In connection with the death of his former roommate, who went missing more than two years ago and whose body was discovered buried under a firepit earlier this summer, a South Carolina man has been taken into custody and charged with murder, according to authorities.
According to a statement from the Myrtle Beach Police Department, Penni Whiteside’s bones were found buried in the yard outside her house on June 12 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She was reported missing in the spring of 2022, at the age of 51.
Sheridan Dirk Fogle, 54, was also residing in the backyard of Whiteside’s house at the time, and neighbors informed authorities that they had cause to think he was buried beneath the firepit, according to police reports.
“As stated in the original report, the identified victim had been living with the offender. Further investigation revealed that 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,” the Myrtle Beach Police Department stated. “On June 12, 2024, investigators obtained a search warrant for the property in question. During the search, the victim’s remains were recovered and identified.”
Authorities were looking into Whiteside’s death as a homicide when Fogle received an arrest warrant in Orangeburg, South Carolina, on Thursday morning about 7:30 a.m. in relation to a “missing person and murder case.”
Fogle was charged with murder after being detained on Thursday in relation to Whiteside’s death, according to the authorities.
“This is a tragic loss of life and a senseless crime of violence. Please continue to pray for the family and friends of the victim,” authorities stated. “The Myrtle Beach Police Department is committed to seeking justice and holding those accountable for those who do harm. Thank you to the U.S. Marshals Service- Carolina’s Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety for assisting with the arrest in this case.”
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A judge did not set a bond for the suspect when Fogle appeared in court on Friday, according to ABC News affiliate WPDE in Florence, South Carolina. However, the Myrtle Beach judge did announce that two future court dates—October 25 and December 13—have been set, and that the case against Fogle will be referred to general sessions court.
Authorities have stated that no further information will be disclosed at this time while the investigation is still ongoing.
