A South Carolina man suspected of murdering his wife was allegedly having sexual encounters with one of the couple’s roommates while raising a hidden child he fathered with the other, according to the local police chief.
According to the Pendleton Police Department, the slain wife, Jessica Barnes, 20, went missing from her Pendleton, South Carolina home in August. According to authorities, a Pickens County coroner confirmed on Oct. 1 that the remains discovered during the inquiry were those of Jessica.
Jessica’s husband, Brandon Barnes, was arrested after her body was recovered, as were the couple’s two housemates, both of whom allegedly had sexual encounters with Brandon, according to Pendleton Police Chief Roberts Crosby.
Kendall Mims and Victoria Tippett, who both lived in a pool house with the couple, were charged with accessory after the fact, obstruction of justice, and misprision of a felony, according to police.
As the investigation progresses, more information about Brandon’s alleged dishonesty emerges.
“[Jessica and Brandon] started their relationship 18 months ago, and Brandon was still dating Kendall because he had a baby with her six months ago,” Pendleton Police Chief Roberts Crosby tells PEOPLE.
According to Troy Styles of Blunt Force Media, Jessica’s family’s media gurus, Brandon allegedly informed her Kendall was his sister and their child was his niece.
According to Crosby and Styles, Jessica discovered Brandon’s relationship with Mims shortly after moving in with him.
Brandon and Mims applied for a marriage license in late 2023, Crosby tells PEOPLE. However, Crosby reports that he married Jessica in January of this year.
According to Styles, the departed wife formed a bond with their new roommate, Tippett, because they both had lost a child.
Jessica and Brandon had a stillbirth on Easter Day, and Tippett’s child died in an accident few months ago, according to Styles. The two women bonded over their mutual loss.
However, things took a turn when Jessica allegedly discovered Brandon and Tippett having sex, according to Styles, prompting her to leave for her mother’s house on July 31.
One day later, Jessica vanished. Brandon reportedly strangled Jessica to death on August 2, Pendleton police stated in an arrest affidavit. According to an arrest affidavit, police believe Tippett observed the killing.
Brandon’s arrest affidavit alleges that he admitted to the crime.
Mims and Tippett allegedly admitted to assisting Brandon in disposing of Jessica’s body, according to their respective affidavits.
It’s unclear whether any of the individuals have entered pleas. The attorney information for the three accused was not immediately available.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Jessica’s family.
