Disappearance of James Gramling

On the afternoon of March 30, 1997, 20-year-old James Clyde Gramling disappeared after leaving his southern Richmond County, Georgia residence to ride his 1997 Honda TRX300 four-wheeler to a male friend's home. A five-minute drive away, Gramling had told his parents he would call them if he was to return home late. Gramling never returned home that night and has not been seen or heard from since. Gramling was declared legally dead in 2002. Authorities are investigating a possible homicide.

Background James Clyde Gramling was born on December 23, 1976. According to his family, Gramling is described as poor reader, but a kindhearted and non-violent person. Gramling was a high school dropout and worked a night shift job at President's Bakery.

Disappearance

Gramling left his Ramswood Drive home around 3:00 PM EST on March 30, 1997, Easter Sunday. Gramling planned to visit his friend, Jeremy, who lived just five minutes away, on his green 1997 Honda TRX300 four-wheeler. Gramling informed his parents that he would not be out long, but that he would call them and let them know if he changed his mind and intended to stay out late. Gramling did not take any belongings with him, besides the clothes he was already wearing and his four-wheeler. As time passed and Gramling did not return, his mother, Song Reames, began calling Gramling's friends to ask if they had seen him, but they had not. Reames went out to search for Gramling, but due to the darkness and heavy rainfall, she returned home and continued to wait.

Around 7 AM the next morning, Gramling had still not come home. Reames went to Augusta Fire Department Station 18 to ask for help finding her son. The firemen redirected her to the Richmond County Sheriff's Office, where a missing persons report was filed and Gramling was officially stated missing on March 31, 1997.

Investigation After Gramling was reported missing, an extensive search was done on land, air, and water over the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA). Since Gramling did not take any belongings with him, search efforts to look for him came up with little evidence.

At around 10 PM on April 6, 1997, Gramling's blood-stained ATV was found in a wooded area off Windsor Spring Road (now known as Diamond Lakes Regional Park) in Augusta. Tests conducted by investigators determined that it was human blood. According to his mother, blood was dried to the motor casing and the tank, showing signs of someone being slumped over on top of it. After this discovery, authorities questioned two possible suspects, but no charges were filed. No further evidence has been discovered as of 2026.

Aftermath As of 2026, Gramling still has not been seen or heard from since 1997. The case remains open as a missing persons case; however, authorities are investigating a possible homicide. Gramling was declared legally dead in 2002, 5 years after his initial disappearance.