>> BRITTANEE WENT DOWN TO MYRTLE BEACH
SHE TOLD HER MOTHER THAT SHE WAS
AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE.
>> IT'S NONSTOP KIDS CRUISING
THE BOULEVARD.
>> SHE'S ENTERING THE BLUEWATER
RESORT
SHE IS THEN SEEN LEAVING
15 MINUTES LATER
>> THEY LEFT THE MOTEL
NOT LONG AFTER SHE DID, THEY
WERE CERTAINLY OUR PRIME
SUSPECTS AT THIS POINT
SHE WAS TEXTING WITH HER
BOYFRIEND.
IT STOPPED SUDDENLY.
>> IT'S LIKE THE SIDEWALK OPENED
UP AND SHE WAS GONE.
SOMEBODY KNOWS SOMETHING
SOMEWHERE.
>> Reporter: DIDN'T YOU GET A
CALL FROM BRITTANEE'S PHONE AT
ONE POINT?
>> HER PHONE HAD MADE A BEELINE
FROM MYRTLE BEACH DOWN TO THIS
REALLY RURAL AREA 50 MILES
SOUTH.
>> PART OF THE SECTION IS CALLED
"HELL HOLE."
>> HE ALWAYS HAD THESE FANTASIES
ABOUT SNATCHIN' GIRLS OFF THE
STREET.
>> WAS SHE SCARED?
WAS SHE SCREAMING?
YOU JUST DON'T WANT YOUR BEST
FRIEND TO EVER FEEL THAT WAY
>> WE WENT THROUGH YEARS WITH
NOTHING.
>> BUT YOU CAN'T GIVE UP
'CAUSE IF YOU GIVE UP, THEN
YOU'RE GIVING UP ON HER.
AND SHE WOULD NEVER HAVE GIVEN
UP ON ANYBODY.
>> SHE DISAPPEARED ON SPRING
BREAK, ON A STREET PACKED WITH
PEOPLE
WATCH AS POLICE TRY TO SOLVE THE
PUZZLE
I'M LESTER HOLT, AND THIS IS
"DATELINE.
HERE'S KEITH MORRISON WITH THE
LAST WALK.
>> Reporter: THE NIGHT WAS LIT
LIKE A FESTIVAL, LIKE A
CELEBRATION SHE WAS NO PART OF,
AS THE GIRL, DISAPPOINTED AND
ALONE, HURRIED ALONG THE CROWDED
BOULEVARD.
WAS SHE UPSET?
SHE MUST HAVE BEEN
EMBARRASSED?
PERHAPS.
IF YOU HAD TO COUNT UP HOW MANY
TIMES OVER THESE PAST YEARS DO
YOU THINK ABOUT THAT NIGHT, THAT
LAST WALK, THAT STREET SHE WAS
WALKING DOWN
>> YOU CAN'T EVEN PUT A NUMBER
ON IT.
THOUGHT ABOUT IT FOR 13 YEARS.
>> Reporter: IT WAS SATURDAY
NIGHT, THE END OF SPRING BREAK,
2009, MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH
CAROLINA
THE GIRL MADE HER WAY THROUGH
THE PARTY CROWD MILLING ALONG
SOUTH OCEAN BOULEVARD.
SHE WAS YOUNGER THAN MOST OF
THEM
AND TINY, BARELY 5 FEET TALL
HER NAME WAS BRITTANEE DREXEL.
WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT BOULEVARD
TO HER HAS HAUNTED A LEGION --
FAMILY, FRIENDS, INVESTIGATORS
WHO TRIED AND SOMETIMES FAILED
TO SEE THE TRUTH
HERE'S HER DAD, CHAD DREXEL.
WHEN YOU LOOK BACK OVER THE LAST
13 YEARS, WHAT'S IT DONE TO YA
>> OH, GOODNESS.
UM, WHAT HASN'T IT DONE?
EVERY EMOTION YOU CAN THINK OF
PROBABLY
>> Reporter: THING WAS,
BRITTANEE WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE
IN MYRTLE BEACH THAT SPRING
BREAK WEEKEND.
AS FAR AS HER PARENTS KNEW, SHE
WAS WITH TRUSTED FRIENDS AT A
BEACH ON LAKE ONTARIO, JUST A
FEW MILES FROM HOME IN
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.
BOTH PARENTS HAD ALREADY NIXED
THE MYRTLE BEACH IDEA.
SHE WAS TOO YOUNG, THEY SAID
BESIDES, SHE BARELY KNEW THE
KIDS WHO WERE DRIVING DOWN
TARAH FRIEDMAN, HER BEST FRIEND,
WASN'T EVEN GOING.
HOW DID MYRTLE BEACH COME UP IN
THE FIRST PLACE?
>> SO THE GIRLS THAT BRITTANEE
WENT TO MYRTLE BEACH WITH HAD
PLANNED THE TRIP WITH THEIR
SIGNIFICANT OTHERS
SO IT WAS TWO COUPLES.
I DON'T KNOW IF, YOU KNOW,
BRITTANEE WAS KINDA LIKE, "OH, I
WANNA GO TOO -- THAT SOUNDS
FUN," OR IF THEY INVITED
BRITTANEE.
>> Reporter: SHE WAS 17 THOUGH,
RIGHT?
>> YUP, BRITTANEE WAS 17 AT THE
TIME
AND, YOU KNOW, THESE GIRLS WERE
OLDER.
SHE ASKED HER MOTHER IF SHE
COULD GO TO MYRTLE BEACH
AND, YOU KNOW, HER MOTHER SAID
NO
WHEN SHE ASKED HER FATHER, HER
FATHER SAID, YOU KNOW,
"ABSOLUTELY NOT.
>> SHE SAID, "WELL, WHY CAN'T I
GO DOWN WITH MY FRIENDS DOWN TO
MYRTLE BEACH?"
"WELL, BRITTANEE, YOUR GRADES
AREN'T GREAT IN SCHOOL, AND I
JUST BROUGHT YOU LAST WEEK LATE
TO SCHOOL THREE TIMES.
SO NO.
MY ANSWER'S NO
I AGREE WITH YOUR MOM.
>> Reporter: THE PARENTS HAD PUT
UP A UNITED FRONT, BUT THEY WERE
NOT THEMSELVES UNITED.
THEY HAD SEPARATED THE YEAR
BEFORE
AND EVER SINCE THE BREAKUP,
BRITTANEE HAD BEEN REACHING FOR
SOME INDEPENDENCE.
SO SHE SPUN A LITTLE TALE ABOUT
MEETING FRIENDS AT LAKE ONTARIO,
AND SHE SET HER SIGHTS ON THE
CAROLINA COAST
WAS SHE A KIND OF A PERSON WHO
WOULD JUST, YOU KNOW, IF SHE
WANTED TO DO SOMETHIN', SHE WAS
GONNA DO IT?
WAS THAT ALWAYS --
>> OH YEAH, OF COURSE.
>> Reporter: -- THE WAY SHE WAS?
>> YEAH, BRITTANEE WAS VERY,
VERY HEADSTRONG.
SHE GOES, YOU KNOW, "IT'S MY
SPRING BREAK
I'M GONNA GO
I'M GONNA ENJOY MY TIME.
>> Reporter: SHE PULLED INTO
MYRTLE BEACH ON A THURSDAY
MORNING WITH THAT GROUP OF NOT
QUITE FRIENDS.
>> I THINK SHE TEXTED ME AND WAS
LIKE, "OH, I MADE IT."
AND I WAS LIKE, "ALL RIGHT, HAVE
FUN.
YOU KNOW, "GET A TAN FOR ME.
>> Reporter: MYRTLE BEACH IS A
CARNIVAL TOWN, JAM PACKED WITH
THINGS TO DO AND STUFF TO EAT.
AND THERE'S ALWAYS THE BEACH, OF
COURSE
SO BRITTANEE LOVED IT AT FIRST
HER CONSTANT STREAM OF TEXTS TO
BOYFRIEND JOHN GRIECO A KIND OF
RUNNING NARRATIVE.
BUT THE TEXTS SOON REVEALED AN
ADVENTURE TURNING SOUR
SHE WAS FEELING EXCLUDED BY
THOSE OLDER KIDS
THREE DAYS THAT WAY.
AND THEN IT WAS SATURDAY,
APRIL 25th
>> SHE WASN'T HAVING FUN
ANYMORE, AND SHE FELT, YOU KNOW,
ISOLATED FROM THE GROUP THAT SHE
WENT DOWN THERE WITH
>> Reporter: MIND YOU, THAT
SATURDAY AFTERNOON, BRITTANEE
RAN INTO SOME BOYS FROM BACK
HOME, AND THAT SEEMED TO HELP.
PETER BROZOWITZ, A 20-YEAR-OLD
FROM ROCHESTER, WAS ALSO ON
VACATION WITH HIS FRIENDS.
SO THAT NIGHT BRITTANY LEFT HER
HOTEL, THE BAR HARBOR, AND
WALKED ALONG THE BOULEVARD TO
PETER'S HOTEL, THE BLUE WATER
RESORT, ABOUT A MILE AWAY.
BUT ONCE SHE GOT THERE,
COMPLICATIONS.
>> ONE OF THE GIRLS THAT SHE HAD
GONE DOWN THERE WITH ASKED FOR
HER SHORTS BACK THAT BRITTANEE
HAD BORROWED
AND BRITT WAS LIKE, "OH, I HAVE
TO GO WALK BACK NOW TO MY HOTEL
AND GIVE HER BACK THESE SHORTS."
AND BRITTANEE LEFT THAT HOTEL
AND WAS HEADED BACK TO WHERE SHE
WAS STAYING AT THE BAR HARBOR.
>> Reporter: BUT THAT WOULD BE A
VERY PUBLIC PLACE TO WALK,
WOULDN'T IT?
>> VERY PUBLIC PLACE
LOTS OF PEOPLE AROUND.
>> MIDDLE OF SPRING BREAK.
>> Reporter: YEAH.
>> TONS OF PEOPLE, FAMILIES,
KIDS, TEENAGERS.
>> Reporter: WHERE SHE WOULD
HAVE BEEN SEEN, WALKING THE MILE
BACK TO HER HOTEL.
HER TEXTS WITH BOYFRIEND JOHN
REVEALED SHE WAS ANNOYED, EVEN
ANGRY.
JOHN WROTE, "PLEASE JUST TRY TO
ENJOY YOURSELF."
SHE REPLIED, "NO, I'M STAYING
IN, PACKING, GOING TO SLEEP
PROBABLY."
JOHN TEXTED BACK, "WHY?"
THERE WAS NO ANSWER.
A HALF HOUR WENT BY.
AN HOUR.
STILL NO REPLY
BACK IN ROCHESTER, TARAH'S PHONE
RANG
IT WAS JOHN.
>> AND HE WAS VERY, VERY
PANICKY.
I WAS TRYING TO CALM HIM DOWN.
LIKE, "LISTEN, JOHN.
I WAS LIKE, "YOU KNOW, IT'S
BRITT.
I MEAN, DID YOU MAKE HER MAD
IS SHE IGNORING YOU?
AND HE'S LIKE, "NO, I DON'T
THINK SO
LIKE, WE WERE HAVIN' A FINE
CONVERSATION, AND NOW SHE'S NOT
ANSWERING MY CALLS, NOTHING.
SO I GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH
JOHN
I CALLED HER
THE PHONE RANG
WENT TO VOICEMAIL.
VOICEMAIL WAS LIKE, "HEY, BRITT,
GIMME A CALL
JOHN'S WORRIED."
I JUST THOUGHT MAYBE SHE LOST
HER PHONE.
>> Reporter: WELL, YOU DON'T
WANNA LET YOUR MIND GO THERE,
RIGHT?
>> WELL, THAT -- YEAH.
>> Reporter: 'CAUSE YOU KNOW -
>> EXACTLY
>> Reporter: -- THAT DARK PLACE,
YOU'RE GONNA KEEP IT AS WELL
AS -- AS LONG AS YOU CAN
>> YES
YES.
YOU'RE GONNA ABSOLUTELY NOT TRY
TO GO AND THINK THE WORST.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA GO TO THOSE
DARK PLACES.
>> Reporter: AND WHY WOULD SHE
ADVENTUROUS, FUNNY BRITTANEE
WOULD SURELY TURN UP
IN FACT, THEY WERE ABOUT TO GET
A GLIMPSE OF HER
>>> BRITTANEE'S WORRIED FAMILY
AND FRIENDS HEAD TO MYRTLE BEACH
TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY
WHEN WE COME BACK --
>> DIDN'T PACK A BAG
DIDN'T PACK A TOOTHBRUSH
I HAD, LIKE, A HOODIE AND
SWEATPANTS ON.
AND I WAS LIKE, "LET'S GO GET
BRIT."
>> AND SOON POLICE ARE SEARCHING
TOO.
>> THE LONGER THAT WE WENT
WITHOUT HEARING THAT BRITTANEE
WAS OKAY, THE MORE CONCERNED
WARM THAT SATURDAY NIGHT IN
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.
GOOD DAY TO BE AT A LAKE ONTARIO
BEACH.
WHERE BRITTANY DREXEL HAD TOLD
HER PARENTS SHE WOULD BE THAT
WEEKEND.
AND THEN, CHAD GOT A PHONE CALL.
>> I DIDN'T FIND OUT UNTIL THAT
SATURDAY NIGHT THAT BRITTANEE
WAS IN ANOTHER STATE AND NOW
SHE'S MISSING FROM THAT STATE.
AND I FOUND THAT OUT FROM-- FROM
DAWN, BRITTANEE'S MOM.
>> Reporter: WHO, IN TURN, FOUND
OUT FROM THE BOYFRIEND, NOW,
AMID RISING ANXIETY, THE FAMILY
DEVISED A PLAN
CHAD WOULD STAY HOME WITH
BRITANEE'S LITTLE SISTER AND
BROTHER, WHILE HER FRIENDS,
INCLUDING JOHN AND TARAH, AND
HER MOM, AND GRANDPARENTS MADE
THE 14-HOUR DRIVE TO MYRTLE
BEACH TO FIND HER.
>> DIDN'T PACK A BAG
DIDN'T PACK A TOOTHBRUSH
I HAD, LIKE, A HOODIE AND
SWEATPANTS ON AND I WAS, LIKE,
"LET'S GO GET BRIT."
>> AND YOU DECIDED SHE WAS GONNA
BE OKAY AND YOU'LL JUST PICK HER
UP AND BRING HER HOME?
>> YEAH, THAT'S IT
>> Reporter: FIRST STOP WAS THE
MYRTLE BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT,
WHERE OFFICERS WERE ALREADY
GATHERING INFORMATION -- BUT -
>> THE POLICE WERE -- IN THOSE
VERY BEGINNING HOURS IN THAT
FIRST DAY, WERE STILL CONVINCED
THAT, YOU, MAYBE SHE IS
EXTENDING HER VACATION
>> AND THEY WOULD'VE KNOWN THAT
SHE HAD GONE AWAY WITHOUT
PERMISSION ANYWAY SO, YOU KNOW,
MAYBE SHE --
>> WELL-
>> DID DECIDE TO DO A LITTLE BIT
MORE -
>> YES, AND --
>> WITHOUT PERMISSION.
>> YES
>> Reporter: TARAH, JOHN AND THE
OTHERS SET OUT ON THEIR OWN.
>> WHERE DO YOU GO
WHAT DID YOU DO WHEN YOU GOT
THERE TO FIND HER?
>> WE STARTED ON THE BOULEVARD
I THINK JOHN BROUGHT A PHOTO OF
HER FROM HOME, AND WE HAD
PICTURES, LIKE, ON OUR CELL
PHONES, OUR LITTLE -- LITTLE
FLIP PHONES.
WE WENT FROM RESTAURANT TO
CONVENIENCE STORE, TO -- A BEACH
STORE, EVERY SINGLE BUSINESS,
ANY PERSON THAT WE COULD FIND
WALKING.
>> Reporter: YOUNG, ATTRACTIVE
GIRL, ALONE?
SOMEBODY MUST HAVE SEEN HER. BUT
NO ONE HAD
TARAH TRIED TO TAMP DOWN THE
FEAR
BUT THE MIND PLAYS TRICKS.
>> YOUR DESPERATION IS RISING.
>> DESPERATION.
AND THE SUN STARTED SETTING.
AND THE BOYS--
WERE, LIKE, WE'RE NOT GOING--
WE'RE GONNA KEEP LOOKING FOR HER
>> Reporter: BACK IN ROCHESTER,
CHAD, UNABLE TO SEARCH, WRESTLED
WITH GUILT
>> IF I WOULDDA BEEN A LITTLE --
I FEEL GUILTY -- IF I -- MAYBE
IF I WOULDA CALLED BRITTANEE
WHAT'S THAT IN THE BACKGROUND --
THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE WHERE WE
LIVE IN SHERLOCK BEACH
THAT DOES NOT -- WHERE ARE YOU,
BRITTANEE?
>> Reporter: HE'S A PROTECTIVE
DAD, HE SAID, FOR ALL THREE OF
HIS CHILDREN
BUT BRITTANEE WAS SPECIAL.
HE WAS HER FATHER BY CHOICE.
>> TELL ME HOW SHE CAME INTO
YOUR LIFE.
>> BRITTANEE CAME IN MY LIFE
WHEN I WAS IN THE SERVICE.
AND I WAS HOME ON -- ON
VACATION
AND THROUGH MY SISTER I MET
BRITTANEE'S MOM, AND THAT'S WHEN
I MET BRITTANEE.
>> Reporter: AND WHEN HE MARRIED
HER MOTHER, HE FORMALLY ADOPTED
BRITTANEE WITH THE CONSENT OF
HER BIOLOGICAL FATHER.
>> I HAVE A FUNNY STORY IF YOU
DON'T MIND ME --
>> PLEASE.
>> SO THE ADOPTION WAS REALLY--
IT WAS REALLY CUTE
I HAD TO WEAR MY DRESS WHITES.
BRITTANEE WENT WITH ME EVERY
MORNING BECAUSE SHE WAS STILL
THE FIRST YEAR BEFORE HER
KINDERGARTEN
SO SHE HAD THE ONE LAST YEAR
WHERE SHE STILL HAD PRESCHOOL.
SO I PICKED HER UP AND WE WENT
TO THE LOCAL JUDGE THERE IN
VIRGINIA BEACH
AND WHEN I SAT DOWN BRITTANEE
WALKED AROUND AND JUMPED RIGHT
ON TOP OF MY LAP
AND THE JU -- THE NAVAL JUDGE
LOOKED AT ME AND SAYS, "I DON'T
EVEN HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
SIGNED RIGHT OFF AND THAT WAS
THAT
>> THIS BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL
FULL OF FIRE
FASTEST ONE ON THE SOCCER FIELD.
>> Reporter: TARA WAS 15 WHEN
THEY MET -- A YEAR OLDER THAN
BRITTANEE.
AND THEY JUST CLICKED.
PLAYING WITH HAIRSTYLES, HAIR
COLORS -- HAVING FUN
>> YOU KNOW, WE'D DO ALL THE
GIRLIE THINGS, AND THEN WE WOULD
ALSO DO, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT
OF THE TOMBOY STUFF AS WELL.
WE'D GO DIRT BIKING, FISHING
>> Reporter: CLOSE, AS IF THEY
COULD READ EACH OTHERS MINDS
AND NOW, IN MYRTLE BEACH, THE
SUN WAS GONE, THE NIGHT WAS
DARK -- AND TARAH JUST KNEW.
>> SHE'S NOT EXTENDING A
VACATION
SHE DIDN'T LEAVE
SHE DIDN'T RUN AWAY.
SOMETHING HAPPENED TO HER.
>> SO, TELL ME, BASED ON YOUR
EXPERIENCES WITH BRITTANEE, WHY
YOU WERE SO SURE THAT SHE WOULD
NEVER KIND OF JUST RUN AWAY?
>> BRITTANEE CARED IMMENSELY
ABOUT HER LITTLE BROTHER AND HER
LITTLE SISTER AND SHE WOULD
NEVER -- NEVER LEFT THEM
NEVER LEFT THEM WILLINGLY.
>> Reporter: MYRTLE BEACH POLICE
DETECTIVE TRACI CHANACA.
>> THE LONGER THAT WE WENT
WITHOUT HEARING THAT BRITTANEE
WAS OKAY, THE MORE CONCERNED
THAT WE BECAME
>> Reporter: DETECTIVE CHANAKA
TALKED TO THOSE OLDER GIRLS WITH
WHOM BRITTANEE HAD TRAVELED TO
MYRTLE BEACH
IT WAS NOT UPLIFTING
>> WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE GIRLS
THAT BRITTANEE HAD COME DOWN
HERE WITH -- THEY LET US KNOW
THAT THEY WEREN'T GETTING ALONG
THAT WELL.
>> THE CREW SHE WENT DOWN WITH
WAS, NOT THE BEST 'CAUSE SHE HAD
TIFFS WITH THEM.
AND THEY WERE TEASIN' HER AND
PICKIN' ON HER
SHE WAS THE YOUNGEST
>> Reporter: SO -- WERE THEY
MEAN GIRLS
MAYBE.
BUT INVOLVED IN BRITTANEE'S
DISAPPEARANCE?
NO
THE GIRLS SAID BRITTANEE LEFT
THEIR HOTEL THAT NIGHT AND THEY
NEVER SAW HER AGAIN.
AND THEN POLICE FOUND EVIDENCE
THAT BRITTANEE WAS INDEED ALONE
AFTER SHE LEFT HER HOTEL AND
HEADED TO WHERE THE BOYS FROM
ROCHESTER WERE STAYING
>> A CAMERA CAPTURES HER WALKING
SOUTHBOUND TOWARDS THE BLUEWATER
RESORT
AND THAT'S AT 8:15 P.M. ON THE
NIGHT SHE WENT MISSING
>> Reporter: A GHOSTLY IMAGE --
HARD TO MAKE OUT -- BUT HERE SHE
WAS.
THIS WAS BRITTANEE WALKING ALONG
OCEAN BLVD
HER NEXT STOP WAS THE BOYS'
HOTEL.
AND NOW POLICE WANTED TO KNOW --
WHAT HAPPENED THERE?
>> Reporter: COMING UP -
THIS WAS SUSPICIOUS.
>> HER PHONE HAD MADE A BEE LINE
FROM, YOU KNOW, CENTRAL MYRTLE
BEACH DOWN TO THIS REALLY RURAL
AREA 50 MILES SOUTH.
>> THERE'S NO WAY THAT BRITTANEE
WENT TO THIS AREA IN THE MIDDLE
>> Reporter: PRETTY SOON,
MYRTLE BEACH WAS BUZZING WITH
TALK ABOUT THE MISSING GIRL FROM
NEW YORK
>> IT ABSOLUTELY CAPTURED THE
ATTENTION OF THE COMMUNITY VERY
QUICKLY.
>> Reporter: INCLUDING A LOCAL
TV REPORTER NAMED GRAEME MOORE
WHO HEARD ABOUT BRITTANEE
SIGHTINGS ALL OVER TOWN.
>> AT A GAS STATION SOMEONE
THOUGHT THAT THEY SAW HER.
ANOTHER ONE AT A SUPERMARKET
WHERE THE CHECKOUT GUY WAS
CONVINCED THAT IT WAS BRITTANEE
WHO CAME THROUGH THE LINE.
>> THERE WAS, LIKE, OVER
200 TIPS THAT THEY HAD SEEN HER
AT THIS CONVENIENCE STORE.
>> Reporter: WHAT DID THAT DO TO
YOU --
>> YOU KNOW --
>> Reporter: -- TO HEAR THAT
>> NOW WE'RE HOPEFUL
WE'RE -- "OKAY, OKAY, SO SHE'S
HERE
SHE'S HERE
SHE'S JUST AVOIDING US FOR
WHATEVER REASON.
>> Reporter: BUT AT THE OTHER
END OF EVERY TIP WAS CRUSHING
DISAPPOINTMENT
>> A YOUNG GUY CAME IN AND SAID
HE WAS HER BOYFRIEND -- WITH
ANOTHER FRIEND AND SAID THEY
WERE LOOKING FOR HER AND MAYBE
IF WE HAD SEEN HER.
THE OWNER AND I LOOKED AT THE
PICTURE, AND NEITHER ONE OF US
RECOGNIZED HER
>> Reporter: WITH EVERY DEAD
END, ANXIETY GREW.
TARAH CALLED HER MOTHER, RENEE,
BACK IN ROCHESTER.
>> FRANTIC
TARAH WAS ABSOLUTELY FRANTIC
>> AND I SAID, "YOU NEED -- YOU
NEED TO GET DOWN HERE BECAUSE
NOT ENOUGH IS HAPPENING.
AND BECAUSE OF MY MOM'S WORK
HISTORY, I KNEW THAT SHE COULD
COME DOWN AND HELP
>> Reporter: WHAT DO YOU MEAN
BECAUSE OF YOUR MOM'S WORK
HISTORY?
TELL ME ABOUT THAT
>> MY MOM USED TO BE A PRIVATE
INVESTIGATOR
>> I DID A LOT OF -- A LOT OF
CRIMINAL WORK IT WAS, OF MURDER,
RAPE, ARSON.
>> Reporter: RENEE DROVE DOWN
FROM ROCHESTER THE NEXT DAY AND
FOUND TARAH AND JOHN
>> I SAID, "GO DOOR TO DOOR TO
THE HOTELS
TRY TO FIND OUT IF -- WHO'S BEEN
DOWN THERE
IF YOU MEET ANY KIDS OR ANYTHING
THAT HAD ANY -- ANY VIDEOS OR
ANY PHOTOGRAPHY FROM THAT AREA."
>> Reporter: DETECTIVE CHANACA
WAS THINKING THE SAME WAY.
CHECK THE HOTELS
AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW
SHE FOUND CRYSTAL CLEAR VIDEO
FROM THE BLUEWATER RESORT
CATCHING BRITTANEE AS SHE
ARRIVED TO VISIT THE BOYS FROM
ROCHESTER.
>> SHE'S ENTERING THE BLUEWATER
RESORT AT 8:33 P.M
>> Reporter: DID SOMETHING
HAPPEN TO HER THEN
NO
15 MINUTES LATER, SHE WAS
CLEARLY FINE
>> SHE IS THEN SEEN LEAVING THE
BLUEWATER RESORT AT EXACTLY
15 MINUTES LATER, AT 8:48 P.M.
>> Reporter: BRITTANEE WOULD
HAVE BEEN WALKING NORTH THEN,
BACK TO HER HOTEL, TEXTING
CONSTANTLY, AS ALWAYS, WITH HER
BOYFRIEND.
AND THEN -
>> ALL OF HER PHONE CALLS AND
TEXT MESSAGES OUTGOING STOPPED
SUDDENLY AT 8:58 P.M
>> Reporter: 8:58 P.M.
SOMETHING HAPPENED
>> IT'S LIKE THAT THE SIDEWALK
OPENED UP AND SHE WAS GONE
THERE WAS NOTHING.
>> Reporter: UNTIL TWO DAYS
LATER WHEN EVERYTHING CHANGED.
CELL TOWER DATA CAME IN.
NOW THEY COULD TRACK HER PHONE,
SHOW WHERE IT WENT
IT WASN'T GOOD
>> HER PHONE HAD MADE A BEELINE
FROM, YOU KNOW, CENTRAL
MYRTLE BEACH DOWN TO THIS REALLY
RURAL AREA 50 MILES SOUTH OF
MYRTLE BEACH
AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT SET OFF
ALL OF THE ALARM BELLS
>> Reporter: WHY
BECAUSE AFTER THAT LAST TEXT
WITH HER BOYFRIEND, BRITTANEE'S
PHONE SUDDENLY MOVED SOUTH AT
THE SPEED OF A CAR
BY 9:27, WHEN SHE SHOULD HAVE
BEEN BACK AT HER HOTEL, HER
PHONE WAS 8 MILES DOWN THE
COAST.
AND THEN AT 11:57, 3 HOURS AFTER
HER LAST TEXT, HER PHONE PINGED
FOR THE LAST TIME MORE THAN
50 MILES SOUTH OF MYRTLE BEACH
AND THEN IT WENT DEAD.
>> WE BECAME VERY ALARMED.
AND WE KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
>> Reporter: WHEN BRITTANEE'S
FATHER LEARNED SHE HAD BEEN
TRACED TO A SPOT FAR FROM
MYRTLE BEACH, HE WONDERED, LIKE
EVERYONE ELSE, HOW DID SHE END
UP IN A VEHICLE?
A STRANGER ABDUCTION SEEMED SO
UNLIKELY
>> SHE WAS ON THE MAIN DRAG
THERE.
SO IF SHE DID ANYTHING, FLAP HER
ARMS, THROW HER PHONE, KICK HER
FEET, LEAVE A FLIP-FLOP AND THEY
TOOK HER, WHATEVER, SOMETHING --
>> Reporter: SOMEBODY WOULD'VE
SEEN SOMETHING
>> YEAH.
SO THAT'S WHERE I THOUGHT SHE
HAD TO HAVE BEEN -- KNOWN
SOMEONE.
MAYBE SHE BEFRIENDED SOMEONE
THAT NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT YET.
>> Reporter: AND THAT HEAPED
SUSPICION ON PETER BROZOWITZ AND
HIS FRIENDS FROM ROCHESTER
BRITTANEE WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE
GOTTEN IN A CAR WITH THEM.
MYRTLE BEACH POLICE LIEUTENANT
CHUCK CAPP, NOW RETIRED, WAS
HELPING RUN THE INVESTIGATION
AND TAKING A HARD LOOK AT THE
ROCHESTER BOYS
>> WELL, EVERYTHING LOOKED
SUSPICIOUS TOWARD THEM
AND APPARENTLY THEY LEFT THE
MOTEL NOT LONG AFTER SHE DID
AND SUDDENLY BRITTANEE'S
MISSING.
AND THEN WE LATER FIND OUT THAT
THEY RETURNED, CHECKED OUT OF
THE MOTEL, LEFT SOME OF THEIR
BELONGINGS, AND HAD A
CONFRONTATION WITH THE FRONT
DESK CLERK
>> Reporter: NOT A GOOD LOOK
NOT A GOOD LOOK AT ALL
>> THEY WERE CERTAINLY OUR PRIME
SUSPECTS AT THIS POINT
>> SO NATURALLY, WE WANT TO
SPEAK TO PETER AND THE OTHER
YOUNG MEN STAYING THERE.
WE WANT TO KNOW, "WHAT DID
BRITTANEE SAY WHEN SHE WAS
THERE?
WHAT -- DID Y'ALL GO ANYWHERE
TOGETHER?"
>> Reporter: AND WHY DID THEY GO
HOME SO QUICKLY?
POLICE IN ROCHESTER ASKED THEM
AND THEIR ANSWERS?
THEY CHECKED OUT
THEY DID LEAVE THEIR HOTEL AFTER
BRITTANEE DID.
BUT THEY AND THEIR PHONES
TRAVELED IN THE OPPOSITE
DIRECTION FROM BRITTANEE'S
PHONE.
>> ONCE WE PINGED THEIR PHONES,
IT MATCHED THEIR STORY THAT THEY
HAD ACTUALLY GONE OUT TOWARD
COASTAL CAROLINA TO A PARTY, AND
THERE WERE PEOPLE AT THE PARTY
THAT HAD SEEN THEM
SO WHILE THEIR PHONE WAS GOING
TOWARD COASTAL CAROLINA,
BRITTANEE'S PHONE, AND WE ASSUME
BRITTANEE WAS WITH HER PHONE,
WAS GOING SOUTH, TOWARD
GEORGETOWN
>> Reporter: NOW WITH A NEW
URGENCY, POLICE MOVED THEIR EVER
EXPANDING SEARCH OPERATION SOUTH
TO A WOODED, SWAMPY AREA IN
GEORGETOWN COUNTY WHERE
BRITTANEE'S PHONE HAD LAST
PINGED
HER FRIENDS CAME TOO
>> THINKING GOD, YA KNOW,
THERE'S NO WAY THAT BRITTANEE
WENT TO THIS AREA IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE WOODS BY HERSELF.
>> Reporter: HER BOYFRIEND JOHN
SPOKE WITH REPORTERS BY THE
RIVER.
>> YOU FEEL THEN SHE COULD HAVE
BEEN ABDUCTED PERHAPS?
>> YES
>> Reporter: AND THEN JOHN
ECHOED WHAT SO MANY OTHERS WERE
SAYING
SHE WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN IN THE
CAR WITH JUST ANYBODY.
IT WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE BEEN
SOMEONE WHO GAVE A TRUSTING
VIBE
BUT WHO COULD HAVE GAINED HER
TRUST SECONDS AFTER SHE TEXTED
JOHN
AND WHY DID HER PHONE COME DOWN
HERE, TO THIS SCARY PLACE SO FAR
FROM MYRTLE BEACH?
>>> COMING UP --
>> YOU START SEEIN' THE OFFICERS
GET ON THE HORSES WITH
SHARPSHOOTERS AND BIG GUNS
AND --
>> Reporter: OH, LORD.
>> WHAT DO YOU NEED THE GUNS
FOR?
>> THE TWO MAIN THINGS THAT
YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT IS THE
>> Reporter: THE STORIES THEY
TELL, THESE CELL PHONE TOWERS.
THIS ONE LOOKS DOWN ON A VAST
EXPANSE OF WOODS AND WETLANDS IN
GEORGETOWN COUNTY NEAR THE
SANTEE RIVER, ABOUT 50 MILES
SOUTH OF MYRTLE BEACH.
AND IT'S HERE THAT BRITTANEE'S
PHONE LAST PINGED.
IT'S ALSO HERE THAT POLICE WERE
FACING A MASSIVE, NEEDLE IN A
HAYSTACK SEARCH.
>> WHENEVER YOU'RE FACED WITH
DOING A SEARCH OF THIS
MAGNITUDE, THERE'S NO WAY LAW
ENFORCEMENT COULD VIRTUALLY DO
IT ON ITS OWN.
>> Reporter: AND SO, WITH OPEN
ARMS, THEY WELCOMED THIS ARMY OF
VOLUNTEERS
ORGANIZED VOLUNTEERS
THEIR LEADER IS MONICA CAISON,
FOUNDER OF THE C.U.E. CENTER FOR
MISSING PERSONS OUT OF
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA
EYE IN THE SKY ALMOST ALL THE
TIME -
MONICA MET US AT POLE YARD
LANDING, A BOAT LAUNCH ON THE
BANKS OF THE SANTEE RIVER.
THIS WAS THE VERY SPOT, NEAR AS
ANYONE COULD FIGURE, WHERE
BRITTANEE'S PHONE PINGED BEFORE
GOING SILENT
HOW BIG IS THIS AREA THAT YOU'RE
LOOKIN' AT
>> THOUSANDS OF ACRES, THOUSANDS
AND THOUSANDS.
IT GOES HERE MILES AND MILES
BACK
>> Reporter: COULD BE ANYWHERE
IN THERE
>> COULD BE ANYWHERE
>> Reporter: HOW MANY PEOPLE DID
YOU HAVE LOOKIN'
>> PROBABLY WITHIN THE FIRST
WEEK, I WAS RUNNING ABOUT 700 TO
800 PEOPLE THROUGH ON A
CONTINUOUS BASIS
>> Reporter: HOW DO YOU GET THAT
MANY PEOPLE?
>> I PUT A CALL OUT.
>> Reporter: SPEED WAS OF THE
ESSENCE.
POLICE KNEW THAT IF BRITTANEE
WAS OUT THERE AND SOMEHOW ALIVE,
SHE WOULDN'T LAST VERY LONG.
>> I MEAN, YOU DEFINITELY FELT
THE URGENCY, LIKE, FROM
EVERYONE
LIKE, "WE GOTTA GET IN THERE
WE GOTTA -- IF SHE'S OUT HERE,
SHE'S IN DANGER.
>> Reporter: BRITTANEE'S FRIENDS
WANTED TO JOIN THE SEARCH.
>> JOHN AND TARA
THEY WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING WE
WOULD HAVE ASKED 'EM
I HAD TO EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT
THIS THIS WOULD NOT BE A
FRIENDLY AREA FOR KIDS AND
UNTRAINED PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S
VERY, VERY HARSH
>> Reporter: TARAH WATCHED WITH
ALARM AS THE SEARCHERS GATHERED.
>> MANY, MANY K-9s
AND THEN THE HORSES START
SHOWIN' UP
THE ATVs
AND THEN YOU START SEEIN' THE
OFFICERS GET ON -- ON THE HORSES
WITH SHARPSHOOTERS, BIG GUNS
AND --
>> Reporter: OH, LORD.
>> WHAT DO YOU NEED THE GUNS
FOR?
I'M -- I'M LIKE, "WHAT DO --
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA ENCOUNTER OUT
THERE IN -- IN THESE WOODS?"
>> I HAD SHARPSHOOTERS WITH ME,
DIFFERENT SHOOTERS ON ALL THE
DOG TEAMS, 'CAUSE I WASN'T ABOUT
TO LOSE A DOG.
SO A BUNCH OF --
>> Reporter: BUT TO WHAT
WHY WOULD YOU LOSE A DOG
>> GATORS, HOGS.
>> Reporter: THEY'RE ALL AROUND
HERE
>> THEY'RE BAD
THEY'RE BAD.
AND THAT'S THE TWO MAIN THINGS
THAT YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT IS THE
GATORS AND THE HOGS.
AND THE HOGS ARE MAD
AND THEY'LL COME CHARGIN' YA AND
STUFF.
>> Reporter: WHO KNEW?
WE'RE TALKING TENS OF THOUSANDS
OF INVASIVE, FERAL HOGS HERE IN
SOUTH CAROLINA
>> BUT IF THEY GET A HOLD OF
YOUR DOG, THERE'S NOTHIN' YOU
CAN DO
YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA BE THAT
QUICK.
>> Reporter: YOU HAVE TO WONDER
WHAT MUST HAVE HAPPENED TO THIS
YOUNG WOMAN AND WHAT SORT OF
SITUATION IS SHE IN WITH THOSE
KIND OF -- THAT KINDA WILDLIFE
AROUND
>> I THINK THAT WAS PART OF --
THE MAIN PART OF THE URGENCY IS,
LIKE, WE NEED TO FIND HER AND WE
NEED TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE
SHE'S OKAY
AND IF SHE'S NOT, WE NEED TO
FIND HER BEFORE THE ANIMALS
PRETTY MUCH DO AWAY WITH HER
>> Reporter: DO AWAY WITH HER?
>> YES
>> Reporter: UP ABOVE, POLICE
DRONES POINTED THEIR CAMERAS AT
THE GROUND
>> YOU COULD WALK BY HER
CLOTHING
BUT FROM ABOVE, YOU CAN SPOT A
LOT MORE
SO THEY WERE ABLE TO LOCATE
COLORS THAT JUST DIDN'T BELONG
>> Reporter: AND AS DRONES
BUZZED OVERHEAD, BLOODTHIRSTY
FLIES MADE A FEAST OF THE HUMANS
DOWN BELOW
>> OH, I REMEMBER THEM WALKIN'
OUT OF AN AREA ONE DAY BLOODY.
I MEAN, LIEUTENANT CAPP WAS
BLOODY, BLOOD DRIPPING DOWN HIS
FACE, BLOOD ON HIS SHIRT FROM
THOSE FLIES THAT WERE -- THEY
WERE VICIOUS, BITING SO BAD.
MONICA WAS ALWAYS -- ALWAYS
SCRAPED UP AND BLOODY.
>> Reporter: BUT IT WAS
SOMETHING THEY WANTED TO DO,
ACCORDING TO LIEUTENANT CAPP,
BECAUSE THIS LOST CHILD HAD
BECOME EVERYONE'S CHILD.
>> WHEN YOU DO AN INVESTIGATION,
YOU GET TO KNOW THE FAMILY
AND YOU SEE THE DEVASTATION,
WHAT THEY'RE GOIN' THROUGH
AND YOU TRY TO RELATE IT TO YOUR
FAMILY AND IMAGINE, "WHAT IF
THIS WAS MY CHILD?
AND IT TAKES A TOLL.
>> Reporter: THE SEARCH WENT ON
FOR WEEKS WITH NO SIGN OF
BRITTANEE.
EVENTUALLY TARAH HAD TO GO HOME.
>> LEAVING MYRTLE BEACH WITHOUT
BRITTANEE WAS VERY DIFFICULT
BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL I WAS HOME
AND HER LITTLE BROTHER AND HER
LITTLE SISTER CAME TO MY HOUSE,
AND HER LITTLE BROTHER CAMDYN
HAD LOOKED AT ME, AND HE GOES,
"WHY DIDN'T YOU BRING BRIT BRIT
HOME?"
AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU SAY
TO A 5-YEAR-OLD WHO'S ASKING
WHERE HIS SISTER IS, AND WHY
DIDN'T YOU BRING HER HOME, OR
WHY COULDN'T YOU FIND HER?
AND I JUST LOOKED INTO HIS EYES.
AND I WAS LIKE, "I AM SO SORRY
I'M SO SORRY I COULDN'T FIND
HER.
>>> COMING UP --
WAS THIS A POSSIBLE BREAK?
>> THEY WERE LOOKING PRETTY HARD
AT A GROUP OF GUYS VERY NEAR THE
LOCATION WHERE BRITTANEE'S CELL
PHONE LAST PINGED.
>> AND BRITTANEE'S FATHER GETS A
CALL FROM BRITTANEE'S PHONE.
>> IT JUST HAPPENED ONE NIGHT.
I'M LIKE, "WHAT?
AND EVERYONE'S LIKE, "HURRY UP
AND ANSWER IT.
>> Reporter: AS VOLUNTEERS
SLOGGED THROUGH THE SWAMPS OF
SOUTH CAROLINA'S LOW COUNTRY,
THE STORY OF BRITTANEE DREXEL
AND HER MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE
WENT VIRAL
SEARCHERS WENT ON HORSEBACK.
>> INVESTIGATORS PINGED
BRITTANEE'S PHONE TWICE AFTER
SHE WENT MISSING
>> DAY FIVE OF THE SEARCH PARTY
FOLLOWING UP AFTER A CELL PHONE
TOWER IN THE AREA PICKED UP
SIGNALS FROM DREXEL'S CELL
PHONE.
>> Reporter: HOW COULD IT NOT?
A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG GIRL VANISHES
ON SPRING BREAK -- 800 MILES
FROM HOME.
HER PARENTS WERE HOPING AN
APPEARANCE ON THE DR. PHIL SHOW
WOULD SHAKE OUT SOME CLUES
PETER BROZOWITZ, THAT BOY FROM
ROCHESTER, APPEARED ON THE SHOW.
>> EVERYBODY HAD BEEN CHASING
PETER BROZOWITZ, TRYING TO -- TO
TALK WITH PETER BROZOWITZ,
BECAUSE EARLY ON, AGAIN, HE WAS
ONE OF THE MAIN SUSPECTS
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE
SHOWS UP ON THIS DR. PHIL
SPECIAL.
>> Reporter: PETER HAD BEEN
CLEARED BY POLICE, BUT IN THE
EYES OF BRITTANEE'S PARENTS, AND
HERE ON THE DR. PHIL SHOW, HE
SEEMED TO BE GUILTY OF -- OF
SOMETHING.
>> IF YOU'RE A GENTLEMAN, WHY
WOULDN'T YOU WALK MY DAUGHTER TO
HER HOTEL OR DRIVE HER THERE
KNOWING IT WAS DARK OUT THAT
NIGHT?
>> Reporter: AND MAYBE HIS
ANSWERS WERE A LITTLE TONE DEAF?
>> I'M ON SPRING BREAK
I'M NOT THERE TO BABYSIT
ANYBODY.
>> Reporter: SO, MAYBE JUST
GUILTY OF INSENSITIVITY.
A DISTRACTION, IN THE END, FROM
THE GOAL OF FINDING BRITTANEE.
AND THERE WERE OTHER
DISTRACTIONS -- ONE OF THEM WAS
HEARTBREAKING.
DIDN'T YOU GET A CALL FROM
BRITTANEE'S PHONE AT ONE POINT
>> THAT WAS TOUGH ONE.
I NEVER EXPECTED TO GET A PHONE
CALL
AND IT JUST HAPPENED ONE NIGHT
I'M LIKE, "WHAT?
>> Reporter: IT WAS OCTOBER, SIX
MONTHS AFTER BRITTANEE
DISAPPEARED.
CHAD WAS AT HOME WITH FRIENDS,
WATCHING A GAME ON TV.
AND, FOR A MOMENT, CHAD THOUGHT
HIS DAUGHTER WAS REACHING OUT TO
HIM.
AND THE PHONE RINGS AND YOU LOOK
AT THE NUMBER.
>> AND EVERYONE'S LIKE, "HURRY
UP AND ANSWER IT."
>> Reporter: IT WASN'T
BRITTANNEE, OF COURSE.
HER PHONE NUMBER HAD BEEN
REASSIGNED TO A MAN WHO COULDN'T
UNDERSTAND WHY HE KEPT GETTING
CALLS FROM ONE PARTICULAR
NUMBER
AND THAT, OF COURSE, WAS CHAD,
WHO HAD BEEN CALLING BRITTANEE
OVER AND OVER, JUST IN CASE.
WOW.
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: YOU GET SHIVERS
JUST THINKIN' ABOUT THAT
ACTUALLY
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: MEANWHILE, REPORTER
GRAEME MOORE GOT WORD THAT
POLICE WERE CLOSING IN ON SOME
LIKELY SUSPECTS.
>> BEHIND THE SCENES, WE WERE
HEARING FROM DETECTIVES AND --
AND OTHER SOURCES THAT THEY WERE
LOOKING PRETTY HARD AT A GROUP
OF GUYS VERY NEAR THE LOCATION
WHERE BRITTANEE'S CELL PHONE
LAST PINGED.
>> Reporter: SO, THERE WERE
LEADS, BUT NO ARRESTS.
A YEAR WENT BY
IN APRIL OF 2010, BRITTANEE'S
FAMILY AND FRIENDS GATHERED IN
MYRTLE BEACH
HER LITTLE BROTHER CAMDYN WAS
THERE.
>> WE'RE DOING MARCHING.
>> WE'RE GONNA MARCH
FOR WHO?
>> MY SISTER
>> WHO YA MARCHIN FOR?
CAN YOU SAY BRITTANEE?
ON THE SHIRT
WHO IS THAT ON THE SHIRT
>> UH, BRITT-BRITT
>> Reporter: SO YOU DON'T
REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT THAT
TRIP IN 2010
>> I SLIGHTLY DO
I DO REMEMBER WE HAD A BIG
BANNER WALKING DOWN THE
BOULEVARD.
AND I WAS WITH CLOSE FAMILY AND
SOME FRIENDS WHO WERE DOING THE
MARCH.
I WOULDN'T SAY MARCH
A WALK DOWN THE BOULEVARD WITH
IT
AND THEN I REMEMBER A CANDLELIT
VIGIL WE HAD FOR BRITT
WHAT A STRANGE WAY TO GROW UP,
RIGHT, WHERE YOU REALLY DON'T
KNOW THE ANSWER TO ONE OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS IN YOUR
LIFE
YEAH
QUESTIONING EVERY ONCE IN A
WHILE, "WHERE'S SISSY?
WHERE'S SISSY?
WHERE'S BRITT-BRITT?
IT WAS -- IT WAS HARD.
IT WAS HARD.
>> Reporter: IT WAS DURING THAT
TRIP BRITTANEE'S FATHER, CHAD,
RETRACED HER STEPS ALONG SOUTH
OCEAN BLVD AND LOOKED OUT AT THE
CROWD.
>> YOU CAN ALREADY SENSE THE
CRAZINESS OUT WITH THE CARS AND
THE GUYS, YOU CAN SEE THEM
LOOKING AT THE GIRLS AND STUFF
IT'S JUST, IF THEY'RE NOT
TRAVELING IN GROUPS, IT'S JUST
SEEMS LIKE ITS LIKE A MEAT FEST.
I --
>> IS IT UPSETTING? TO SEE IT?
>> WELL, YEAH.
IT'S LIKE I WANNA GO ON THE NEWS
JUST TO TELL, YOU KNOW THESE
SPRING BREAKERS THAT, TRAVEL IN
GROUPS
>> Reporter: KIDS HEAR THAT ALL
THEIR LIVES OF COURSE, DON'T
TALK TO STRANGERS.
CHAD SEEMED CONFIDENT THAT
BRITTANEE WOULD HAVE ABIDED BY
THAT BASIC RULE.
>> SEE I DON'T THINK BRITTANEE
WOULD HAVE WENT UP TO ANY
STRANGER IN THE CAR LIKE THAT.
>> Reporter: SO BACK TO THE
QUESTION, WHO DID BRITTANEE GO
WITH THAT NIGHT?
WAS IT SOMEONE SHE KNEW?
THOSE QUESTIONS TOOK ON NEW
MEANING WHEN POLICE GOT EVIDENCE
THAT BRITTANEE DID INDEED TRUST
AT LEAST ONE STRANGER DURING HER
VISIT TO MYRTLE BEACH.
>> HEY, BRITT.
>>> COMING UP --
A WOMAN WITH A FRIGHTENING
FRIEND
>> HE ALWAYS HAD THESE FANTASIES
ABOUT SNATCHIN' GIRLS OFF THE
STREET AND RAPIN' 'EM.
WAS THERE A CONNECTION TO
BRITTANEE?
>> TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HE'S
DONE BAD STUFF IN THE PAST
>> Reporter: AS SURE AS THE SEASONS, SPRING BREAK MARKS THE
PASSAGE OF TIME IN MYRTLE BEACH.
IN THE SPRING OF 2010, THE PARTY
CROWD GATHERED AGAIN
AND THAT IS WHEN MYRTLE BEACH
POLICE RELEASED ANOTHER VIDEO.
>> A YOUNG MAN CONTACTED US
SAYING THAT HE THOUGHT HE MIGHT
HAVE A VIDEO OF BRITTANEE FROM
THE TIME THAT HE WAS DOWN HERE
FOR SPRING BREAK
>> Reporter: THIS IS BRITTANEE
>> HEY, BRITT.
>> WHAT?
>> Reporter: THE NIGHT BEFORE
SHE DISAPPEARED.
POLICE TALKED TO THE YOUNG
SPRING BREAKER WHO SHOT IT
>> SHE HAD BEEN WALKING DOWN AND
BEING HARASSED BECAUSE SHE'S A
YOUNG, ATTRACTIVE GIRL, AND SHE
ASKED IF HE'D WALK WITH HER.
AND ULTIMATELY WENT TO, I GUESS,
HIS MOTEL ROOM
AND THEY TALKED FOR A WHILE AND
JUST HUNG OUT WITH HIM AND SOME
OF HIS FRIENDS
>> Reporter: WAS THAT THE END OF
THE STORY?
OR WAS THIS A NEW PERSON OF
INTEREST
>> NO, NEVER
IT'S -- NO
HE CONTACTED US SAYING, "HEY, I
JUST SAW A SPECIAL ON BRITTANEE
BEING MISSIN'.
AND I JUST -- LET YOU KNOW THAT
I WAS THERE IN MYRTLE BEACH AND
MET HER.
>> NEVER CONSIDERED HIM A
SUSPECT.
>> Reporter: SO APPARENTLY SHE
PUT HER TRUST IN THE RIGHT
PERSON THAT TIME
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE NEXT NIGHT,
THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED?
DID SHE TRUST ANOTHER STRANGER
SOMEONE LIKE HIM
HE IS RAYMOND MOODY, A SEX
OFFENDER WHO HAD DONE TIME IN A
CALIFORNIA PRISON FOR RAPE
>> HE WOULD COME IN HERE AND
CRY.
>> Reporter: NOW HE WAS BACK
HOME IN SOUTH CAROLINA WHERE HE
HAD TO REPORT TO WENDY POWERS OF
THE GEORGETOWN COUNTY SHERIFF'S
OFFICE
>> VERY REMORSEFUL, YOU KNOW,
TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HE'S
DONE BAD STUFF IN THE PAST
AND HE CALLED HISSELF A MONSTER
IN HERE BEFORE
>> Reporter: BUT HE'D SETTLED
DOWN, SEEMED TO HAVE CHANGED
>> HE WAS THE NICEST GUY YOU
COULD TALK TO, WELL-MANNERED
I MEAN, ALWAYS ON TIME
>> Reporter: EVEN SO, HE WAS A
CONVICTED PREDATOR, SO ABOUT A
YEAR AND A HALF AFTER BRITTANEE
DISAPPEARED, DEPUTY POWERS
LOOKED UP MOODY'S LOCATION THE
DAY SHE VANISHED -- JUST IN
CASE
AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW, HE'D BEEN
STAYING ONLY A FEW MILES FROM
WHERE HER PHONE LAST PINGED.
>> SO THAT'S HOW RAYMOND COME
INTO THE SPOTLIGHT TO ME
SOMEONE NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT
THIS GUY
>> Reporter: SHE TOOK THE FILE
TO CAPTAIN KIN McKENZIE OF
S.L.E.D., THE SOUTH CAROLINA LAW
ENFORCEMENT DIVISION, AND
PHIL HANNA, A CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATOR WITH THE SHERIFF'S
OFFICE
THEY WERE TAKING A WHOLE NEW
LOOK AT BRITTANEE'S CASE AND
WOULD SOON BE JOINED BY
MIKE HULL FROM THE MYRTLE BEACH
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND TOGETHER THEY FOUND THAT OLD
MOODY REPORT DEEPLY INTERESTING.
>> AND THAT WAS EYE-OPENING.
>> Reporter: I IMAGINE SO.
>> EYE-OPENING FOR US AND --
>> 'CAUSE ONE PARTICULAR PART OF
THAT WAS THAT HE ADMITTED THAT
HE WOULD NOT STOP.
>> Reporter: IT WAS ALL IN THE
FILE
MOODY LEFT CALIFORNIA AFTER A
LONG INCARCERATION AND THEN
RETURNED TO GEORGETOWN, HIS
HOMETOWN, WITH A BOYFRIEND HE'D
MET IN PRISON.
AND THEN, PRETTY SOON, HAD A
GIRLFRIEND TOO
HER NAME IS ANGEL VAUSE.
SO A LOVE TRIANGLE OF SORTS.
AND ONE NIGHT, ACCORDING TO A
TIPSTER, ANGEL CALLED THE
BOYFRIEND, LOOKING FOR RAY, AND
MAYBE GAVE AWAY SOMETHING.
>> SHE CALLED HIM DRUNK ONE
NIGHT AND SAID THAT SHE CAN'T
LIVE WITH WHAT SHE KNOWS THAT --
THAT HE DID.
>> Reporter: THE COPS HEARD
ABOUT THAT AND JUST HAD TO KNOW,
WHAT DID RAY DO?
THEY ASKED ANGEL TO COME IN.
SHE HAPPILY TALKED ABOUT RAY
>> HE'S NOT A DRINKER.
HE DON'T DO ANY KINDA DRUGS.
HE DON'T SMOKE CIGARETTES.
HE DON'T DO ANY OF THAT.
>> Reporter: SHE ALSO TALKED
ABOUT HIS CREEPIER IMPULSES.
>> OH, HE ALWAYS HAD THESE
FANTASIES ABOUT SNATCHIN' GIRLS
OFF THE STREET AND RAPIN' 'EM
AND THEN TAKIN' 'EM SOMEWHERE
AND DUMPIN' 'EM.
>> Reporter: WELL!
SURELY THAT MUST HAVE BEEN WHAT
HAPPENED TO BRITTANEE.
>> ONE THING IN PARTICULAR IS
THIS WITH BRITTANEE DREXEL
SHE WENT MISSIN' AUGUST -- I
MEAN APRIL 25th, 2009.
>> UH-HUH.
OKAY
I MEAN, I -- TO BE HONEST, I
CAN'T TELL YOU WHERE I WAS TWO
WEEKS AGO OR REALLY WHERE HE
WAS.
LIKE I SAID, I WAKE UP
SOMETIMES.
HE'S NOT THERE
>> Reporter: THERE WAS A LOT SHE
COULDN'T REMEMBER.
>> SO IF -- IF I TELL YOU THAT
YOU MADE A COMMENT THAT RAYMOND
HAD TOLD YOU SOMETHIN' ABOUT
BEIN' RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT --
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THAT YOUNG
GIRL
>> WOULD I REMEMBER SAYIN' IT?
NO, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I
WOULDN'T REMEMBER -- HAS HE EVER
SAID HER NAME?
YES.
YEAH
>> Reporter: SO IT WENT.
MAYBE HE ATTACKED THAT GIRL OR
OTHER WOMEN OR MAYBE NOT
BUT IF HE DID --
>> HE WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE
SHORT, SOMEBODY HE CAN SNATCH UP
THAT WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FIGHT
HIM.
>> DO YOU KNOW IF HE HAS ANY
PLACE HE CAN GO TO LIKE THAT
>> NOT REALLY.
BUT HE HAS SAID THAT HE HAS A
TENT
>> MM-HMM.
>> AND THAT HE COULD JUST SET UP
A TENT IN SOME REMOTE AREA
BUT, I MEAN, I HAVEN'T SEEN THE
TENT
>> Reporter: THEY LEFT ANGEL
ALONE FOR A FEW MINUTES.
>> GOD FORGIVE ME FOR BEIN' WITH
THIS CRAZY MAN
>> Reporter: DID SHE KNOW THEY
WERE STILL WATCHING THIS,
RECORDING IT
>> WHAT IF HE'S DOING IT AGAIN,
GOD?
PLEASE LET HIM GET CAUGHT.
>> Reporter: WAS THIS FOR REAL
NO WAY TO KNOW
AND SHE HADN'T GIVEN THEM A
REASON TO ARREST RAY
BUT MAYBE HIS MOVEMENTS WOULD
TELL THEM SOMETHING.
THEY GOT A WARRANT FOR A
TRACKING DEVICE.
>> AND WE MANAGED TO -- TO GET
IT AND PUT THE DEVICE ON THE
VEHICLE TO TRACK HIM FOR SEVERAL
WEEKS.
>> Reporter: THEY TRACKED HIM TO
WORK SITES MOSTLY.
RAY HAD BECOME A WOODWORKER.
BUT HE ALSO STOPPED BY A LOCAL
CEMETERY
DID THAT MEAN SOMETHING?
THE INVESTIGATORS ALSO GOT A
SEARCH WARRANT FOR THIS PLACE,
THE SUNSET LODGE IN GEORGETOWN
THAT'S WHERE MOODY WAS BRIEFLY
RESIDING AT THE TIME OF
BRITTANEE'S DISAPPEARANCE.
THEY LOOK FOR ANY KIND OF
BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE, HAIR,
FIBER?
>> SEROLOGICAL
>> YEAH, ANYTHING.
>> Reporter: OH, TURN IT INSIDE
OUT?
>> YES
>> DNA
>> UNFORTUNATELY NOTHIN' WAS
FOUND THAT COULD HELP US
>> Reporter: BUT WHEN LOCAL
REPORTERS FOUND OUT ABOUT IT -
>> INVESTIGATORS SET UP FOR
HOURS TODAY.
>> Reporter: THE STORY MADE ITS
WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO A
WOMAN NAMED KERRI HARDING OUT IN
VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA.
AND SHE PICKED UP THE PHONE.
>> I CALLED AND LEFT A MESSAGE
THAT SAID, "I WAS THE FIRST
VICTIM OF RAYMOND MOODY.
>>> COMING UP --
>> JUST AS I PASSED, HE SNATCHED
ME FROM BEHIND AND PUT ME IN THE
CAR.
>> IS THAT WHAT HAPPENED TO
BRITTANEE?
>> HE SAID, "I DON'T -- I DON'T
HAVE NOTHIN' TO SAY TO Y'ALL."
HE SAID, "YOU'RE GOOD
DETECTIVES
YOU FIGURE IT OUT.
>> Reporter: IT WAS A VOICEMAIL
THAT ALERTED THE INVESTIGATORS
IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
A WOMAN FROM CALIFORNIA WITH
SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO SAY ABOUT
RAY MOODY.
>> AND THEY CALLED ME BACK IN
SECONDS.
LIKE, 30 SECONDS
>> Reporter: HER NAME IS
KERRI HARDING.
>> I ACTUALLY CALLED AND TALKED
TO HER
SHE WAS REALLY ANXIOUS TO HELP
>> AND I SAID, "I JUST WANNA
BE -- I WANNA HELP PUT HIM BACK
AWAY."
>> Reporter: AND TO HEAR HER
STORY IS TO UNDERSTAND WHY
>> I HAVE NIGHTMARES OFTEN
TERRIBLE NIGHTMARES.
>> Reporter: ABOUT THE THING
ITSELF
>> YEAH.
YEAH
JUST WHERE I'M RUNNING AND
TRYING TO GET AWAY
>> Reporter: KERRI STILL LIVES
IN VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA, AND NOT
FAR FROM WHERE SHE FIRST
ENCOUNTERED RAYMOND MOODY, WHO
WAS LIVING THERE IN 1983
HOW OLD WERE YOU
>> I WAS 8
>> Reporter: DO YOU REMEMBER
WHAT YOU WERE DOIN' THAT DAY
>> IT WAS A SUNDAY AFTERNOON,
EARLY AFTERNOON, AND I WAS
WALKING TO THE SCHOOL TO MEET A
GIRL FRIEND TO PLAY.
>> Reporter: AND SHE SAW A YOUNG
MAN, EARLY 20s, STANDING BY HIS
CAR.
>> AND, UM, HE UNLOCKED THE
PASSENGER DOOR TO HIS CAR.
JUST AS I PASSED, HE SNATCHED ME
FROM BEHIND AND PUT ME IN THE
CAR.
>> Reporter: DO YOU REMEMBER
WHAT THAT WAS LIKE
>> UM, YEAH, THE -- IT'S JUST
FEAR
THE FEAR IS OVERWHELMING
IT IMMOBILIZES YOU WHERE YOU
CAN'T REALLY SCREAM OR -- YOU
JUST FREEZE.
>> Reporter: HE DROVE A FEW
MILES AWAY TO AN UNDEVELOPED
HOUSING TRACT WHERE HE RAPED AND
SODOMIZED HER.
>> THERE'S NO RIGHT WORD TO
DESCRIBE IT.
IT'S JUST COMPLETE TERROR.
>> Reporter: YEAH, NO BIG ENOUGH
WORDS.
AND PAIN, I WOULD THINK.
>> OH, YEAH.
I WAS -- YEAH.
>> Reporter: WHAT DID YOU THINK
WAS GONNA HAPPEN TO YOU?
>> I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE.
>> Reporter: AS YOU WERE STUCK
THERE IN THE BACK --
>> I -- YEAH, I THOUGHT I WAS
GONNA DIE FOR SURE
EVENTUALLY I JUST WAS REALLY
INSISTENT THAT I HAD TO GO TO
THE BATHROOM
I JUST KEPT TELLING HIM, "I HAVE
TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.
I HAVE TO GO."
AND FINALLY HE OPENED THE BACK
DOOR TO THE CAR, AND HE WAS
LIKE, "SQUAT DOWN RIGHT HERE."
AND HE HAD ME BY -- HAD -- HAD A
HOLD OF THE TOP OF MY HAIR
HE WAS HOLDIN' MY HAIR
AND WHEN I SQUATTED DOWN, THERE
WAS BLOOD THAT CAME.
AND HE -- WHEN HE SAW THAT, HE
KINDA WAS LIKE -
[ GASP ]
AND HE LET GO OF MY HAIR
>> Reporter: AND THEN THAT
8-YEAR-OLD GIRL DID SOMETHING
AMAZING.
SHE SAVED HERSELF.
>> I TOOK OFF RUNNIN'.
THERE WERE PEOPLE IN THE
DISTANCE
AND I JUST REMEMBER RUNNING
TOWARDS THEM, SCREAMING, "I WAS
KIDNAPPED," YOU KNOW
>> Reporter: HOW'D YOU HAVE THE
PRESENCE OF MIND TO DO THAT?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW
>> Reporter: THE STRANGERS
GATHERED UP THE BLOODIED,
TERRIFIED LITTLE GIRL AND CALLED
THE POLICE AND KERRI'S MOTHER.
>> WHILE I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL,
I WAS STILL SAYING, "NOTHING
HAPPENED, MOM.
NOTHING HAPPENED."
AND SHE'S LIKE, "YOU'RE
BLEEDING
YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
NOTHIN' HAPPENED?"
FINALLY I JUST STARTED TELLING
LITTLE BITS MORE
>> Reporter: SHE COULDN'T
REMEMBER ANYTHING TO IDENTIFY
THE MAN.
UNTIL ONE DAY --
>> IT DAWNED ON ME THAT THERE
WAS A GREEN STICKER ON THE BACK
OF HIS CAR
>> Reporter: IT WAS A BUMPER
STICKER REQUIRED FOR ENTRANCE TO
MARE ISLAND, THE NEARBY NAVAL
BASE
THAT NARROWED THE LIST OF
SUSPECTS FOR SURE.
A FEW DAYS LATER, KERRI WAS
ASKED TO COME TO THE POLICE
STATION.
>> AND THEY HANDED ME, LIKE, A
STACK OF FOLDERS WITH MUGSHOTS
AND I'M GOIN' THROUGH THEM, AND
I'M LOOKIN' AND LOOKIN'.
AND THE LAST PICTURE IN THE LAST
FOLDER WAS HIM
AND I WASN'T GONNA SAY IT.
AND MY MOM -
>> Reporter: YOU -- YOU WEREN'T
GONNA SAY IT
>> YEAH, THE FEAR, AGAIN, JUST
COMES OVER YOU
AND SHE SAID, "WHICH ONE IS IT?"
SHE KNEW
AND I POINTED, AND THE POLICE
SAID, "WE GOT HIM.
WE GOT HIM
WE GOT HIM RIGHT NOW
HE'S IN THE BACK."
>> Reporter: RAYMOND MOODY, WHO
WAS STATIONED AT THAT NAVAL
BASE, WAS ALREADY UNDER ARREST
FOR MULTIPLE SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON
YOUNG WOMEN AND LITTLE GIRLS
HE PLEADED GUILTY TO CHARGES
THAT INCLUDED RAPE AND SODOMY
AND KIDNAPPING AND WAS SENTENCED
TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON.
HE SERVED JUST OVER 20
AND THAT'S WHEN HE MOVED HOME TO
SOUTH CAROLINA, WHERE THE COPS
WORKING THE DREXEL CASE WERE NOW
HEARING KERRI HARDING'S STORY.
>> SHE WAS SAYIN', "YEAH, HE DID
IT
I MEAN, HE DID IT.
OF COURSE, THAT WAS UP TO US TO
PROVE.
>> Reporter: BUT FINDING PROOF
CAN BE A TRICKY THING.
>> HE CAME IN TO REPORT AGAIN
ONE DAY FOR REGISTRY
AND MIKE AND I ASK HIM WOULD
HE -- WE'D LIKE TO TALK TO HIM
AND GIVE HIM A CHANCE, YOU KNOW,
TO CLEAR HIS NAME, GIVE US A
ALIBI.
AND HE SAID, "I DON'T -- I DON'T
HAVE NOTHIN' TO SAY TO Y'ALL."
HE SAID, "YOU'RE GOOD
DETECTIVES
YOU FIGURE IT OUT.
>> Reporter: AND THOUGH THEY
KEPT IT UP FOR ANOTHER YEAR,
EVERY NEW PIECE OF WHAT LOOKED
LIKE EVIDENCE WAS JUST A LITTLE
TOO PATCHY
>> WE USED TO SAY ALL THE TIME,
"LIKE THE DEVIL HIMSELF IS
HELPIN' HIM.
'CAUSE EVERY TIME WE WOULD START
TO RUN SOMETHIN' DOWN, IT'D BE
LIKE, "YEAH, IT LOOKS GOOD, BUT
IT AIN'T -- THAT AIN'T ENOUGH.
>> Reporter: RAYMOND MOODY
REALLY WAS THE PERFECT SUSPECT
THE BOOGEYMAN.
THE OBVIOUS CHOICE
BUT THEN THE FBI SWOOPED IN WITH
WHOLE DIFFERENT ANSWER TO THE
MYSTERY SURROUNDING
BRITTANEE DREXEL
THE OBVIOUS CHOICE ISN'T ALWAYS
THE RIGHT ONE.
>>> COMING UP --
>> OBVIOUSLY, THEY FOUND
SOMETHIN' THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE.
>> A NEW SUSPECT
AND A GRIM STORY
>> I'M BEIN' TOLD THAT, "YES,
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR
DAUGHTER."
>> Reporter: THEY FELT THEY HAD EXHAUSTED ALL THE LEADS THAT
TIME AND TECHNOLOGY ALLOWED.
BY 2015, THE TASK FORCE MEMBERS
HAD RETIRED OR BEEN REASSIGNED
>> WE STILL TALKED
I MEAN, IF -- IF SOMETHING COME
UP, WE -- WE STILL TALKED.
BUT -- AH, WE -- WE HAD RUN IT
AND RUN IT TILL WE COULDN'T SEE
ANYWHERE ELSE TO GO WITH IT.
>> YEAH.
WELL, AND --
>> AT THAT TIME.
>> Reporter: ONCE AGAIN, THE
SEARCH FOR BRITTANEE DREXEL WAS
GOING NOWHERE.
EXCEPT, QUIETLY, ANOTHER AGENCY
WAS POKING AROUND.
AND THEN NOT SO QUIETLY.
IN 2016, THE FBI MADE A
BLOCKBUSTER ANNOUNCEMENT
IT HAPPENED HERE IN THE LITTLE
TOWN OF McCLELLANVILLE, NOT FAR
FROM POLE YARD LANDING
>> BRITTANEE DREXEL DID LEAVE
THE MYRTLE BEACH AREA, WE
BELIEVE SHE TRAVELED TO THIS
AREA AROUND McCLELLANVILLE, AND
THE NORTH CHARLESTON, SOUTH
GEORGETOWN AREA.
AND WE BELIEVE SHE WAS KILLED
AFTER THAT
>> Reporter: THIS WAS THE FIRST
TIME ANYONE HAD SAID
DEFINITIVELY THAT BRITTANEE WAS
DEAD
>> IT WAS A VERY BIG DEAL.
>> Reporter: BRETT DAVIDSEN
COVERED THE NEWS CONFERENCE FOR
NBC'S ROCHESTER AFFILIATE,
NBC'S ROCHESTER AFFILIATE, WHEC.
>> THEY HAD VARIOUS LAW
ENFORCEMENT THAT WAS THERE
THEY HAD FAMILY THERE.
>> WE KNOW THERE'S PEOPLE THAT
SAW SOMETHING, HEARD SOMETHING
AND THEY WERE MAKING A PLEA TO
THE COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY IN
McCLELLANVILLE, TO HELP THEM,
BECAUSE WHAT THEY STILL DIDN'T
HAVE WAS A BODY.
AND WHAT THEY STILL DIDN'T HAVE,
OR AT LEAST WHAT THEY WEREN'T
TALKING ABOUT, WAS A SUSPECT
>> Reporter: THEY CLEARLY HAD A
THEORY ABOUT WHO DID IT, AND IT
WASN'T RAY MOODY
DID YOU SEE THAT -- THAT PRESS
CONFERENCE
>> YEAH, I SAW IT.
>> WE ALL -- WE ALL SAW IT
>> YEAH.
>> WHEN THAT CAME OUT, I SAID
THAT THEY W -- OBVIOUSLY, THEY
FOUND SOMETHIN' THAT WE DIDN'T
HAVE
>> Reporter: SO WHAT DID THE FBI
HAVE
THE DAY BEFORE THAT NEWS
CONFERENCE, INVESTIGATORS
BROUGHT BRITTANEE'S FAMILY IN TO
TELL THEM SOMETHING THEY WEREN'T
GOING TO TELL THE PUBLIC
>> I'M BEIN' FLOWN DOWN TO THE
AREA, TOLD THAT, "YES, THIS IS
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR DAUGHTER."
>> Reporter: THE DETAILS WERE
HORRIBLE, HEARTBREAKING.
THEY CAME FROM A JAILHOUSE
INFORMANT, WHO TOLD THE FBI HE
HAD SEEN BRITTANEE AT THIS STASH
HOUSE IN McCLELLANVILLE, A FEW
DAYS AFTER SHE DISAPPEARED
HE SAID SHE WAS BEING SEXUALLY
ASSAULTED BY A GROUP OF MEN, AND
WHEN SHE TRIED TO RUN AWAY, THE
INFORMANT SAID, "THEY SHOT HER,
KILLED HER, TOOK HER BODY AWAY."
OTHER WITNESSES TOLD THE FBI
THEY HEARD BRITTANEE'S BODY WAS
THROWN INTO AN ALLIGATOR PIT
>> THERE'S ALL THOSE EMOTIONS
THAT, "MAN, SOMEONE KILLED HER
AND THEN THREW HER IN A PIT.
I JUST THOUGHT THAT, "WE MIGHT
NEVER KNOW, YOU KNOW?"
>> Reporter: YEAH, THE VERY
IDEA -- BUT, MY GOD, THAT MUST
JUST WEAR AT YA.
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: BRITTANEE'S LITTLE
BROTHER WAS ALMOST 13.
>> I DON'T REMEMBER WHO SAID IT.
BUT THEY TOLD US WHAT HAPPENED
TO MY SISTER, AND I RAN INTO THE
LAUNDRY ROOM, STARTED CRYING,
AND BREAKING DOWN.
THEN I WENT RIGHT OUTSIDE AND I
JUST WAS VERY DEVASTATED
>> Reporter: NOT THE SORT OF
THING YOU FORGET
>> NO, NOT AT ALL.
>> Reporter: WHAT'S THAT LIKE,
SORT OF THE BOTTOM FALLING OUT
OF YOUR WORLD OR SOMETHING
>> YEAH.
A LITTLE PART OF MY HEART KIND
OF CRACKED, I'D SAY.
AND IT JUST REALLY PUT ME INTO A
DARK PLACE AT THAT TIME, AT THAT
MOMENT
>> Reporter: THE FAMILY WASN'T
TOLD THE NAME OF THE ALLEGED
KILLER OR KILLERS, BUT LATER
THAT SUMMER, THE FBI MOVED IN ON
ONE OF THEIR SUSPECTS, A GUY
NAMED TIMOTHY TAYLOR
BUT THEY DIDN'T CHARGE HIM WITH
KILLING BRITTANEE.
NO, THEY BROUGHT HIM INTO
FEDERAL COURT ON NEW CHARGES
RELATED TO AN ARMED ROBBERY FROM
YEARS EARLIER.
NOW, AGENTS TOLD A FEDERAL
JUDGE, THEY WERE INVESTIGATING
TAYLOR'S POSSIBLE CONNECTION TO
THE BRITTANEE DREXEL CASE.
>> HIS ATTORNEY, HIMSELF, SAID
THAT -- THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO
SQUEEZE HIM, THAT THEY WERE
TRYING TO USE THESE NEW CHARGES
AGAINST HIM TO TRY AND GET HIM
TO PROVIDE INFORMATION
>> Reporter: INFORMATION --
EVIDENCE -- ABOUT WHAT HE AND
THE OTHER MEN HAD SUPPOSEDLY
DONE TO BRITTANEE.
THE SHOOTER WAS PROBABLY
TIM TAYLOR'S FATHER -- ACCORDING
TO THE INFORMANT
>> HE HAD GONE TO THE STASH
HOUSE TO SPEAK WITH TIM TAYLOR'S
FATHER OVER SOME FINANCIAL DEBT
AND THAT DURING THE COURSE OF
THAT, BRITTANEE TRIED TO GET
OUT, RUN OUT -- THAT SHE WAS
PISTOL WHIPPED AND BROUGHT BACK
IN
AND THEN HE SAID SHORTLY AFTER
THAT, HE HEARD A COUPLE OF
GUNSHOTS AND THAT HE SAW
INDIVIDUALS BRING OUT A ROLLED
UP RUG, PUT IN THE BACK OF A
TRUCK AND DRIVE OFF.
>> Reporter: NOW THEY WANTED
TAYLOR TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF IT
THE FEDERAL JUDGE LET TAYLOR OUT
ON BAIL, AND THAT'S WHEN HE
ENCOUNTERED A MEDIA STORM.
>> AN EYEWITNESS WHO IS IN
PRISON CAME FORWARD.
TIMOTHY TAYLOR WAS INVOLVED IN
DREXEL'S DISAPPEARANCE
>> ACCUSING TIMOTHY
DESHAUN TAYLOR OF BEING INVOVLED
IN THE BRITTANEE DREXEL CASE
>> Reporter: YOU MUST'VE FELT
PRETTY -- HAD SOME -- HAD SOME
DARK THOUGHTS ABOUT TIM TAYLOR
>> OH, YEAH.
SO NOW, IT'S LIKE, "OKAY, WELL,
WHO ELSE WAS INVOLVED?
>> Reporter: BRETT DAVIDSEN
DECIDED TO ASK TAYLOR AND HIS
THEN-ATTORNEY FOR AN INTERVIEW
>> I WAS SURPRISED THEY SAID
YES.
>> I MAY AS WELL START WITH THE
OBVIOUS QUESTION, DID YOU KILL
BRITTANY DREXEL?
>> NO, SIR
I DID NOT KILL BRITTANY DREXEL
>> Reporter: WELL, OF COURSE,
HE'D SAY THAT, BUT WHAT ELSE
WOULD TIMOTHY TAYLOR HAVE TO
SAY?
>>> COMING UP --
TIMOTHY TAYLOR TALKS
AND THAT JAILHOUSE INFORMANT HAS
A NEW STORY.
>> TO SAY I WAS SURPRISED WOULD
BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT
THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I'D
>> Reporter: THE FBI HAD LINKED
A NAME TO THE CRIMES AGAINST
BRITTANEE DREXEL --
TIMOTHY TAYLOR
AND THOSE CRIMES WERE TOO
TERRIBLE TO CONTEMPLATE.
FEDERAL AGENTS HAD WITNESSES,
INCLUDING A JAILHOUSE SNITCH,
WHO CLAIMED BRITTANEE WAS RAPED
AND SHOT AT THIS STASH HOUSE,
HER BODY THROWN INTO AN
ALLIGATOR PIT.
CHAD DREXEL SAID HE ASKED
INVESTIGATORS, "ARE YOU SURE?"
>> "WHAT EVIDENCE DO YOU HAVE?
"WE CAN'T TELL YOU EXACTLY, BUT
WE CAN TELL YOU ALL THE EVIDENCE
THAT WE HAVE LEADS TO THIS, AND
WE ARE ALMOST POSITIVE."
>> YOU HAVE AGENTS TESTIFYING
UNDER OATH THAT THEY HAVE
WITNESSES, THAT THEY'VE SPOKEN
TO PEOPLE WHO SAY THIS HAPPENED.
>> Reporter: WHEC ROCHESTER
REPORTER BRETT DAVIDSEN GOT A
CHANCE TO ASK TAYLOR DIRECTLY.
>> I MAY AS WELL START WITH THE
OBVIOUS QUESTION
DID YOU KILL BRITTANEE DREXEL?
>> NO, SIR
I DID NOT KILL BRITTANEE DREXEL.
>> WERE YOU INVOLVED IN THE
KIDNAPPING OF BRITTANEE DREXEL
>> NO, SIR, I WAS NOT.
>> Reporter: TIMOTHY TAYLOR WAS
BY THEN 25 YEARS OLD
HE'D LOST AN ARM IN A CHILDHOOD
ACCIDENT
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, HE WAS
COURTEOUS.
HE WAS SOFT SPOKEN, PHYSICALLY
SLIGHT
OF COURSE, HE HAS THE DISABILITY
WITH MISSING THE ONE ARM
SO, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT HIM
PHYSICALLY, I'M -- I HAD
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER I
THOUGHT HE, HIMSELF, COULD HAVE
EVEN ABDUCTED OR BEEN INVOLVED
IN THE ABDUCTION OF
BRITTANEE DREXEL
>> ARE YOU AWARE AT ALL OF YOUR
FATHER HAVING ANY INVOLVEMENT IN
THIS BRITTANEE DREXEL CASE
>> NO, SIR
>> Reporter: TAYLOR SAID HE'D
NEVER MET THE SNITCH WHO
FINGERED HIM AND HIS FATHER.
NEVER EVEN HEARD OF THE GUY.
>> BUT I HONESTLY DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING OR HAVE ANY INFORMATION
TO HELP THEM BECAUSE I HONESTLY
DON'T KNOW ANYTHING.
>> SEEMS LIKE YOU'VE BEEN KIND
OF PAINTED IN A CORNER NOW
>> YES, SIR.
>> WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO
>> PRETTY MUCH I JUST STAY TO
MYSELF PRAYING AND HOPE THAT
WHEN IT'S ALL OVER AND DONE,
EVERYBODY'S GONNA APOLOGIZE AND
THEY REALIZE THAT I REALLY
DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH
HER -- EVEN KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
IT
>> ONCE THE REALITY OF IT SANK
IN, I THINK HE QUICKLY WAS
FILLED WITH TERROR
>> Reporter: ATTORNEY CHRIS
ADAMS REPRESENTED TIM TAYLOR FOR
YEARS.
>> LIKE, HOW CAN AN INNOCENT MAN
BE LINKED OR SUSPECTED TO BE
INVOLVED IN A CRIME THEY HAD NO
INVOLVEMENT WITH
>> Reporter: IN THIS CASE, THE
ANSWER LIES IN AN OLD CRIME THAT
TIM TAYLOR DID COMMIT A FEW
YEARS EARLIER.
>> SO HE WAS A PARTICIPANT IN AN
ARMED ROBBERY.
HE WAS THE GETAWAY DRIVER.
HE WAS ARRESTED A FEW DAYS
LATER.
HE TOLD THE POLICE THAT HE DID
IT
THE FULL CASE WAS LAID OUT, AND
HE RECEIVED A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER
SENTENCE SUSPENDED ON TWO YEARS
PROBATION.
>> Reporter: THEN, YEARS LATER,
THAT SNITCH STARTED TALKING AND
THE FBI ARRESTED TAYLOR ON
FEDERAL CHARGES FOR THAT SAME
OLD CRIME.
A LEGAL BUT UNUSUAL TACTIC, SAID
CHRIS ADAMS.
AS A RESULT, TAYLOR SPENT ABOUT
A YEAR IN JAIL, WITH THE THREAT
OF MORE.
>> THEY DID THAT AS A WAY TO
APPLY PRESSURE ON TIM TAYLOR, TO
GET TIM TAYLOR TO CONFESS TO THE
DREXEL HOMICIDE AND TO -- AND TO
GET HIM TO COOPERATE AGAINST HIS
FATHER, WHO WAS THE OTHER
SUSPECT AT THE TIME.
>> Reporter: BUT TAYLOR NEVER
CONFESSED OR TURNED ON HIS
FATHER
AND SO ALL THEY HAD WAS THE
INFORMANT'S STORY.
SOLICITOR JIMMY RICHARDSON IS
THE LEAD PROSECUTOR FOR HORRY
COUNTY, WHERE MYRTLE BEACH IS
LOCATED.
>> AND WE VERY ADAMANTLY SAID,
"WE'RE NOT RELYING ON A
JAILHOUSE INFORMANT.
WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO DO
THAT."
>> Reporter: THAT'S ALL YOU HAD,
RIGHT?
>> YEAH.
WE TOLD 'EM, "WE CAN'T DO THIS
WITH WHAT YOU'VE GOT
>> Reporter: AND THAT'S WHERE
THE CASE AGAINST TIMOTHY TAYLOR
SAT FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
A YEAR WENT BY
TWO.
THREE.
NO ARREST.
AND THEN, IN 2019,
BRETT DAVIDSEN SCORED ANOTHER
IMPORTANT INTERVIEW.
>> WHY DON'T YOU TELL ME WHAT
YOU WITNESSED.
>> Reporter: THE PRISON
INFORMANT HIMSELF, THE SNITCH,
TAQUAN BROWN
BROWN WAS JUST STARTING A
25-YEAR SENTENCE FOR VOLUNTARY
MANSLAUGHTER
>> ON THIS MONDAY, APRIL 27th, I
SAW THE GIRL
>> IN THE STASH HOUSE?
>> YEAH.
IT WAS ABOUT 8, 12 GUYS IN
THERE.
>> Reporter: THAT WAS PRETTY
MUCH WHAT HE HAD TOLD THE FBI.
BUT OVER A SERIES OF PHONE
CALLS, BROWN'S STORY CHANGED
DRAMATICALLY
>> DREXEL WASN'T KILLED IN -- BY
THE STASH HOUSE.
SHE WAS KILLED IN ANOTHER TOWN
CALLED JACKSONBORO
>> Reporter: NOW HE CLAIMED HE
SAW BRITTANEE ALIVE DAYS LATER
AT THIS TRAILER IN THE TOWN OF
JACKSONBORO, MORE THAN A HUNDRED
MILES FROM MYRTLE BEACH.
AND IN THIS NEW STORY, HE SAID
SOME GUY NAMED NATE SHOT
BRITTANEE, NOT A TAYLOR AT ALL
>> NATE SHOT HER WITH A
DOUBLE-BARRELED SHOTGUN.
>> Reporter: AND THEY DIDN'T
THROW BRITTANEE'S BODY IN AN
ALLIGATOR PIT.
NO
JUST BURIED HER IN THE BACKYARD.
>> TO SAY I WAS SURPRISED WOULD
BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT
THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I'D
HEARD THAT
>> Reporter: SEEMED LIKE THE
PRISON INFORMANT'S STORY, THE
FBI'S EVIDENCE AGAINST THE
TAYLORS, WAS SQUISHIER THAN A
SOUTH CAROLINA SWAMP
BUT THE FBI NEVER MADE THAT
PUBLIC
>> THEY'VE NEVER SAID, "HEY, WE
GOT IT WRONG
THE TAYLORS ARE INNOCENT."
>> Reporter: YEARS CAME AND
WENT
THE TAYLORS UNDER SUSPICION,
BRITTANEE'S FAMILY IN
GRIEF-BOUND LIMBO.
THEN, IN 2020, A NEW TEAM, LED
AGAIN BY THE FBI, LAUNCHED A
FRESH LOOK AT BRITTANEE'S CASE
NO PRESS CONFERENCE.
NO PUBLIC STATEMENTS
THIS TIME, THE FBI SEEMED
DETERMINED TO GET IT RIGHT
>>> COMING UP --
AN UNEXPECTED SUSPECT.
>> SHE EVEN CLAIMS THAT SHE WAS
THE ONE THAT KILLED
BRITTANEE DREXEL
>> AND IS THIS THE KIDNAPPERS
CAR CAUGHT ON CAMERA
>> Reporter: SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN ALMOST 30 IN 2021.
BRITTANEE'S LITTLE BROTHER WAS
OFF TO COLLEGE, HER OLD FRIEND,
TARAH, HAD FINISHED LAW SCHOOL
AND WAS STUDYING FOR THE BAR
>> OVER 13 YEARS I'VE THOUGHT
ABOUT HER AND HER LAST MOMENTS
UM, WHAT COULD -- WHAT COULD'VE
HAPPENED, WHAT DID HAPPEN.
>> Reporter: TARAH HAD NO WAY OF
KNOWING THE INVESTIGATION HAD
ONCE AGAIN HIT "RESET.
>> FBI GUYS CAME IN AND JUST
REALLY WENT BACK TO WORK, BACK
TO SQUARE ONE, AND STARTED GOING
THROUGH EVERYTHING
AND I -- I THINK THAT MAY HAVE
BEEN A RESULT OF, YOU KNOW, SORT
OF GETTIN' MUD IN YOUR FACE.
>> Reporter: DIGGING THROUGH THE
CASE FILE, THEY FOUND SOMETHING
INTERESTING RELATED TO
ANGEL VAUSE.
REMEMBER HER, RAYMOND MOODY'S
GIRLFRIEND
>> OH, HE ALWAYS HAD THESE
FANTASIES ABOUT SNATCHIN' GIRLS
OFF THE STREET
>> Reporter: THREE YEARS AFTER
THAT INTERVIEW, BACK IN 2014 --
POLICE SECRETLY RECORDED A
CONVERSATION ANGEL WAS HAVING
WITH A FRIEND.
ANGEL WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT ALL
THE SUSPICION DIRECTED AT RAY.
>> SHE WAS MAD
SHE WAS TRYING TO DEFEND HIM
>> Reporter: THE AUDIO HAS NEVER
BEEN RELEASED PUBLICLY, BUT
SENIOR INVESTIGATOR,
HANK CARRISON, OF THE GEORGETOWN
COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS
HEARD IT
HE JOINED THE FBI INVESTIGATION.
>> BUT WHEN PRESSED ON THE
ISSUE, ANGEL DOES START TO
REITERATE THAT SHE HAS BEEN
INVOLVED IN IT
AND ONE POINT IN TIME, SHE EVEN
CLAIMS THAT SHE WAS THE ONE THAT
KILLED BRITTANEE DREXEL.
>> Reporter: ANGEL
ANGEL VAUSE WAS THE KILLER
SO WHY DIDN'T THEY ARREST HER
BACK THEN?
WELL, ACCORDING TO CARRISON, SHE
APPEARED TO BE DRUNK, AND SHE
GOT THINGS WRONG
IT HAD TO BE A LIE
>> I CAN'T SURMISE WHY OTHER LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES DID OR
DIDN'T DO THINGS
BUT I WOULDN'T HAVE CONSIDERED
THAT ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE
>> Reporter: NO.
>> IT CERTAINLY AROUSES
SUSPICION.
>> Reporter: BUT THEN, A BREAK
A BIG ONE.
IT WAS THIS SURVEILLANCE VIDEO
LOOK AT THAT CAR, IT'S HEADING
DIRECTLY TOWARD BRITTANEE JUST
AS SHE IS TEXTING HER BOYFRIEND
FOR WHAT WILL BE THE LAST TIME
IT'S A FORD EXPLORER
IT HADN'T SEEMED IMPORTANT
BEFORE, BUT NOW, IMPROVED
TECHNOLOGY SHARPENED THE IMAGE
OF THE CAR, ENOUGH THAT THEY
COULD TRACE IT
AND?
THE EXPLORER WAS REGISTERED TO
ANGEL VAUSE'S BROTHER.
OF COURSE, THE FBI WAS BEYOND
EAGER TO TALK TO ANGEL
AND, AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT,
HANK CARRISON KNEW HER FROM A
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
INVESTIGATION.
>> ASK HER TO COME DOWN TO THE
SHERIFF'S OFFICE
SAY, "WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT
SOMETHING COMPLETELY UNRELATED
>> Reporter: IN OTHER WORDS,
SOMETHING THAT WOULDN'T SCARE
HER OFF?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> GOING BACK TO -- TO 2009 --
>> Reporter: IT WAS NOW 2022
ANGEL WAS A NURSE.
SHE ARRIVED IN HER HOSPITAL
SCRUBS
AND THAT'S WHEN SHE LEARNED THIS
TALK WAS REALLY ABOUT
BRITTANEE DREXEL
>> "ANGEL --" I SAID, "THESE MEN
ARE HERE FROM THE FBI.
THEY'D LIKE TO ASK YOU A COUPLE
QUESTIONS.
>> Reporter: AT FIRST, ANGEL
SEEMED ODDLY CHEERFUL AS SHE
TALKED ABOUT HER LIFE, HER
DATING HISTORY WITH RAY MOODY,
HER FAMILY
>> Reporter: THEY WENT ON FOR A
COUPLE OF HOURS -- ANGEL
CHATTING, LAUGHING, FORGETTING,
ESPECIALLY ABOUT THAT CAR SHE
WAS DRIVING.
>> HOW 'BOUT ANY -- ANY CARS YOU
HAD BACK THEN?
>> OH MY GOD
>> THAT YOU CAN REMEMBER
>> GIVE ME A MINUTE.
>> Reporter: AND THEN, THE
AGENTS SUGGESTED ANGEL HERSELF
WAS UNDER SUSPICION.
>> DID YOU HAVE ANY INVOLVEMENT
IN -
>> WITH WHAT
>> -- IN PICKING UP
BRITTANEE DREXEL
>> HELL, NO.
MOSTLY DID -- DID NOT.
>> Reporter: THEY MENTIONED THAT
OLD SECRET RECORDING, WANTED TO
READ SOME QUOTES FROM IT
>> TELL YOU WHAT, DON'T READ ME
THAT
>> WHY
>> Reporter: SHE SEEMED TO THINK
THEY HAD RECORDED SOMETHING RAY
SAID, AND SHE JUMPED TO DEFEND
HIM.
>> 'CAUSE IF YOU'RE TRYING TO
ACCUSE HIM OF ANYTHING, THEN I'M
NOT GONNA BE INVOLVED IN
'CAUSE I SAY HE DIDN'T, OKAY
I SAY HE DID NOT -
>> I'M NOT ACCUSING HIM OF -
>> I'M NOT -- YEAH, YOU ARE.
THAT'S W -- THAT -- THAT
>> I'M NOT ACCUSING HIM OF
ANYTHING
>> I'M STRAIGHTFORWARD, TOO.
>> ANGEL, CAN WE JUST --
>> NO, I'M STRAIGHTFORWARD, TOO.
I DON'T THINK HE DID
AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA INVOLVE HIM
IN IT.
>> THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
HIM.
>> YES, IT DOES.
>> IT DOESN'T.
>> ALL RIGHT
>> ANGEL, HOLD ON ONE SECOND
>> NO, I'M NOT -
>> JUST GIVE US --
>> I SAID NO
>> -- ONE PIECE OF INFORMATION
>> I SAID NO
NO MEANS NO.
I GOTTA GO
>> SHE TAKES OFF
SHE COMES RIGHT BACK DOWNSTAIRS.
I INTERCEPT HER, AND I TALKED TO
HER.
>> Reporter: AND HE MADE
SOMETHING CLEAR.
>> THEY'RE NOT HERE TO TALK
ABOUT RAY.
THEY'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT YOU
NOW, IF YOU GOT SOMETHING YOU
WANNA GO IN THERE AND CLEAR UP,
NOW'S THE TIME
>> Reporter: MINUTES LATER, SHE
RETURNED
>> I'M BACK.
>> Reporter: NOW SHE UNDERSTOOD
ABOUT THAT OLD RECORDING -- THE
ONE IN WHICH SHE SAID SHE KILLED
BRITTANEE.
AND SHE HAD AN EXPLANATION
SHE WAS LYING BACK THEN, SHE
SAID TO PROTECT RAY.
>> I WAS JUST WANTING EVERYBODY
TO LEAVE HIM ALONE
SO, I PUT THE BLAME ON ME
INSTEAD OF HIM
>> IS THAT TRUE, THOUGH?
>> NO.
NO
I WOULD NEVER HURT ANYBODY
>> Reporter: ANGEL'S MEMORY
CONTINUED TO FAIL HER, BUT THEN
SHE MADE A SUGGESTION.
MAYBE THE PHONE SHE WAS CARRYING
IN 2009 COULD JOG HER MEMORY
>> WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT
I PROBABLY STILL HAVE THAT
PHONE.
>> YOU STILL HAVE THAT PHONE
OKAY
>> Reporter: A CELL PHONE FROM
2009
>> UH-HUH.
>> Reporter: DID YOU IMMEDIATELY
PERK UP WHEN YOU HEARD THAT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: THE PHONE COULD BE
HARD EVIDENCE ABOUT WHERE SHE
WAS THE NIGHT BRITTANEE
DISAPPEARED.
SO, THEY GOT A SEARCH WARRANT
AND SENT AN ARMY OF
INVESTIGATORS OUT TO RAY AND
ANGEL'S HOUSE.
>> Reporter: HOW MANY PEOPLE DID
YOU HAVE OVER THERE?
>> OH, GOD
20, 25, PROBABLY
>> Reporter: THAT'S MAKING SURE.
>> YEAH.
IT WAS -- IT WAS A HOOTENANNY
OUT THERE.
>> Reporter: AS THE FBI HEADED
OUT TO JOIN THE SEARCH, THEY
HEARD RAY AND ANGEL HAD LEFT THE
HOUSE.
MINUTES LATER, AGENTS MET UP
WITH THEM IN A CHURCH PARKING
LOT.
>> YOU KNOW, RAY GETS OUT,
APPROACHES THE VEHICLE
I CAN IMAGINE THAT WAS KINDA
TENSE.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS GUY'S
GONNA DO
>> AND RAY SAYS SOMETHING OF THE
EQUIVALENT, "I'VE GOT A BIG
SURPRISE FOR YOU NOW."
THE FBI AGENT THOUGHT HE WAS
TALKING ABOUT, "I'M GONNA KILL
MYSELF AND TAKE THIS INFORMATION
TO THE GRAVE."
AND HE SAYS, "RAY, YOU'VE GOT IT
ALL WRONG.
WE'RE NOT AFTER YOU.
WE'RE AFTER ANGEL.
>> Reporter: THAT, APPARENTLY,
GOT HIS ATTENTION.
SUDDENLY, AFTER 13 YEARS,
RAY MOODY WAS UP AGAINST A WALL.
BUT AS IT TURNED OUT, HE REALLY
DID HAVE A BIG SURPRISE FOR
THEM
>>> COMING UP --
RAY MOODY TELLS US HIS VERSION
OF WHAT HAPPENED THE NIGHT
BRITTANEE DISAPPEARED.
>> MY CRAZY SELF JUST KIND OF
STEPPED IN AND SAID, "HEY, YOU
KNOW, HERE'S THIS OPPORTUNITY.
>> Reporter: THE SEARCH OUT AT
RAY MOODY'S PLACE DIDN'T TURN UP
ANYTHING USEFUL, NOT EVEN
ANGEL'S OLD PHONE.
BUT DID IT HAVE THE DESIRED
EFFECT ON RAY?
IT CERTAINLY DID, ESPECIALLY
WHEN THEY TOLD HIM THE TARGET OF
THE INVESTIGATION WAS NOT HIM,
BUT ANGEL.
ANGEL WHO KNEW ALL HIS SECRETS
THEN SUDDENLY RAY MOODY
ANNOUNCED HE WAS READY TO TALK
AND IN MAY 2022, IN CUSTODY NOW,
AND SURROUNDED BY COPS AND
ATTORNEYS, HE OFFERED A
CONFESSION
AND THEN HE TOLD HIS STORY TO
US
ILLNESS HAD AGED HIM, COST HIM
AN EYE
BUT, AS WAS SOON CLEAR, NOT THE
DESIRE TO MANIPULATE, AS HE
PRESENTED THE VERSION OF
RAY MOODY HE WANTED ME TO
BELIEVE WAS REAL
THAT IS A GOOD MAN WHO, A FEW
TIMES, YEARS AGO, BRIEFLY BECAME
A MONSTER.
>> I FELT LIKE I WAS JUST, LIKE,
TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE, JUST TWO
DIFFERENT PEOPLE
>> Reporter: THEN, AN EXCUSE
WHICH HE OFFERED A LITTLE SOONER
THAN I'D EXPECTED.
THE EXCUSE THAT HIS JAILORS IN
CALIFORNIA HAD FAILED TO
REHABILITATE HIM, SO THEIR
FAULT?
>> I WAS ACTUALLY FRUSTRATED
BECAUSE DURIN' MY ENTIRE
INCARCERATION THEY NEVER MADE
ONE LITTLE EFFORT TO PROVIDE ANY
KINDA HELP FOR ME.
>> Reporter: I SAT BACK,
LISTENED, LET HIM TALK, AND
TALK, AND CRY, BECAUSE HE'D BEEN
SEPARATED FROM THE LITTLE GIRL
HE LOVED, ANGEL'S GRANDDAUGHTER,
A GIRL THE SAME AGE
KERRI HARDING WAS WHEN HE
ATTACKED HER
>> Reporter: HOW OLD IS SHE?
>> SHE'S 8
SHE IS 8
AND UH -
>> Reporter: SAME AGE AS THAT
GIRL OUT IN CALIFORNIA
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: HARD TO IMAGINE
SOMETHIN' LIKE THAT HAPPENING TO
YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER
>> I CAN'T
>> Reporter: I'D BEEN TOLD HE
WAS CLEVER
COULD SEEM GENUINE
AND YET HERE, WEEPING, HE ALMOST
REEKED OF CALCULATION.
AND, TEARS GONE AS FAST AS THEY
CAME, HE CHANGED TACTIC AND
LAUNCHED INTO THE TALE THAT HE
CLAIMED WAS AN HONEST CONFESSION
OF TRUE EVENTS, THE NIGHT HE
SPIED PRETTY, PETITE BRITTANEE
WALKING ALONG SOUTH OCEAN
BOULEVARD.
>> I WAS IN THE CAR AND I CALLED
HER.
AND SHE CAME OVER TO THE WINDOW,
AND SHE SMILED, AND SHE LOOKED
IN, AND SHE LOOKED AROUND.
AND I ASKED HER IF SHE WANTED TO
PARTY WITH US A LITTLE BIT
WE WERE SMOKIN' SOME POT, JUST
HAVIN' A GOOD TIME LIKE
EVERYBODY ELSE
>> Reporter: NOW THERE WAS A
TELL
I'D JUST HEARD FROM MULTIPLE
PEOPLE
BRITTANEE HATED POT.
>> AND I CAN SEE HER MIND
WORKIN'.
AND SHE SAID, "YEAH," AND SHE
GOT IN
>> I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT, "GOD --
WHY'D SHE GET IN?"
YOU KNOW
>> DON'T EVER GET IN A VEHICLE
WITH A STRANGER.
>> Reporter: BUT ANGEL WAS WITH
YOU?
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: TWO MIDDLE-AGED
PEOPLE IN A CAR.
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: AND YOU DID -- YOU
LOOKED SAFE.
>> YEAH, I GUESS THAT'S WHAT SHE
THOUGHT.
>> Reporter: ON HE FORGED WITH
HIS AWFUL TALE, TOLD AS IF
DESCRIBING A PLEASANT DRIVE TO
THE BEACH.
>> SMALL CONVERSATION.
>> Reporter: SHE HAD TO BE
GETTING -- GETTING PRETTY
FRIGHTENED AT THAT POINT
>> SHE REALLY WASN'T
SHE REALLY WASN'T.
>> Reporter: THAT'S -- BUT
THAT'S -
>> I MEAN, IT'S HARD -- IT'S
HARD TO -- IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE.
>> Reporter: WELL, IT CERTAINLY
IS, ISN'T IT
AND WHY DID HER TEXTS SUDDENLY
STOP?
JUST HAPPENED THAT WAY, HE SAID.
BUT YOU'RE TELLIN' ME THAT
DURING THAT ENTIRE TIME, THIS
CONSTANT TEXTER, CONSTANTLY
TEXTING HER BOYFRIEND.
>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT YOUNG
PEOPLE DO.
>> Reporter: JUST STOPPED?
AS SOON AS SHE GET IN YOUR
CAR --
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: SHE STOPPED TEXTING
ANYBODY FROM THEN UNTIL THE
MOMENT SHE DIED?
>> YUP
>> Reporter: A LIE, OF COURSE.
THE HOUR BEFORE SHE VANISHED,
SHE SENT OUT 17 TEXTS, 100 THAT
DAY.
WOULD SHE HAVE RESPONDED TO
THIS, FROM HER BOYFRIEND
PLEASE CALL ME
PLEASE
OF COURSE, SHE WOULD'VE.
BUT SHE DIDN'T
COULDN'T
WHY TAKE HER TO POLE YARD
LANDING?
REMEMBER THAT TENT ANGEL TOLD
THE COPS SHE'D NEVER ACTUALLY
SEEN
RAY'S TENT
WELL, IT WAS RIGHT HERE.
SHE KNEW ALL ALONG
SHE HAD BEEN THERE
>> GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND
WALKED UP TO OUR CAMP AREA
AND THEN WE'RE JUST TALKIN' A
LITTLE BIT, SMOKIN' A LITTLE BIT
OF POT, AND ANGEL DECIDED THAT
IT'S ABOUT TIME TO MEET UP WITH
HER SON.
AND SHE TOOK OFF
SHE WAS GONE FOR A GOOD WHILE
TOO.
>> Reporter: SO SHE -- SHE LEFT
YOU ALONE WITH A 17-YEAR-OLD
GIRL
>> YEAH, SHE DIDN'T -- YEAH,
YEP.
BUT ONCE SHE WAS GONE -- YEAH,
MY CRAZY SELF JUST KINDA STEPPED
IN AND SAID, "HEY, YOU KNOW,
HERE'S THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I DIDN'T PLAN IT OUT LIKE THAT
THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT WENT
DOWN
>> Reporter: AND THEN, HE RAPED
HER.
ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU PLANNED TO
DO ALL ALONG
>> NO.
NO
>> Reporter: INNOCENT AS THE
DRIVEN SNOW UNTIL THAT VERY
MOMENT, HUH?
>> PRETTY CLOSE TO IT, YEAH.
>> Reporter: BRITTANEE
STRUGGLED, HE SAID
AT FIRST
BUT THEN -
>> SO, I GUESS SHE FIGURED THE
BEST THING FOR HER TO DO IS JUST
COOPERATE.
YEAH
>> Reporter: SHE WAS TERRIFIED
>> I'M SURE SHE WAS.
YEAH
YOU'D BE SURPRISED SOMETIMES
IT'S NOT LIKE THE MOVIES
>> Reporter: WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
>> THE WAY PEOPLE REACT IN
SITUATIONS
SOMETIMES THEY'RE VERY CALM.
YEAH
LIKE, WITH MY EXPERIENCES, 99%
OF THE TIME, YEAH.
>> Reporter: THESE YOUNG WOMEN
REALIZED THEY WERE ABOUT TO BE
SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AND SO TH -
>> YEAH, TH -- THEY COOPERATIVE.
>> Reporter: BECAUSE THEY WERE
SCARED OF YOU?
>> CORRECT
>> Reporter: BECAUSE THEY WERE
AFRAID YOU MIGHT DO TO THEM
EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID TO
BRITTANEE?
>> EXACTLY
PROBABLY, YEAH
>> Reporter: THEN YOU STRANGLED
HER?
>> YES, SIR.
>> Reporter: YOU COULDA LET HER
GO
>> I COULDA.
I COULDA
BUT I DIDN'T FOR SELFISH
REASONS.
BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT HER TO --
GOIN' TO THE POLICE, AND THEN
I'D BE GOIN' BACK TO PRISON THE
REST OF MY LIFE.
>> Reporter: AFTER, HE CARRIED
BRITTANEE'S BODY INTO THE WOODS
AND WHEN ANGEL RETURNED, HE TOLD
HER BRITTANEE HAD LEFT WITH
FRIENDS.
A STORY HE CLAIMED ANGEL
ACCEPTED
>> YEAH.
SHE DIDN'T QUESTION ME
>> Reporter: SO THAT WAS HIS
STORY.
THE VERY SAME ONE HE TOLD THE
POLICE
BUT SITTING HERE WITH HIM, I
COULD NOT STOP THINKING ABOUT
THAT 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL, HOW
FRIGHTENED SHE MUST HAVE BEEN,
ABDUCTED AND HELPLESS AS THEY
DROVE OUT OF TOWN TO THAT TENT
IN THE WOODS, AS HE HELD HER
DOWN AND RAPED HER AND STRANGLED
HER LIFE AWAY.
AND NOW HAD JUST BESMIRCHED HER
CHARACTER.
>> Reporter: YOU -- YOU -- YOU
PUT YOURSELF HERE.
I GOTTA TELL YOU, PRETTY
SKILLFULLY IN -- IN THE SENSE
THAT IF I WERE GOING TO CONFESS
TO RAPING AND MURDERING A YOUNG
WOMAN.
>> YUP
>> Reporter: I WOULD WANNA MAKE
HER SOMEHOW COMPLICIT IN THE
EVENT.
IN OTHER WORDS, I DIDN'T GO OUT
THERE AND SEE A WOMAN COMIN'
ALONG THE SIDE OF THE STREET,
AND GET THAT OLD IMPULSE TAKES
OVER, AND I THINK, "I GOTTA GET
THAT ONE."
RATHER, I WOULD SAY, "SHE WANTED
TO COME ALONG.
SHE WANTED TO PARTY.
THINGS GOT OUTTA CONTROL."
>> WELL, GR --
YEAH
>> Reporter: RIGHT
>> YUP
>> Reporter: [ BLEEP ]
THAT'S NOT HOW -- HOW IT
HAPPENED, AND YOU KNOW IT.
>> OH, YOU DON'T THINK SO?
>> Reporter: THESE
INVESTIGATORS, WHO WORKED THE
CASE YEARS BEFORE, AGREED.
>> DON'T BELIEVE IT.
NO
THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN
>> NO.
>> I -- I PERSONALLY THINK THIS
COUPLE PULLED UP, OFFERED HER A
RIDE, AND SHE TOOK IT BECAUSE
SHE WAS IN A HURRY
AND SHE TOOK IT BECAUSE I
BELIEVE ANGEL'S RIGHT THERE, SO
SHE'S THINKIN', "OKAY, IT'S NOT
JUST THIS CREEPY DUDE.
THERE'S A WOMAN THERE, TOO
I'LL BE OKAY
WE'RE ON THE BOULEVARD
THEY'LL TAKE ME UP THERE REAL
QUICK.
I'LL JUMP OUT.
THAT'S WHAT I THINK -- THINK
HAPPENED
>> Reporter: BUT TO THE LAW,
RAY MOODY'S STORY WAS A
CONFESSION TO RAPE AND MURDER.
THOUGH IT LEFT SOME UNANSWERED
QUESTIONS.
FOR ONE THING, WHERE WAS
BRITTANEE DREXEL
>>> COMING UP --
>> I SAID, "THE BIGGEST THING IS
YOU GOTTA TAKE US TO THE BODY.
AND HE SAID, "I CAN DO THAT.
>> AND WILL WE EVER KNOW ANGEL'S
ROLE
>> Reporter: SEEMS PRETTY CLEAR
THAT HIS CONFESSION IS VERY
CAREFULLY TAILOR-MADE TO PROTECT
ANGEL.
>> THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO
CONTINUE TO INVEIG
>>> THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT
I REMEMBER LIKE YESTERDAY.
>> Reporter: WHO COULD HAVE
GUESSED IT WOULD END THIS WAY?
BRITTANEE DREXEL'S KILLER JUST
GAVE IT ALL UP
BUT WAS THAT REALLY ALL?
THERE HAD BEEN SO MANY FALSE
LEADS.
HOW COULD THE PROSECUTOR KNOW
THIS WAS REAL?
>> AND I SAID, "THE BIGGEST
THING IS YOU GOTTA TAKE US TO
THE BODY."
AND HE SAID, "I CAN DO THAT.
>> Reporter: MOODY MOVED
BRITTANEE'S BODY THE NIGHT HE
KILLED HER, ABOUT TEN MILES
AWAY
SO THAT'S WHERE HE TOOK
INVESTIGATORS.
AND THERE, BURIED ON THE
PROPERTY OF UNSUSPECTING
HOMEOWNERS, THEY FOUND HER
REMEMBER THAT CEMETERY TO WHICH
INVESTIGATORS HAD TRACKED RAY'S
CAR?
THAT WAS JUST A SHORT WALK TO
BRITTANEE'S GRAVE.
AND JUST LIKE THAT, AFTER
13 YEARS AND AN OCEAN OF
HEARTACHE, IT WAS OVER
IT WAS MAY 2022.
HER FAMILY CAME TO SEE THE PLACE
SHE'D BEEN ALL THOSE YEARS
>> YOU KNOW, I'M JUST THINKIN'
ALL THESE JUST INSANELY BAD
THOUGHTS
BUT THINKIN' -- THEN I START
PRAYIN'.
AND THE WEIRDEST THING IS THE
OWNER OF THE LAND, THE WIFE,
CAME RIGHT UP TO ME AND SAID,
"CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION?
WOULD YOU MIND IF I PLANTED A
TREE HERE FOR YOUR DAUGHTER?
AND -- AND I LOST IT
I SAID, "ABSOLUTELY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY
THE GEORGETOWN COUNTY SHERIFF'S
OFFICE CHARGES AGAINST
MR. RAYMOND MOODY ARE MURDER,
KIDNAPPING, CRIMINAL SEXUAL
CONDUCT IN THE FIRST DEGREE.
>> Reporter: AND JUST AT THE
END, SOMEONE CALLED OUT THIS
QUESTION
>> WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR
TIMOTHY TAYLOR
>> Reporter: TIMOTHY TAYLOR HAD
SPENT YEARS UNDER A CLOUD OF
UGLY SUSPICION, FINGERED BY AN
INFORMANT WHO LIED
I ASKED REID DAVIS ABOUT THAT.
DAVIS IS ASSISTANT SPECIAL AGENT
IN CHARGE FOR THE FBI IN
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA
HOW LONG BEFORE YOU REALIZED
THAT JAILHOUSE INFORMANT WAS NOT
CORRECT, WAS ALL WET
>> I WOULD SAY SOMETIME AROUND
2018 -
>> Reporter: YEAH.
>> -- WAS WHEN HE ACTUALLY
RECANTED ON HIS STATEMENTS
SO WE -- WE DEFINITELY KINDA
SHUT DOWN THAT LINE OF EFFORT
AT -- AT THAT POINT.
>> Reporter: BUT NO ONE EVER
SAID PUBLICLY THAT THE EVIDENCE
AGAINST TAYLOR HAD FALLEN APART.
CREATED ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF
DAMAGE IN THE TAYLORS' LIFE,
ESPECIALLY TIMOTHY TAYLOR WHO,
YOU KNOW -- I MEAN, THEY WERE
LOSIN' JOBS.
THEY WERE LOSIN' FRIENDS
WAS THERE ANYTHING THE FBI
COULD'VE DONE TO -- TO CORRECT
THAT WHEN IT HAPPENED?
>> I -- I DON'T KNOW
SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE FBI
COULD'VE DONE TO -- TO -- TO
CORRECT IT ONLY BECAUSE --
>> Reporter: WELL, THEY COULD'VE
SAID, "OKAY, HE'S NOT -- HE'S
NOT A SUSPECT ANYMORE.
AT SOME POINT ALONG THE WAY,
LIKE, '18 OR '19, COULDN'T YOU
HAVE DONE THAT
>> WELL, I COULD SEE WHY YOU
WOULD -- YOU'D ASK THAT, FOR
SURE
BUT WHEN WE HADN'T COMPLETED THE
INVESTIGATION YET, IT'S VERY
DIFFICULT TO -- TO SAY WITH
ABSOLUTE POSITIVITY THAT SOMEONE
ISN'T INVOLVED
>> Reporter: THE TAYLOR FAMILY
WAS IN COURT WHEN RAY MOODY WAS
SENTENCED.
THEY'RE UPSET STILL.
AND THEY'RE -- I THINK
THEY'RE -- THEY'RE LOOKIN' FOR
AN APOLOGY FROM YOUR AGENCY.
DO YOU THINK THAT -- THAT THEY
MIGHT GET ONE?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE WOULD BE
THE APPROPRIATE PARTY TO
APOLOGIZE SIMPLY FOR THE FACT
THAT WE WERE DOIN' EVERYTHIN'
POSSIBLE TO RECOVER
BRITTANEE DREXEL
>> Reporter: AND WHILE WE KNOW
TIMOTHY TAYLOR WAS NOT INVOLVED,
THE SAME CANNOT BE SAID FOR
SOMEONE ELSE
THERE WERE, AFTER ALL, THREE
PEOPLE IN THE CAR.
THERE WAS BRITTANEE AND RAY AND
AND ANGEL.
>> ACCORDIN' TO HIS STATEMENT,
THERE WERE -- THERE WERE
THREE --
>> Reporter: I'M -- I'M SURE
YOU'VE TALKED TO TWO OF THE
THREE.
AND --
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: SEEMS PRETTY CLEAR
THAT HIS CONFESSION IS VERY
CAREFULLY TAILOR-MADE TO PROTECT
ANGEL, TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE
DOESN'T GET CHARGED AS BEING AN
ACCESSORY TO THIS CRIME OR
WORSE.
>> THE STATEMENT CONVENIENTLY
LEAVES HER OUT OF ANY COMMISSION
OF A CRIME ABSOLUTELY.
SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO
CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE.
>> Reporter: SO I CAN SEE WHERE
THERE'D BE A LITTLE MORE WORK TO
BE DONE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND MISS DREXEL DESERVES IT.
>> Reporter: KERRI HARDING,
MOODY'S VICTIM FROM SO MANY
YEARS AGO, BELIEVES HE HAS OTHER
VICTIMS LAW ENFORCEMENT STILL
DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT.
>> IF I COULD JUST SAY ONE THING
TO HIM, THAT'S WHAT IT WOULD BE.
"JUST TELL THE TRUTH ON HOW
MANY."
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN
"IF YOU'RE GONNA COME CLEAN AND
TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT
BRITTANEE DREXEL, TELL THE TRUTH
ON ALL OF IT."
>> Reporter: BRITTANEE'S FAMILY
WAS THERE WHEN MOODY WAS
SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT
PAROLE
HE WILL DIE IN PRISON.
THIS IS BRITTANEE'S MOTHER,
DAWN
>> BRITTANEE WANTED TO GET
MARRIED.
SHE LOVED KIDS AND WANTED TO BE
A MOM, A CAREER WOMAN, A WIFE.
BUT YOU TOOK THAT ALL AWAY FROM
HER.
>> Reporter: CHAD STRUGGLED TO
DESCRIBE THE DEPTH OF HIS LOSS
>> I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO WALK
BRITTANEE DOWN THE AISLE
NEITHER WILL HER BLOOD FATHER OR
DAWN -- WILL NEVER -- SHE'LL
NEVER -- SHE'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO
SEE MY GRANDDAUGHTER, HER NIECE
WHO'S HERE, WHO'S AMAZING.
NOW ALL THAT'S SNATCHED AWAY
FROM US.
>> Reporter: HE TALKS A LOT
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY
AND FATHERHOOD
>> YOU NEED TO BE IN THEIR
LIVES.
YOU NEED TO BE, I ALWAYS SAY, IN
THEIR BUSINESS AS MUCH AS YOU
CAN.
>> Reporter: FOR TARAH, MEMORIES
OF BRITTANEE ARE CLEAR AS A
SNAPSHOT -- LIKE THAT DAY ON
LAKE ONTARIO
>> SOME OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES
WITH BRITTANEE IS JUST GOING TO
CHARLOTTE BEACH, AND WE WERE
WEARING THE SAME -- SAME SHIRT,
DIFFERENT COLORS
WE WERE BOTH WEARING BRIGHT BLUE
EYE SHADOW
AND WE WERE JUST WRITING IN THE
SAND
AND WE WERE TAKING ALL THESE
PHOTOS OF JUST US IN THE SAND.
>> Reporter: THEY WERE SO YOUNG
AND IMAGINED THEY WERE
INVULNERABLE
ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY WEREN'T
>>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION
OF "DATELINE."
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY
AT 9:00, 8:00 CENTRAL.
AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU
EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY
NEWS."
I'M LESTER HOLT.
FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS, GOOD
NIGHT.