A 21-year-old man has been arrested and charged with the murder of his 20-year-old wife, who disappeared from their home in Pendleton, South Carolina on August 1. Brandon Barnes was arrested and charged with one count of murder. Regarding the death of his wife, Jessica Barnes, WYFF4 reported.
According to authorities, Brandon allegedly enlisted the help of two of his roommates, Kendall Mims and Victoria Tippett, in moving Jessica’s body after her death. He was charged with “accessory after the fact, obstruction of justice and felony murder.”
Jessica Barnes was last seen on August 1 at her home in Pendleton, South Carolina, which she shared with her husband, Brandon, and two roommates, Mims and Tippett.
She was not reported missing until September 10, when her mother, Cecilia Varvara, contacted the Pendleton Police Department. Her body was found several miles away on September 20 in a wooded area near Twin Lakes in Pickens County.
The Pickens County Coroner’s Office listed the cause of death as “asphyxia by strangulation.”
During a press conference Wednesday, Pendleton Police Chief Robert Crosby said, “The details surrounding the disappearance were unclear and this continuing investigation requires resources and personnel from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).”
Chief Crosby confirmed that Jessica Barnes’ mother had claimed several times that she had received text messages from an account in Jessica’s name after Jessica went missing, but did not believe they were sent by her daughter. On September 20, police searched the house where the couple lived with their roommates, the NY Post reported.
Pendleton police collected “clue, items of clothing and electronic devices” from the residence. Their investigation also led police to the car of one of the couple’s roommates, where both Jessica and Brandon Barnes were regular visitors. Phone records reportedly showed that Brandon Barnes had driven to the scene, though it was not immediately clear which roommate’s car police located.
During their investigation, officers found remains in nearby Pickens County, which were not immediately identified, according to a statement from Pendleton police this week. On October 1, the Pickens County coroner confirmed that the remains were those of Jessica.
According to an official statement, after the remains were found, Pendleton police along with SLED interviewed Jessica’s husband, Brandon Barnes, and the couple’s two roommates, Kendall Mims and Victoria Tippett. Following these interviews, police charged the three with several crimes, including murdering Brandon. According to their affidavit, both the women have reportedly confessed to their involvement.
Victoria Tippett is also accused of “witnessing” the murder and failing to report the crime, despite having multiple opportunities to notify police, as stated in the affidavit. Police further alleged that Mims failed to report the crime even though she was informed of the murder.
Chief Crosby previously said, “She and her husband were having some issues. They were having the usual marital disputes, arguments, and then, she left.”
