Missing woman’s body discovered under boyfriend’s firepit after he told neighbors he buried ‘something’ in his backyard: Cops

South Carolina police have arrested a man who they say murdered his girlfriend in 2022 and buried her under his firepit in the backyard.

Sheridan Dirk Fogle, 54, is charged with murder in the death of 51-year-old Penni Whiteside. According to the Myrtle Beach Police Department, Whiteside had been living with Fogle. Her brother reported her missing on May 11, 2022, saying he hadn’t seen her since around the start of that year.

Local ABC affiliate WPDE obtained an arrest warrant that said Fogle told neighbors he buried “something” in the backyard and became “territorial of the area” when people approached the firepit. Investigators obtained a search warrant for the property on June 12 of this year and excavated the firepit area where they uncovered a wooden box with remains later identified as Whiteside. Authorities have not released the cause of death.

Cops arrested Fogle on Thursday and took him to the Horry County Jail where he remains without bond.

“This is a tragic loss of life and a senseless crime of violence. Please continue to pray for the family and friends of the victim,” cops said in a statement.

Fogle reportedly had a history of domestic violence against Whiteside including an arrest not long before Whiteside went missing. Police responded to their apartment in November 2021 after he allegedly punched her in the chest, causing her to fall down, The Myrtle Beach Sun News reported. About a month later, he reportedly stole her credit and debit cards.

Neighbors were surprised to hear what was happening in their area.

“I think it’s absolutely bizarre,” Nikolai Zaitsev told the local NBC affiliate WMBF. “I mean, you have kids playing at the park here every day, And birthday parties, weddings, etc. that happen here. And I’m sure nobody around here had a clue about what was actually going on.”

Fogle has a court date scheduled for Dec. 13.

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