Suspect returned to Myrtle Beach to face charges in death of woman found under firepit

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — An Orangeburg, South Carolina, man was returned to Myrtle Beach on Friday to face a murder charge after a missing woman’s body was recovered in June from under a firepit.

Sheridan Dirk Fogle, 54, was arrested Thursday morning after authorities in Orangeburg served a warrant in the 1000 block of Broughton Street. He was being transported back to Myrtle Beach late Thursday afternoon and is expected to appear in magistrate court at 3 p.m. on Friday.

Penni Whiteside, 51, was last seen in the spring of 2022, the Horry County Coroner’s Office said Friday afternoon. Myrtle Beach police said Friday that she and Fogle had been living together.

Earlier Friday, police said the arrest warrant for Fogle in Orangeburg stemmed from a missing persons case and incident that happened on May 11, 2022, in the 600 block of 1st Avenue South.

“Due to statements made by her neighbors, there was reason to believe that she may have been buried near the residence, in the backyard under a firepit,” police said in a Facebook pos t.

Authorities recovered Whiteside’s remains after getting a warrant and searched the property on June 12, police said.

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

Orangeburg is about 140 west of Myrtle Beach and about 50 miles south of Columbia.

The U.S. Marshals Service — Carolina’s Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety assisted in the investigation.

No additional information was immediately available. This is a developing story.

Count on News13 for updates.

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Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13 . He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook , X, formerly Twitter , and read more of his work here .

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