Husband Accused of Strangling Jessica Barnes Had Secret Child, Sexual Relationships with Couple’s Roommates: Police
Jessica Barnes' remains were found last month, and subsequently, her husband Brandon Barnes and their roommates Kendall Mims and Victoria Tippett were arrested
A South Carolina man accused of murdering his wife was allegedly having sexual relationships with one of the couple's pair of roommates while raising a secret child he'd fathered with the other, the local police chief tells PEOPLE.
The slain wife, Jessica Barnes, 20, disappeared in August from her Pendleton, S.C., home, according to the Pendleton Police Department. Remains found during the investigation were confirmed by a Pickens County coroner on Oct. 1 to be those of Jessica, per police.
Following the recovery of her body, Jessica's husband Brandon Barnes was arrested along with the couple’s two roommates, both of whom allegedly had sexual relationships with Brandon, Pendleton Police Chief Roberts Crosby tells PEOPLE.
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 unfolds, details and the extent of Brandon’s alleged deception are coming to light.
“[Jessica and Brandon] began their relationship 18 months ago and during that time, Brandon was still having a relationship with Kendall because he had a baby with her six months ago,” Pendleton Police Chief Roberts Crosby tells PEOPLE.
Brandon had allegedly told Jessica that Kendall was his sister and their child was his niece, Troy Styles of Blunt Force Media, the media advisors for Jessica’s family, tells PEOPLE.
Soon after moving in with Brandon, Jessica learned about Brandon’s relationship with Mims, per both Crosby and Styles.
Brandon and Mims had filed for a marriage license in late 2023, Crosby tells PEOPLE. However, in January of this year, he married Jessica, according to Crosby.
The deceased wife had allegedly struck up a friendship with their newest roommate, Tippett, based on both their shared experiences of losing a child, Styles says.
Jessica and Brandon had a stillbirth on Easter Day, while Tippett lost her child in an accident several months ago, per Styles. The two women bonded over their shared loss.
However, things took a turn when Jessica reportedly found Brandon and Tippett having sex, Styles says, which prompted her to take off for her mother's house on July 31.
One day later, Jessica disappeared. On Aug. 2, Brandon allegedly strangled Jessica to death, Pendleton police said in an arrest affidavit. Police further allege Tippett witnessed the killing, per an arrest affidavit.
Related: Where Is Jessica Barnes? A S.C. Woman Vanished 7 Weeks Ago — and Then Mom Received Unsettling Text
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In the arrest affidavit for Brandon, police allege he admitted to the crime.
Mims and Tippett allegedly admitted to assisting Brandon in disposing of Jessica's body, per their respective affidavits.
It's not immediately clear if any of the suspects have entered pleas. Attorney information for the three suspects was not immediately available.
A GoFundMe has 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 to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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