S.C. woman’s remains found buried under fire pit in her yard 2 years after she disappeared

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (TCN) -- Police arrested a 54-year-old man after his missing girlfriend’s remains were discovered buried under a fire pit in her yard.

According to the Myrtle Beach Police Department, Penni Whiteside lived with the suspect, Sheridan Fogle, and was reported missing on May 11, 2022. During the course of their investigation, detectives spoke with neighbors and reportedly received information that there was "reason to believe that she may have been buried near the residence, in the backyard under a fire pit."

Investigators obtained a search warrant for their residence on 1st Avenue South and located human remains, which were positively identified as Whiteside’s. On Aug. 29, police served an arrested warrant in Orangeburg and took Fogle into custody on a charge of murder. The Horry County Coroner’s Office classified Whiteside’s manner of death a homicide.

WBTW-TV, which cites the arrest warrant, reports Fogle allegedly spoke about how he buried "something" in his yard and would often become "territorial" of the fire pit. Whiteside’s remains were reportedly located in a wood box following "thorough excavation."

The coroner determined her cause of death was homicide by unspecified means.