A South Carolina man is accused of choking his wife while one of his lovers watched before he and the two women attempted to get rid of the body, said the Pendleton Police Department.
Jessica Barnes, 20, had disappeared from her home in August, and remains found during the investigation were confirmed by a Pickens County coroner on October 1 to be those of Jessica.
Local Police Chief Roberts Crosby told PEOPLE that Jessica's husband, Brandon Barnes, was allegedly having a sexual relationship with the couple's two roommates—even fathering a secret child with one.
Brandon and the couple's two roommates, both of whom he was reportedly involved with, were arrested following the discovery of Jessica's remains.
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.
"[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," Crosby told the media outlet.
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 also revealed.
Shortly after moving in with Brandon, Jessica learned of his relationship with Mims, whom he had filed for a marriage license with in late 2023; however, in January of this year, he married Jessica.
The victim had reportedly become friends with Tippet, bonding over their shared experiences of losing a child.
Jessica would eventually walk in on Brandon and Tippet having sex, which prompted her to leave for her mother's home on July 31.
A day later, Jessica was reported missing. The arrest affidavit states that on August 2, Brandon allegedly strangled Jessica to death while Tippet witnessed the entire thing.
He admitted to the crime, as did Mims and Tippett, to assisting him in disposing of Jessica's body.
A GoFundMe was launched to help Jessica's family with funeral arrangements.
The investigation remains ongoing.
