they are Campbell’s remains. They are investigating this as a homicide.
Investigators have identified a person of interest in the case. They have obtained a search warrant for a home in the Pelion area and have collected some physical evidence. Currently, they are working to strengthen their case.
As of Thursday, September the 17th, 2020 their person of interest had been booked into the Lexington County Detention Center on a Magistrates’ Court bench warrant and charges of petite larceny and obstruction of justice. Investigators are continuing to build their case and gathering evidence before they formally charge anyone with Campbell’s murder.
If you have any information about Campbell's disappearance, please contact the Lexington County Sheriff's Department at (803) 785-8230. You can also make tips through Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME SC. Crime Stoppers has a website at www.midlandscrimestoppers.com where you can submit your tips as well. If you like, download Crime Stoppers free P3 app from either App Store and make tips through that. Any tip made through Crime Stoppers that leads to an arrest and conviction could make you eligible for a sizable reward.
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