Jessica Barnes Obituary, Death – Jessica Barnes’ husband, Brandon Barnes, along with her two roommates, Kendall Mims and Victoria Tippett, have been charged in connection with her death, as indicated by arrest warrants. Brandon has been charged with murder, while Mims and Tippett face charges of accessory after the fact, obstruction of justice, and neglect in reporting a crime.
According to the warrants, Brandon Barnes is accused of strangling Jessica to death, and Mims and Tippett allegedly assisted in disposing of her body.
In an update provided at 12 p.m., Anderson County Coroner Greg Shore confirmed the discovery of Jessica Barnes’ body. He released a statement on Wednesday afternoon stating, “Greg Shore, Coroner, advised that his office is now involved in the investigation of a woman who has been missing since August, and her body was discovered in Pickens County, SC.”
Shore noted that the investigation initially fell under the jurisdiction of the Pickens County Coroner’s Office where the body was found. However, late last night, the inquiry took a significant turn, indicating that the victim had likely been killed in Pendleton, SC. Consequently, investigators from the Anderson County Office of the Coroner have been assigned to the case.
The victim has been confirmed as Jessica Barnes. She was reported missing by her mother on September 10, 2024, with the last sighting recorded on August 1, 2024. The Pendleton Police Department, along with SLED, initiated a search for Barnes and ultimately located her remains in a wooded area in Pickens County on Friday, September 20, 2024.
Initially, the Pickens County Coroner’s Office managed the case, and forensic testing was conducted by the Clemson Anthropology Department and a Forensic Odontologist, confirming that the remains belonged to Jessica Barnes.
An autopsy performed by the Pickens County Coroner’s Office determined the cause of death as asphyxiation due to strangulation, with the manner of death classified as homicide.
The investigation is ongoing and involves multiple agencies, including the Pendleton Police Department, SLED, the Pickens County Coroner’s Office, and the Anderson County Office of the Coroner.