Brittanee Drexel was a 17-year-old girl from Rochester, New York, who disappeared while on spring break in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in April 2009.
Her skeletal remains were found a week later in a wooded area in Georgetown, South Carolina, about 33 miles from where she originally went missing.
In May 2022, Raymond Moody, a longtime person of interest in the case, confessed to kidnapping, raping and killing Drexel.
Moody was sentenced to life in prison for the crimes. Drexel’s mother, Dawn Pleckan, had been actively searching for her daughter since her disappearance and played a key role in keeping the case in the public eye.
The case has been the subject of numerous media reports and investigations over the years.
Recently released documents show that Drexel’s last text message was to her boyfriend, John Grieco, whom she had been texting back and forth while on spring break.
Early life
Brittanee was born on October 7, 1991 and tragically died on April 25, 2009, in McClellanville, Charleston County, South Carolina, USA.
Described as an outgoing junior at Gates Chili High School in Chili, New York, she was known for her carefree and popular nature.
In 2009, Brittanee faced challenges due to her parents’ divorce and declining academic performance.
Despite her mother initially refusing permission for her to go on a spring break trip to Myrtle Beach, Brittanee joined friends on the trip without informing her family.
She was last seen on April 25, 2009, leaving a hotel in Myrtle Beach and texting her boyfriend before disappearing.
Brittanee’s disappearance led to a nationwide search effort and a heartbreaking journey for her family who tirelessly sought answers for over a decade.
Cause of death
Brittanee’s cause of death was determined to be manual strangulation by Moody on or around the night of April 25, 2009, while in Georgetown County, South Carolina.
Moody confessed to raping and killing Brittanee at the Santee River before moving her body to Old Town Avenue.
Despite the initial inconclusive ruling from the autopsy, subsequent investigations and Moody’s confession provided clarity on the circumstances surrounding Brittanee’s tragic death.
Moody’s admission and the corroborating evidence led to his conviction for murder, kidnapping and rape in connection with Brittanee’s death.
The case highlighted the importance of advancements in forensic technology, such as improved cell tracking, which played a crucial role in linking Moody to the crime and bringing justice for Brittanee.
Raymond Moody’s relationship with Brittanee Drexel
There is no evidence to suggest that Moody had any prior relationship with Brittanee before her disappearance.
Moody was a convicted sex offender with a history of criminal activity, including rape, kidnapping and lewd or lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14.
Parents
Brittanee’s parents are Dawn Drexel and Chad Drexel.
They were divorced during their daughter’s disappearance.
Dawn held concerns about Brittanee’s safety when she decided to travel to Myrtle Beach without permission.
Both parents experienced immense pain and suffering upon learning of their daughter’s fate.
Their efforts to find Brittanee eventually led to the capture of Moody, who was ultimately convicted of her murder.
Where is Raymond Moody now?
Moody is currently serving his sentence at the Lieber Correctional Institution in South Carolina.
He was sentenced to life in prison on October 19, 2022, for the murder, kidnapping and rape of Brittanee after pleading guilty to the crimes.
Moody was moved to the Kirkland Reception and Evaluation Center in Columbia following his sentencing.
His criminal history includes charges ranging from indecent exposure to failing to register as a sex offender, with a significant conviction in California in 1983 for various offenses including sodomy of a child under 14 and rape with force/threat of violence.
Moody’s involvement in Brittanee’s case emerged when he was named a person of interest in 2011 and later arrested in 2022 for obstruction of justice before being charged with her murder.
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