A woman with ties to Metro Detroit was murdered in South Carolina.
Jessica Barnes grew up in Troy before moving to Pendleton, SC.
The 20-year-old was allegedly strangled by her husband, Brandon Barnes, in August.
Her body was found in a wooded area in South Carolina on Sept. 20.
Their two female roommates were also arrested and accused of helping dispose of the body.
The victim’s mom, Cecilia Varvara, was in Michigan Friday (Oct. 11) for a vigil honoring the life cut short.
“I remember Jessica as bubbly, happy, energetic,” Varvara said.
Varvara said she was not surprised when she learned what happened.
“I expected that from him that he would do something,” she said. “She was in (a) domestic violence situation, and we tried to get her out of there.”
Varvara also lived in South Carolina, just five minutes from where her daughter lived with her husband and roommates.
Varvara is speaking out to raise awareness about domestic violence.
“It has to stop,” she said.
Brandon Barnes is charged with murder. The two roommates are charged with accessory after the fact, obstruction of justice, and neglect in reporting a crime.