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The family of twenty-year-old Jessica Barnes comes together for a prayer vigil service with the support of the community in hopes of a miracle in the case of her disappearance. Jessica is believed to have been seen last on August 3rd near exit 19 of Interstate 85 in Anderson County, South Carolina after vanishing from the small town of Pendleton.
Her mother, Cecilia Varvaro pleas for her daughters safe return and asks the public to please report any information about her case to the Anderson Area Crimestoppers where a reward is being offered in her case. The Town of Pendleton Police Department’s Chief Robert Crosby is leading the investigation and has briefed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and asked for their assistance in her missing persons case and is following leads as they come in.
Jessica is the oldest of five siblings and described as an “artist who loves to write songs and is cheerful.” Her brothers and sisters and other family members and church congregation were in abundant attendance of her vigil to rally support for her case tonight while the town is covered with flyers and speculation as to why her husband Brandon Barnes did not report her missing to the police. Brandon has previously been convicted in a previous case from 2022 in the District Court of Bangor Maine from a former relationship where an active “order of protection from abuse” stands against him.
Chief Crosby tells our newsroom that no suspect or persons of interest have been named in this case as of yet, but he is working to find Jessica and will continue to follow every lead in her disappearance until she is located.
The family asks that the public continue to share Jessica’s story on social media with friends and neighbors, and to use hashtag #JusticeForJessicaBarnes to help garner the attention her case needs. They have also reached out to legislators and local and state officials to ask that her investigation receives the resources it needs to find her and to pace the timeline for answers. The Town of Pendleton Municipal Complex has been working effortlessly to accommodate the family while Chief Crosby has been in continual communication with Jessica’s mother as he works the angles of this case.
A noticeable law enforcement presence was reported by WYFF 4 earlier today near Twin Lakes Boat Landing where investigators searched a wooded area for information related to her case.
NAME: Jessica Richard Barnes
AGE: 20
HAIR: Blonde
EYES: Blue/Green
HEIGHT: 5ft 4in
WEIGHT: 185 lbs
MARKINGS: Requires glasses to see. May have a dark colored frame and/or clear framed pair with her.
CLOTHING: Orange T-shirt, Dark Jean Shorts, Flip-Flops, Black Backpack
Jessica’s mother Cecilia is working tirelessly as an Uber driver, keeping her car stocked with flyers of her missing daughter. She hands them out whenever possible to locals and businesses, hoping to spread the word about Jessica, whom she is desperate to find safe and unharmed.
If you have any information about the disappearance or the whereabouts of Jessica Richard Barnes, you are urged to submit a tip anonymously to Anderson Area Crimestoppers where a reward of $200 is being offered in this case.
Call +1-888-CRIME-SC (274-6372) or Visit andersonareacrimestoppers.com
