Husband, Roommates Arrested as Body of Missing Jessica Barnes Found Weeks After Mom Received Unsettling Texts

Mar. 15, 2025

Jessica Barnes; Brandon Barnes; Victoria Tippett; and Kendall Mims.Photo:Town of Pendleton Municipal Complex, South Carolina/Facebook; Anderson County Sheriff’s Office

Town of Pendleton Municipal Complex, South Carolina/Facebook; Anderson County Sheriff’s Office

Barnes, 20, was last seen on Aug. 1, before she disappeared from her Pendleton, S.C., home, the Pendleton Police Department said in astatementin September.

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

Jessica Barnes.GoFundMe

GoFundMe

In an arrest affidavit for Brandon, Pendleton police allege he used his arms to strangle Jessica to death on Aug. 2, in a Pendleton residence. Police allege Brandon admitted to the killing.

Mims and Tippett were both charged with accessory after the fact; obstruction of justice; and misprision of a felony, per police.

Police allege Mims and Tippett assisted Brandon in disposing of Jessica’s body. Both women allegedly confessed to the crime, per their respective affidavits.

Tippett is further accused of neglecting to report a crime despite allegedly witnessing the killing and having multiple opportunities to notify police, per the affidavits.

Police further allege Mims neglected to report the crime despite being told about the killing and despite having multiple opportunities to notify police.

Jessica Barnes Missing poster.Town of Pendleton Municipal Complex, South Carolina/Facebook

Town of Pendleton Municipal Complex, South Carolina/Facebook

On Sept. 20, police conducted a search at the residence where Brandon and Jessica lived with their roommates Mims and Tippett.

Brandon Barnes (left); Victoria Tippett; and Kendall Mims.Anderson County Sheriff’s Office

Anderson County Sheriff’s Office

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It’s not immediately clear if any of the suspects have entered pleas. Attorney information for the three suspects was not immediately available.

AGoFundMehas been set up to assist Jessica’s family.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Pendleton police at 864-646-9409 or email the department at police@townofpendleton.org

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

source: people.com