Authorities in South Carolina are continuing their investigation into the disappearance of a woman who was last seen nearly two months ago.
Jessica Barnes, 20, vanished from her Pendleton, S.C., home, according to the Pendleton Police Department.
Barnes was last seen on Aug. 1, Pendleton police said in a statement on Sept. 12.
On Friday, Sept. 20, Pendleton police conducted a search at the residence where Barnes lives with her husband, who is not a suspect, Pendleton Police Chief Roberts Crosby tells PEOPLE.
Authorities were searching for “clues, articles of clothing, electronic devices” that could provide indications about the woman’s current whereabouts, Crosby tells PEOPLE. They recovered several items, including a phone, that have been sent to a crime lab for processing.
Barnes’ mother Cecilia Varvara said on Sept. 10, she received a text message from her daughter which did not sound like her, per WYFF 4,
Crosby, who has been in contact with Varvara, confirms to PEOPLE that she has claimed several times that she received text messages from an account under Barnes’ name, but doesn’t believe them to be from her daughter.
Crosby tells PEOPLE this is not an official determination by investigators and is currently considered Varvara’s suspicion.
Barnes allegedly disappeared following an argument with her husband, Crosby tells PEOPLE. The police department has no record of any prior calls of disturbance at the residence, he says.
As part of their investigation, police also tracked the couple’s roommate’s car to a location frequented by the couple, with phone records showing Barnes’ husband drove the vehicle to the location. Crosby did not comment further on that discovery.
While they have information on when and where the missing wife’s phone last pinged, Crosby says they are not disclosing this information at this time.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
As of Monday, Sept. 23, police say this is a missing persons investigation and have not said they suspect foul play. Barnes was last seen wearing an orange t-shirt, dark jean shorts, flip-flops and carrying a black backpack, police say.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Chief Crosby or Pendleton Police at 864-646-9409 or [email protected].
Read the full article here