Physique of lacking Myrtle Seashore lady discovered below firepit; South Carolina man charged: Police
A South Carolina man suspected of killing his roommate has been arrested and charged with homicide after the girl’s physique was discovered buried below a firepit earlier this summer season.
Penni Whiteside had been lacking for greater than two years earlier than police in June searched the yard outdoors her Myrtle Seashore residence to seek out her stays. Whiteside was 51 years previous when she was final seen within the spring of 2022, in response to a statement from the Myrtle Seashore Police Division.
On Thursday, police arrested 54-year-old Sheridan Dirk Fogle, who was dwelling with Whiteside on the time. Police mentioned Fogle was being charged with homicide in reference to the girl’s loss of life.
Penni Whiteside went lacking in Could 2022
Primarily based on her Facebook page, Whiteside had been planning as early as April 2021 to maneuver from Surfside Seashore in South Carolina to Myrtle Seashore.
By Could 2022, she was reported lacking, prompting Myrtle Seashore police to start an investigation into her disappearance. In keeping with a now-inaccessible listing on the Nationwide Lacking and Unidentified Individuals System, the final contact with Whiteside was on Jan. 3, 2022.
For greater than two years, Whiteside’s destiny remained a thriller till neighbors advised police that they had cause to imagine the girl was buried below the firepit within the yard of a house she shared with Fogle. Investigators obtained a search warrant on June 12 for the property, the place they uncovered human stays, police mentioned.
On Thursday, the Horry County Coroner’s Workplace confirmed that the stays had been these of Whiteside. That very same day, Fogle was arrested in Orangeburg, a South Carolina city about 140 miles west of Myrtle Seashore.
In a press release, police known as Whiteside’s loss of life “a tragic lack of life and a mindless crime of violence,” and requested the neighborhood to “proceed to wish for the household and buddies of the sufferer.”
Trigger, method of Whiteside’s loss of life unknown
The coroner’s workplace has not but launched a trigger or method of loss of life within the case.
It additionally stays unclear whether or not investigators have decided a suspected motive in Whiteside’s slaying.
USA TODAY left messages Monday morning for Myrtle Seashore police and the coroner’s workplace that weren’t instantly returned.
Fogle appeared in court docket on Friday, the place a choose determined in opposition to setting a bond for his launch, WPDE-TV reported. Fogle is subsequent due in court docket Oct. 25.
Neighbors who spoke with WMBF-TV expressed shock about Whiteside’s loss of life.
“You’ve got children enjoying on the park right here daily, and birthday events, weddings,” Nikolai Zaitsev advised the outlet. “And I’m certain no one round right here had a clue about what was truly happening.”
Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending information for USA TODAY. Attain him at elagatta@gannett.com
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Woman missing since 2022 found buried under firepit in Myrle Beach
