Current:Home > StocksBody of missing Myrtle Beach woman found under firepit; South Carolina man charged: Police-LoTradeCoin
Body of missing Myrtle Beach woman found under firepit; South Carolina man charged: Police
View Date:2024-12-23 22:07:37
A South Carolina man suspected of killing his roommate has been arrested and charged with murder after the woman's body was found buried under a firepit earlier this summer.
Penni Whiteside had been missing for more than two years before police in June searched the yard outside her Myrtle Beach home to find her remains. Whiteside was 51 years old when she was last seen in the spring of 2022, according to a statement from the Myrtle Beach Police Department.
On Thursday, police arrested 54-year-old Sheridan Dirk Fogle, who was living with Whiteside at the time. Police said Fogle was being charged with murder in connection with the woman's death.
Penni Whiteside went missing in May 2022
Based on her Facebook page, Whiteside had been making plans as early as April 2021 to move from Surfside Beach in South Carolina to Myrtle Beach.
By May 2022, she was reported missing, prompting Myrtle Beach police to begin an investigation into her disappearance. According to a now-inaccessible listing on the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, the last contact with Whiteside was on Jan. 3, 2022.
For more than two years, Whiteside's fate remained a mystery until neighbors told police they had reason to believe the woman was buried under the firepit in the backyard of a home she shared with Fogle. Investigators obtained a search warrant on June 12 for the property, where they uncovered human remains, police said.
On Thursday, the Horry County Coroner's Office confirmed that the remains were those of Whiteside. That same day, Fogle was arrested in Orangeburg, a South Carolina town about 140 miles west of Myrtle Beach.
In a statement, police called Whiteside's death "a tragic loss of life and a senseless crime of violence," and asked the community to "continue to pray for the family and friends of the victim."
Cause, manner of Whiteside's death unknown
Chief Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard told USA TODAY on Monday that the coroner’s office has not yet released a cause or manner of death in the case.
It also remains unclear whether investigators have determined a motive in Whiteside's slaying.
USA TODAY left a message Monday morning for Myrtle Beach police that was not immediately returned.
Fogle appeared in court on Friday, where a judge decided against setting a bond for his release, WPDE-TV reported. Fogle is next due in court Oct. 25.
Neighbors who spoke with WMBF-TV expressed shock about Whiteside's death.
"You have kids playing at the park here every day, and birthday parties, weddings," Nikolai Zaitsev told the outlet. "And I’m sure nobody around here had a clue about what was actually going on.”
Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]
veryGood! (512)
Related
- Disruptions to Amtrak service continue after fire near tracks in New York City
- Latest US inflation report may provide clues to future path of prices and interest rates
- 'Judge Judy' suing National Enquirer owner over Menéndez brothers article
- Body recovered from Colorado River over 2 weeks after man, dog vanish with homemade raft in Grand Canyon
- Mega Millions winning numbers for November 12 drawing: Jackpot rises to $361 million
- Kristen Welker announces she's expecting second child via surrogate: 'Angel on Earth'
- Chicago mayor’s bumpy first year tests progressive credentials, puzzling some supporters
- The WNBA season is getting underway featuring Caitlin Clark's debut and more. Here's what you need to know.
- This is Your Sign To Share this Luxury Gift Guide With Your Partner *Hint* *Hint
- Colorado city agrees to settle police beating lawsuit for $2.1 million
Ranking
- College Football Playoff bracket: Complete playoff picture after latest rankings
- Trophy Eyes Fan Details Terrifying Moment She Became Partially Paralyzed After Musician's Stage Dive
- Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
- Canadian town bracing for its last stand against out-of-control 13,000-acre wildfire
- Melissa Gilbert recalls 'painful' final moment with 'Little House' co-star Michael Landon
- TikTok content creators sue the U.S. government over law that could ban the popular platform
- North Carolina bill to curb mask-wearing in protests could make it illegal for medical reasons too
- Elle Woods goes to high school in Reese Witherspoon-produced 'Legally Blonde' prequel
Recommendation
-
Wind-whipped wildfire near Reno prompts evacuations but rain begins falling as crews arrive
-
Search for missing diver off Florida coast takes surprising turn when authorities find different body
-
Meet The Real Housewives of Atlanta's Newly Revamped Season 16 Cast
-
House Speaker Mike Johnson defends Trump outside New York trial in GOP show of support
-
New York nursing home operator accused of neglect settles with state for $45M
-
Google’s unleashes AI in search, raising hopes for better results and fears about less web traffic
-
House Speaker Mike Johnson defends Trump outside New York trial in GOP show of support
-
At least 1 dead after severe storms roll through Louisiana, other southern states