Over 30 years after skeletal remains were found on State Highway 225, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office identified the person.

The remains of James Carol Jackson, of Texas, were found in 1994 by a person walking in the woods. The death was classified as a homicide, but detectives were unable to identify the victim. The body was found with a trucker hat and a western shirt with pearl buttons.

Investigator Clint Cadenhead said Jackson was finally identified through forensic genetic genealogy this month. Detectives believe he was killed in 1988 or 1989.

"After putting this much work into it, to finally call and be able to say, 'This is what I found out, is certainly very rewarding and I hope, it's still an ongoing case, but I hope it put their heart and took care of them," said Cadenhead.

Jackson was a U.S. Marine and a welder by trade. He traveled to Alabama to work on a road crew in his late 40s or 50s. He was driving a 1978 to 1980 model Chevrolet Camaro. The vehicle was never found.

About a year after he left Texas, Jackson stopped communicating with family. Cadenhead said his wife searched for him until the day she died.

Sheriff Anthony Lowery said he is pleased his office has been able to give Jackson’s family some peace. He said now the sheriff’s office will piece together the final days of his life to find out what happened.

“This breakthrough is a result of a refusal to let this case go cold,” said Lowery. “It represents years of work by investigators, past and present. Investigators who believe every person deserves to be identified and every family deserves the truth.”

The sheriff’s office is asking the public to come forward with information in the case.