Authorities in South Carolina, United States of America, have recovered the remains of Jessica Barnes, a 20-year-old woman who had been missing since August.
The police arrested three individuals—her husband and two roommates.
Jessica Barnes was last seen on August 1, 2024, in her home in Pendleton, South Carolina, United States of America.
During the investigation, authorities discovered remains in Pickens County, which were later identified by the coroner on October 1 as Jessica’s.
Following the discovery, Pendleton police, in collaboration with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), interviewed Jessica’s husband, Brandon Barnes, and their two roommates, Kendall Mims and Victoria Tippett.
Brandon was subsequently charged with murder, with police alleging he strangled Jessica to death on August 2.
Mims and Tippett were charged with being accessories after the fact, obstruction of justice, and misprision of a felony (which has to do with failing to report knowledge of a felony to the appropriate authorities) and for helping dispose of Jessica’s body.
Police claim both women confessed, with Tippett allegedly witnessing the killing but failing to report it, and Mims withholding knowledge of the crime despite multiple opportunities to inform authorities.
Jessica’s mother, Cecilia Varvara, had reported her missing in September.
The investigation is ongoing.
