Husband and Roommates Arrested After Police Discover Body of Woman Missing Since August

Authorities in South Carolina have discovered the remains of Jessica Barnes, who was last seen in August, and have arrested three individuals: her husband and two roommates.

Barnes, 20, was last spotted on August 1, before disappearing from her home in Pendleton, S.C., according to a statement from the Pendleton Police Department in September.

During their investigation, authorities discovered remains in nearby Pickens County, which were not immediately identified, according to a statement from Pendleton police this week.

On Tuesday, October 1, a Pickens County coroner confirmed that the remains belonged to Jessica.

After the remains were located, Pendleton police, in collaboration with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), conducted interviews with Barnes’ husband, Brandon Barnes, and the couple’s two roommates, Kendall Mims and Victoria Tippett.

Following these interviews, Pendleton police charged the three with several offenses, including a murder charge against Brandon.

In an arrest affidavit for Brandon, Pendleton police allege that he used his arms to strangle Jessica to death on August 2 at a residence in Pendleton.

According to the police, Brandon admitted to the killing. Mims and Tippett have been charged as accessories after the fact, along with obstruction of justice and misprision of a felony.

Authorities allege that Mims and Tippett assisted Brandon in disposing of Jessica’s body, and both women reportedly confessed to their involvement, according to their respective affidavits.

Tippett is additionally accused of failing to report the crime, despite allegedly witnessing the killing and having multiple opportunities to notify the police.

Similarly, police claim that Mims did not report the crime, even after being informed about the killing and having several chances to alert law enforcement.

Jessica was reported missing by her mother, Cecilia Varvara, in September, according to a previous statement from Pendleton police.

Varvara has stated multiple times that she received text messages from an account in Jessica’s name after her disappearance, but she did not believe they were sent by her daughter.

On September 20, police searched the residence where Brandon and Jessica lived with their roommates, Mims and Tippett.

Pendleton police seized various items, including clues, articles of clothing, and electronic devices from the home.

The investigation also led authorities to the car of one of the couple’s roommates, located at a place frequently visited by both Jessica and Brandon, with phone records allegedly indicating that Brandon drove the vehicle to that location.

The investigation is ongoing.