MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA — A 56-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his girlfriend, whose remains were found on his property more than two years after she disappeared. Sheridan Fogle was convicted of killing Penni Whiteside, 51, according to True Crime News. Investigators found her remains inside a hope chest buried beneath a fire pit in his backyard. A jury took less than an hour to find him guilty of murder.
Brother’s Missing Person Report Started the Case
The Myrtle Beach Police Department said the case began in May 2022, when Whiteside’s brother reported he had not seen his sister since January. Whiteside had been living with Fogle at the time. Her sudden absence led police to open an investigation into her disappearance.
As detectives looked into the case, they spoke with people in the neighborhood. They learned that something might have been buried under a fire pit in Fogle’s backyard. That tip became a key lead in the search for Whiteside.
Neighbors Say He Guarded the Fire Pit
According to WMBF News, neighbors said Fogle became territorial whenever anyone came near the fire pit. He allegedly told people he had buried something in that spot, which raised suspicions about what was underneath.
Police got a search warrant for the property on June 12, 2024. During the search, investigators found Whiteside’s remains hidden inside a hope chest. The chest had reportedly been custom-built for her by her grandfather when she was a child. Investigators determined she had been strangled, and her death was ruled a homicide.
History of Domestic Violence Came Out at Trial
Fogle was arrested and charged with murder on August 29, 2024. He later testified in his own defense, claiming Whiteside had come at him with a knife. Prosecutors presented a different account of what happened before she disappeared.
The trial also brought attention to past incidents involving the couple. In the year before Whiteside vanished, police had been called to their home for domestic violence-related incidents. In one, Fogle allegedly punched her in the chest, causing her to fall. In another, he allegedly took her debit and credit cards.
Prosecutor Pointed to His New Marriage
During cross-examination, prosecutor Nancy Livesay noted that Fogle had married and moved to another community while Whiteside’s remains were still hidden. She told him he had done so “while Penni was face-down in that box.” The jury deliberated for less than an hour before returning a guilty verdict.
Fogle was sentenced to life in prison on October 29, 2026. Whiteside’s son, Hunter Smith, spoke about how hard life has been without his mother. He said the family has felt disbelief and is still trying to come to terms with her death, adding that he often wants to call his mom about everyday moments but can’t.
Prosecutors Hope Sentence Brings Closure
In a press release, Assistant Solicitor Jonathan Rogers of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office said Fogle had a history of violence against women. He pointed to an assault involving Fogle’s first wife and the domestic violence involving Whiteside. Rogers said he hoped the sentence would bring some closure to her family.
Whiteside’s 2024 obituary said that after she had been missing for more than two years, her family could finally begin to find peace. With the sentence handed down, her loved ones now have answers about what happened to her.
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