The body of 20 year old Jessica Barnes has been found in Pickens County, South Carolina.
Barnes was last seen in Pendleton, South Carolina on August 1, 2024. She disappeared after leaving the residence she shared with her newlywed husband.
Her body was found in a wooded area on September 20, 2024, but wasn’t positively identified until yesterday. The autopsy, which was performed by the Pickens County Coroner’s Office, found the cause of death to be asphyxiation by strangulation, with the manner of death being homicide.
According to arrest warrants, Jessica Barnes’ husband and her two roommates have been charged in her death.
Her husband, Brandon Barnes, has been charged with murder. Her roommates, Kendall Mims and Victoria Tippett, are charged with accessory after the fact, neglect in reporting a crime, and obstruction of justice.
The warrants say Brandon strangled Jessica to death, and that Mims and Tippett helped dispose of her body.
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Jessica Barnes please contact the Town of Pendleton Police Department at (864) 646-9509.
The Disappearance of Jessica Barnes
In January 2024, Jessica Barnes married Brandon Barnes. At the time of her disappearance, they were living in a residence along Laurel Drive in Pendleton, South Carolina, a town of approximately 3,700 people located in Anderson County, southwest of Greenville.
Disappearance
On August 1, 2024, Jessica Barnes was last seen by her husband at their residence in Pendleton, South Carolina. Jessica hasn’t been seen or heard from since.
On September 10, 2024, her mother filed a missing person’s report with the Town of Pendleton Police Department after receiving a text message from her daughter that did not sound like her.
Investigation
Authorities state that Jessica and her husband were going through trouble in their marriage before she disappeared. She did not tell her husband or her two roommates where she was going when she left.
Jessica’s husband, Brandon Barnes, is not currently considered a suspect in her disappearance.
On September 19, 2024, authorities conducted a search in a wooded area near the Twin Lakes Boat Ramp, where a vehicle she usually drove was pinged.
On September 20, 2024, police conducted a search at Jessica’s residence in Pendleton. They recovered several items, including a phone, which have been sent to a crime lab for processing.
Leave a Reply