The story of Jessica Barnes has captured the attention of the entire nation. The beautiful 20-year old was reported missing by her mother, Cecilia Varvara on September 10, 2024 after she went over a month without hearing her voice. While the two had texted frequently, the texts didn’t feel like they were from her daughter… the grammar was different. The tone had changed. After learning from Jessica’s neighbors that no one had seen her since August 1st, she asked Pendleton police department to do a welfare check.
Jessica was living in a small pool house with her husband Brandon Barnes and two 20 year old females — Victoria Tippett and Kendall Mims. Despite being married to Jessica, Mims and Barnes had an infant daughter together. A daughter who Jessica raised and cared for as her own. A job that came naturally to her after her son was stillborn in March of 2024.
The situation didn’t make much sense to Cecilia, but Jessica was stubborn and in love with her husband.
After doing a welfare check on Jessica resulted in vague and varying stories regarding her whereabouts from Mims, Tippett and Barnes, Pendleton police chief Robert Crosby called for the assistance of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
On September 20, 2024, the two agencies executed search warrants of the pool house where the group was living and an area near twin lakes in Pickens County. During the search of the area near the lake, human remains were located.
On October 1, 2024, Pendleton Police and the Pickens County Coroner were notified by a Forensic Odontologist that the remains were identified as Jessica Barnes.
That same day, Brandon Barnes, Kendall Mims and Victoria Tippett, were interviewed and a full confession was obtained from Barnes. He had strangled his wife while Tippett watched.
Barnes was charged with Murder.
Tippett and Mims were charged with accessory after the fact, obstruction of justice and misprision of a felony.
In the aftermath, Jessica’s mom — herself a survivor of domestic violence — made a promise to her daughter. She would become Jessica’s voice.
