Found Deceased SC - Brittanee Drexel, 17, Myrtle Beach, 25 April 2009 - #10

[waltzingmatilda]

Thanks for the info everyone. I didn't read the link that krista posted due to the graphic content. However, I think it would be more likely for someone to willingly accept a ride from person(s) who are in a position of authority, ie, military, law enforcement, lifeguards. MOO though.

Prayers for Britt's family and LE working on the case. This waiting must be a nightmare for the Drexel's. Hang in there Brittanee. Someone will find you and bring you home. I am keeping the faith.

wm

 

[nosysw]

The above article regarding the attempted abduction really bothers me so I am refraining from commenting. Also, I found this article

http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=12500564

and it occured to me that this could be a way that someone would not directly know Britt.
Does anyone know if these umbrella and chair rental companies requires paperwork with info like the name of hotel the renter is staying in, along with personal info, etc.? Do we know if Britt or the girls rented chairs or umbrellas? I really have a feeling that whoever is involved worked in MB in a position requiring contact with the public....or at least watched her walk back and forth between the two hotels.

Just some thoughts and MOO.

wm

I believe that they just require payment and a deposit. At least for the daily rentals...I have seen them many times setting them up very early in the am and taking them down around 5 or 6 but I've never really seen them interact much with anyone...They always seem kind of like they're hiding somewhere until someone tries to sit in one of the seats and they seem to pop up out of thin air!

Of course, if there were attractive girls to flirt with, I'm sure they could take more time...

 

[mlatta]

For you Georgetown locals: What are the chances that someone from another more affluent area of Georgetown would come to the seven mile rd area or the N Santee River/Corner Loop Rd area after 9pm?

what's the makeup of the people in those two areas? Are they young/old? Are they poor/well off? In many areas of this state, having a boat ramp/dock and a house on the river would be considered 'living well'.....so I just want to hear from some locals about this particular area...what it's like, what type of people live there....if it is known as a drug/dangerous area in particular, or just Georgetown in general?? And anything else you'd like to mention!!

I might be able to help clear some of this up for you.

First you have to seperate the town of Georgetown with Georgetown county.

The town of Georgetown is pretty nice. It has a great historic district, and is slowly recovering from an economic downturn which immediately followed the closing of the steel plant in Georgetown.

Georgetown county covers a LOT of area. Much of this area is unincorporated communities. (i.e. N Santee, S Santee, Sampit, etc.) These areas are definatley considered rural. North Santee is a "mixed bag" IMO... There are some nice homes around that area, some with docks and boat ramps. The nice areas I saw are Whitehall, and Belle Isle. There's also a large number of mobile homes and shady areas nearby. The thing that scares me the most about the area is the dense forest around, and how the homes are so spread out. At some points you could scream at the top of your lungs and not be heard. A lot of the roads are dirt roads. There's not many businesses around at all. A couple convenience stores, a liqour store, a nursery, is about all I could find. Graffitti seems to be minimal around this area. There is a community center, a ball field, and a couple of parks around. They seem to be a little older, less modern than you would find in bigger cities, but pretty clean and well kept. I drove down 7 mile road at 9:30AM on a sunday and I was gestured by two shady individuals. (Trying to initiate a drug sale) 7 mile road (I think) is technically in the S Santee community, but would definatley be considered nearby.

I can only imagine the average income in this area isn't too good. The older folks are limited to retirement and/or Social Security.

A lot of older "country folk" retired and love the small town-ishness of this area.

Highway 17 is a pretty heavily travelled road. It runs all along the coast of SC. I am in Charleston. I use it to go North to Myrtle Beach, and South to pick up I-95.

South of S Santee, is Charleston County - there is nothing but Francis Marion National forest until you get to McClellanville, which is another small town, though it is incorporated.

North of N Santee, there is a small airport for the rich folks around here isn't much until you get to the town of Georgetown.

I believe it was Krista who found this FWIW:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?p...1899500&ref=search&sid=529269593.265327026..1

Hope that gave you a little clearer view of the area. I am planning to go out that way this weekend, with a REAL digital camera (As opposed to my phone) so I will be able to get more pics of the area... (AND find the spot where those sunglasses were found!)

 

[Strawberry Fields]

This may be a tad OT, but I know back in my "young days"...in the 80's, everyone would cruise OB sometimes til 2 a.m. bumper to bumper. Eventually there was an ordinance of some kind put into place down there in MB that cars could not just cruise up and down OB. My question is how can LE go about trying to keep cars from doing this? Is this still a law? Maybe since more of the tourist nighttime attractions seem to be away from OB these days there is no need to try and enforce this. I believe if there was more "hustle and bustle" as there was back then, it would have been much harder for a perp to just abduct anyone off of OB. I do remember walking a pretty good distance from a nightclub in MB one night (Mem. day wkend 81 or 82) alone when my two girlfriends stayed at the club and I remember not being afraid. Again it was busy, lots of walkers and traffic, not much dark spots like where BD had to walk.

 

[mlatta]

My question is how can LE go about trying to keep cars from doing this? Is this still a law?

I saw a sign that prohbited cruising the strip. Can't remember exactly how it was worded. I am certain I saw it though. I guess it would be considered a city ordinance.

I once got a citation for "riding the strip" in VA Beach, several years ago, The officer simply stated he observed me driving by the same spot 4 times. I paid the ticket right before I left town. I don't recall it being that much $$ either.

 

[lizzybeth]

I saw a sign that prohbited cruising the strip. Can't remember exactly how it was worded. I am certain I saw it though. I guess it would be considered a city ordinance.

I once got a citation for "riding the strip" in VA Beach, several years ago, The officer simply stated he observed me driving by the same spot 4 times. I paid the ticket right before I left town. I don't recall it being that much $$ either.

I'm in a neighboring city of VA Beach and yep, that's how they catch you. If you're seen going by one particular spot more than, I don't know if it's two or three, times then you're considered cruising the strip and are ticketed.

 

[Strawberry Fields]

I'm in a neighboring city of VA Beach and yep, that's how they catch you. If you're seen going by one particular spot more than, I don't know if it's two or three, times then you're considered cruising the strip and are ticketed.

So if they still do this in MB, maybe they could have seen whoever took BD and don't even realize it. I would think perhaps any perp or perps would have to go by at least twice to find whoever they are going to grab. Maybe if they had written some tickets for this "offense" they could have even written one on whoever took BD...just a thought but maybe they need to go through those tickets if they gave any out that night and see who comes up. Just a far fetched thought probably on my part...call it grasping at straws I guess.

Thanks for the info LB and ML.

 

[nosysw]

So if they still do this in MB, maybe they could have seen whoever took BD and don't even realize it. I would think perhaps any perp or perps would have to go by at least twice to find whoever they are going to grab. Maybe if they had written some tickets for this "offense" they could have even written one on whoever took BD...just a thought but maybe they need to go through those tickets if they gave any out that night and see who comes up. Just a far fetched thought probably on my part...call it grasping at straws I guess.

Thanks for the info LB and ML.

We have timeshares in MB on OB...As far as I can see, people are still cruising OB but probably not as late as before and definitely much higher numbers on Friday and Saturday. I don't know what the time frame would be for being seen 3 or 4 times as the traffic moves so slowly it could take forever to get more that a few blocks that many times. It's probably slower than NYC in rush hour!

I don't think your thought is far fetched as all SF...In fact, I wouldn't bet that they haven't done this already...

 

[krista]

I don't know about ordinances in MB on cruising the strip, but I can assure you that it still happens all the time....especially with sprink break week and on weekends!!

That said, I don't know that the area Brittanee was traveling would have been in the 'main strip' area. I ***think*** it is just south of the area commonly cruised if I remember correctly. I'd have to be there to **see it**, but if you look at the surveillence video it wasn't all that crowded. It would have been PACKED if it had been the main strip area.

As for your theory, I think its very plausable!! I also think this is why I believe she was taken from the BWR parking lot or another alleyway....or she went willingly. I just don't see someone abducting her from the main road at any hour without being noticed...IMHO.

 

[RoseC]

I don't know about ordinances in MB on cruising the strip, but I can assure you that it still happens all the time....especially with sprink break week and on weekends!!

That said, I don't know that the area Brittanee was traveling would have been in the 'main strip' area. I ***think*** it is just south of the area commonly cruised if I remember correctly. I'd have to be there to **see it**, but if you look at the surveillence video it wasn't all that crowded. It would have been PACKED if it had been the main strip area.

Krista,
Listen to all,,, it WAS NOT SPRING BREAK here for SC, our Spring break was over, the papers only state that BD was here on her Spring Break,so there fore beach wouldnt be as crowed,due all our schools and colleges had went back to classes,,,most that been in MB would be locals, or ppl vacationing,,,,

 

[SeaNymph]

IIRC they re-routed the main cruising area, near the old Pavilion/new boardwalk, of the boulevard to one way during certain hours/times of the year to cut down on the gridlock. The area BD was in, specifically near BWR isn't nearly as crowded as a little farther north. The area she would have started near BH has a little action with the Family Kingdom amusement park right there, but most of the 'cruising' traffic dies down almost immediately after that point and I think that area specifically is two way - not positive though. The area of BWR, the boulevard only has maybe 5 more blocks going south until it ends and runs back into Hwy 17. Going straight across there at that light would take you over into Market Commons (old AF base) and then that goes back over to 17 Bypass.

ETA: I'm trying to find if the city has anything posted on this but the one way thing may only apply to the bike festivals of the past years. Will update when/if I find anything definitive.

EATA: OK - regarding one way pattern, best info I can find that only applied to bike rallies for a period of time...so with my best Rosanna Rosannadanna... nevermiiiind.

 

[nosysw]

I don't know about ordinances in MB on cruising the strip, but I can assure you that it still happens all the time....especially with sprink break week and on weekends!!

That said, I don't know that the area Brittanee was traveling would have been in the 'main strip' area. I ***think*** it is just south of the area commonly cruised if I remember correctly. I'd have to be there to **see it**, but if you look at the surveillence video it wasn't all that crowded. It would have been PACKED if it had been the main strip area.

Krista,
Listen to all,,, it WAS NOT SPRING BREAK here for SC, our Spring break was over, the papers only state that BD was here on her Spring Break,so there fore beach wouldnt be as crowed,due all our schools and colleges had went back to classes,,,most that been in MB would be locals, or ppl vacationing,,,,

Yes, I agree with you both...The area where she was is definitely south of the main cruising area and if it wasn't spring break in the south, it probably wouldn't have been overly crowded...

 

[krista]

Krista,
Listen to all,,, it WAS NOT SPRING BREAK here for SC, our Spring break was over, the papers only state that BD was here on her Spring Break,so there fore beach wouldnt be as crowed,due all our schools and colleges had went back to classes,,,most that been in MB would be locals, or ppl vacationing,,,,

Wow, Rose!! I didn't realize that. That's REALLY good info to have. I've always invisioned it being packed everywhere, but that always seemed contrary to what I saw in those surveillence videos. It seemed there were cars--it wasn't a deserted area...maybe a handful of people walking...but it's just never seemed like a 'spring break' area in those short videos. It was just WAY too empty. I suppose we could say that other areas/states were having their spring breaks during the same time. I believe that's why the guy was down who videotaped Brittanee in his room.....I think he was down from Indiana?? But, obviously, out-of-towners wouldn't know how to get to rural parts of Georgetown Co, nor would they want to go in the middle of the night. Anyway, that info just furthers LE's comments that this is 'a' local.....which makes me that much more sad and worried.

 

[Kenon]

What happened to the LE knowing all these things and now it's quiet? WHATEVER.

 

[Rochestergirl]

I'm wondering if they were told to keep quiet until after tourist season. After that article last night about their concerns for bad press on abductions. But it is very frustrating when they seemed on the brink of an arrest.

What happened to the LE knowing all these things and now it's quiet? WHATEVER.

 

[mlatta]

I'm wondering if they were told to keep quiet until after tourist season. After that article last night about their concerns for bad press on abductions. But it is very frustrating when they seemed on the brink of an arrest.

Not to be the negative Nelly, but let's not be too quick to dismiss the possibility LE has been deceiving us, and they were never near an arrest.

 

[MBLover]

Maybe I need to say this again... I arrived in MB the afternoon of the evening that BD went missing.

I saw both the foot and car traffic - which suprisingly was very little IMHO. I was staying just about 3 blocks north of the BH, the 2nd Ave. Pier separating our hotels.

At dinner time, we all piled into my vehicle and drove south down to Damon's (restaurant). We drove slowly checking out the different places and people watching. Traffic was minimal and foot traffic was almost nil. It was the same upon our return from Damon's. That part of OB had very little going on...of course it was still a bit early for some to be out and about.

BUT it is in NO way near the foot/vehicle traffic in that area - because there is basically nothing to do in that area. It's too far to really walk anywhere unless you're visiting someone at another hotel in that immediate area...or maybe walking to Damon's for dinner. This is definitely the "quiet" end of MB.

The BH is near the amusement park - but if I'm not mistaken that park was only open on the weekend...but then again it may have been opened full time for spring breakers...but a local would have to comment on that. I just know when I was there again a few weeks ago that the park was only open on the weekend.

The BH is roughly 8-9 blocks from what is considered to be "Downtown" MB. There is considerably more foot and vehicle traffic in this area because of all of the little shops and so forth that is contained in a couple or three blocks.

I always cruise the strip at least once and usually twice from end to end while I'm there. IMHO there is more foot traffic in the area of downtown and going north than there is going south from downtown.

 

[RoseC]

Not to be the negative Nelly, but let's not be too quick to dismiss the possibility LE has been deceiving us, and they were never near an arrest.

i was thinking that seem thing!!!! If i was DD,CD ill be raising more H*** than they want, i still wonder tho what they told them on that friday? we havnt heard anything, i do see that few of the D family has backed away, closed there FB sites etc, so we really dont no what the family found out!! But if that was my daughter, and LE put everyone to point that soon be some news,ill be in there face wanting answers!! Cuzz on that radio talk that CD,DD was on, CD said there soon be a news story? thats been what over 2 weeks now? i kinda figured for Biker week it been put on hold (of news on bd) but its over with now,,,,but im still praying for BD,DD,CD family

 

[RoseC]

Maybe I need to say this again... I arrived in MB the afternoon of the evening that BD went missing.

I saw both the foot and car traffic - which suprisingly was very little IMHO. I was staying just about 3 blocks north of the BH, the 2nd Ave. Pier separating our hotels.

At dinner time, we all piled into my vehicle and drove south down to Damon's (restaurant). We drove slowly checking out the different places and people watching. Traffic was minimal and foot traffic was almost nil. It was the same upon our return from Damon's. That part of OB had very little going on...of course it was still a bit early for some to be out and about.

BUT it is in NO way near the foot/vehicle traffic in that area - because there is basically nothing to do in that area. It's too far to really walk anywhere unless you're visiting someone at another hotel in that immediate area...or maybe walking to Damon's for dinner. This is definitely the "quiet" end of MB.

The BH is near the amusement park - but if I'm not mistaken that park was only open on the weekend...but then again it may have been opened full time for spring breakers...but a local would have to comment on that. I just know when I was there again a few weeks ago that the park was only open on the weekend.

The BH is roughly 8-9 blocks from what is considered to be "Downtown" MB. There is considerably more foot and vehicle traffic in this area because of all of the little shops and so forth that is contained in a couple or three blocks.

I always cruise the strip at least once and usually twice from end to end while I'm there. IMHO there is more foot traffic in the area of downtown and going north than there is going south from downtown.

Thats all true!!!, MB really dont open up till week of Easter, this when all our schools/collgeges take spring break,usaully (good Fridaytill next friday, so thats why i said it wasnt busy,,i clean beach houses so i know the packed out times and as i stated before only crowd type would been locals of MB and ppl vacationing from other states,,, FK park only open weekends,but most of your young ppl ride the other end, really the end BD them were on is bad end of town,,not alot going on,,,

 

[SeaNymph]

Regarding the conversation on the negativity stories of abductions/attempted abductions bring to MB the other night, this certainly would explain the city's undies knotting up:

http://www2.scnow.com/scp/news/loca...ng_is_increasing_grand_strand_tourism/160153/