Human remains belonging to 20-year-old South Carolina woman Jessica Barnes were discovered in upstate South Carolina, law enforcement sources confirmed Wednesday.
Three people suspected of involvement in her death are being held at the Anderson County Detention Center, but no charges have been filed against them so far, FITS News reports. Her husband, Brandon Barnes, is one of the three arrested.
Officials said Wednesday that Barnes’ body was located in Pickens County, which is around 25 miles north of her Pendleton home.
A press conference is scheduled today at 12:30 p.m. by Pendleton police.
As previously reported by CrimeOnline, the Town of Pendleton Police Department stated that Jessica Barnes was last seen on August 1 in the Pendleton area. She was wearing flip-flops, an orange t-shirt, dark jeans, and carrying a black backpack at the time.
Barnes’ mother, Cecilia Varvara, requested a wellness check after she could not reach her daughter, and her husband stopped responding to messages.
Pendleton Police Chief Robert Crosby told WYFF that there were issues in the Barnes’ marriage.
“There were some problems between her and her husband. They were having typical marital disputes, argumentative, and then she just left,” Crosby said.
According to FITS News, Katherine Gomm, who said she shares two children with Brandon Barnes stated that she left him in 2022 after he allegedly assaulted her in Maine.
Gomm reportedly claimed Barnes cut her off from her family by breaking her phone and blocking her relatives and friends on social media. She also accused him of routinely confining her inside their residence.
She added that Barnes assaulted her in Maine during her pregnancy, accusing her of “eating too much.” She shared a copy of a protection order she secured against him with FITS News.
Gomm came forward after learning of Jessica Barnes’ disappearance. She said she saw similarities between her own experiences and Jessica’s, and gave investigators details about the abuse she allegedly endured from Brandon Barnes.
The story is developing. Check back for updates.
