Well don't know laws in SC, but in NY I believe if the person who had the title just fills out a form requesting it be reissued there is a fee, (there's always a fee!). I have a similar problem with a 1977 XS400, but person who it is titled under has gone missing for all practical purposes. There are ways around this too but at least for now I don't feel like spending the money on a free bike that may or may not be needed.
On another bike an XS650 I got very cheap had a problem of no title. I was aware the guy had passed away after leaving at a shop for work. No one ever came back to claim it. That one had been titled in Virginia and when I contacted Virginia I just told them that I did not know anything about the owner other than the bike having been titled in Virginia. That was an easy one to do. I had to send a certified letter to the last know address of the "OWNER" that they provided to me. Then send it to that address requesting he sign for the letter, well knew that was unlikely, then when it came back "REFUSED" "NO ONE BY THAT NAME" I then sent it still sealed to the Virginia DMV with a fee, always a fee, and a few weeks later a nice shiny new Title with my name on it was in the mailbox!