A South Carolina jury has awarded $700 million to the New York family of a 17-year-old girl who was kidnapped and killed during a spring break trip to Myrtle Beach in 2009. The girl, Brittanee Drexel, was visiting the coastal vacation spot with her friends when the tragic incident occurred. The lawsuit, filed by Brittanee’s mother, Dawn Pleckan, in January 2023, accused Raymond Moody, the perpetrator, as well as Bar Harbor Resort Inc. and Smith Family Partners LLC, of wrongful conduct that led to Drexel’s murder.
The jury’s decision last month found Moody responsible for causing emotional distress to Drexel’s family. The awarded amount includes $200 million in actual damages and $500 million in punitive damages. Moody expressed remorse during the court proceedings, acknowledging the impact of his actions.
Moody was sentenced to life in prison in October 2022 for the rape and murder of Brittanee Drexel. His girlfriend, Angel Cooper Vause, also received an 18-year prison sentence for lying to investigators about her involvement in the crime.
The tragic incident unfolded when Drexel was last seen on security footage entering the Blue Water Resort on the evening of April 25, 2009. Moody abducted her later that night in Myrtle Beach, drove her to a remote campsite near his home in Georgetown, where he raped and killed her. Vause allegedly played a role in luring Drexel into Moody’s van and kept details of the crime hidden until authorities discovered Drexel’s remains in 2022.
Prosecutors emphasized the years of uncertainty and anguish endured by Brittanee’s loved ones before the truth came to light. Moody’s guilty plea and sentencing bring a sense of closure and justice to the family, allowing Brittanee to rest in peace as her mother’s relentless pursuit of justice is honored.
