[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
If you can help out here, please reach out! Because a family in South Carolina is fearing the worst at this point…
Jessica Barnes was reported missing on September 10. But she’s actually been missing for nearly two months now — because she hasn’t been seen since August 1! It was her mother, Cecilia Varvara, who first asked for a wellness check after the 20-year-old stopped responding to calls. Not only that, Jessica’s husband, 21-year-old Brandon Barnes, was not responding either! So scary for a parent… We mean, 20 is an adult, but only just barely…
The fact the husband wouldn’t respond adds another level of dread to the search, obviously. We’ve seen far too many wives go missing over the years only to learn they’d been the victim of violence at the hands of their spouses. Is that a worry here?
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Well, the family isn’t commenting on the progress of the investigation, but over the past few days, it’s become clear law enforcement are concerned this might be more than just a missing persons case. According to FITS News, on Friday the Town Of Pendleton Police Department joined with multiple other agencies in searching the home Jessica shares with Brandon and two other young, female roommates. Were they looking for evidence of where she might have gone? Or what might have happened to her there?
There have NOT been any police reports of domestic violence between Jessica and her husband. But Brandon has now been accused.
A woman named Katherine Gomm has come forward claiming to be Brandon’s ex — and to have two children with him. She says she left him in 2022 after he assaulted her. She provided FITS with a copy of a protection order she got against him. But the physical abuse was just the final straw.
Katherine describes a relationship with all the hallmarks of abuse. She says he isolated her from family, moving her to Florida and then to Maine to keep her from staying in touch with them. She also claims he blocked her family and friends on social media and ultimately broke her phone.
The alleged assault came while she was pregnant with their second child. She claims he was upset with her for “eating too much.” While pregnant. Ick.
Katherine told the outlet she came forward once she heard about Jessica going missing. She saw “parallels” between her relationship to Brandon and Jessica’s, and she wanted to help however she could. She relayed her information to law enforcement also. We wonder if that’s when they decided to check the home…
While the family has not commented on Katherine’s story, it’s clear they’re worried there’s some kind of foul play here. Her mom told WYFF she got a text from Jessica the day she disappeared — but she’s sure it was NOT her daughter who sent it. The contents of the message have not been released, but a mother knows, right?
Pendleton police Chief Robert Crosby confirmed to WYFF they have been told there was marriage trouble. However, from their understanding she left on her own:
“There was some issues with her and her husband. They were having the typical marital disputes, argumentative, and then, she just left.”
Hmm. See more on the search (below):
Jessica was last seen wearing an orange t-shirt, dark jean shorts, flip-flops, and a black backpack.
Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts is encouraged to contact Robert Crosby at 864-646-9409 or via email at [email protected].
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Consider calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, or text START to 88788, or go to https://www.thehotline.org/.
[Image via Town Of Pendleton Police Department.]
