On the evening of April 3, 1987, 31-year-old Linda McCord, a graduate of Claflin College who was pursuing her master's degree in education, embarked on what should have been an ordinary outing. She, along with her friend Sarah Boyd and Sarah's young daughter, Kimberly, attended a gospel concert in Walterboro, South Carolina. The three were last seen in Dorchester County, traveling in a blue 1977 Lincoln that belonged to Linda's husband, as they began their journey back to their
homes in Orangeburg County. A witness later reported seeing the Lincoln driving between 30 and 45 miles per hour on Route 15, with another vehicle traveling behind it, though no description of the second car or its occupants could be provided. This would be the last known sighting of Linda, Sarah, and Kimberly.
Two days later, on April 5, the blue Lincoln was discovered abandoned and disabled in Dorchester County, near the intersection of Highway 15 and 176. Linda's husband, John McCord, was the one who found the vehicle. An examination of the car revealed that a freeze plug had blown out, causing the engine to overheat. There was no sign of foul play at the scene, nor any indication of the whereabouts of the three missing females. The discovery of the empty vehicle marked the beginning of a long and perplexing investigation that would leave a family and community searching for answers for decades.
Over the years, the investigation into the disappearances of Linda McCord, Sarah Boyd, and Kimberly Boyd has explored various leads, yet a definitive resolution remains elusive. In 1990, three years after they vanished, Sarah's credit card was used at a local mall, but the signature was illegible and did not match her handwriting, leaving the identity of the user unknown. Attention also turned towards Linda's husband, John McCord, with her family revealing a history of domestic violence and his history of tampering with her vehicle. On the night Linda disappeared, her mother recalled John and his nephew returning home sweaty and covered in dirt. Decades later, in 2020, a tip led investigators to a house in Santee where John had poured concrete, with the belief that the bodies of the missing women and child might be buried there. After an extensive search of the property, which involved demolishing the house, nothing was found. The case of Linda McCord and the Boyds is a haunting story of three individuals who vanished after a night of fellowship, leaving behind a disabled car and a void of unanswered questions. The initial hope of their safe return has, over many years, transformed into a somber and enduring mystery for their loved ones and the investigators dedicated to their case.Last Seen: Apr 3, 1987
