A South Carolina man has been charged with murder after the remains of the woman who lived with him were allegedly found under a firepit he was “territorial” about outside their home — two years after she vanished, authorities said.
Sheridan Dirk Fogle, 54, was arrested Thursday and charged with the murder of Penni Whiteside, 51 — who local media identified as his girlfriend — after statements made by neighbors led authorities to believe that she may have been buried in the yard outside the home, the Myrtle Beach Police Department said in a statement on Facebook.
Authorities confirmed that Whiteside’s remains were found under a firepit outside of the home she and Fogle shared. Fogle was arrested in Orangeburg, about 140 miles west of Myrtle Beach, after the Horry County Coroner’s Office confirmed that the remains were Whiteside’s.
“This is a tragic loss of life and a senseless crime of violence,” the statement said. “Please continue to pray for the family and friends of the victim.”
According to reports, Fogle had allegedly mentioned burying something in the backyard and would become “territorial of the area when people would approach the firepit.” Investigators obtained a search warrant on June 12, excavated the firepit, and found remains in a wooden box.
Whiteside had been missing since May 2022 and had been living with Fogle, authorities said. The couple had a “well-documented history of domestic violence,” according to Fogle’s warrant.
The US Marshals Service and Orangeburg Department of Public Safety assisted police with the search warrant at the Myrtle Beach property. The investigation into Whiteside’s disappearance and murder is ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward.
The tragic case serves as a reminder of the dangers of domestic violence and the importance of speaking up and seeking help in such situations. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Penni Whiteside during this difficult time.
