Where is Brittanee Marie Drexel?

April 29, 2009

Police in South Carolina are trying to determine what happened to Brittanee Marie Drexel, a 17-year-old junior at Gates Chili High School in Rochester, New York. Brittanee disappeared after a spring break trip to Myrtle Beach last week.

Brittanee's friends last saw her at about 8:00 p.m. Saturday, when she left the Bar Harbor Hotel to walk about a half-mile to the Bluewater Resort to visit a group of male friends from Rochester. The men, identified as Peter Brozowitz, Phillip Watson, Matthew Abrams and Keith Cummings, had first met up with Brittanee earlier that day at Club Kryptonite.

When the Myrtle Beach police questioned the men, they said that Brittanee had come to their hotel and visited with Brozowitz, but she supposedly left roughly ten minutes later to return an item of clothing to a friend back at the Bar Harbor Hotel.

At about 8:45 p.m., Brittanee sent a text message to one of her travel companions, informing the companion that she was on her way back. What happened to Brittanee after that remains a mystery.

When Brittanee failed to return phone calls from her friends, they became concerned, and notified others that Brittanee was missing.

According to Brittanee's mother, Dawn Drexel, she was unaware that her daughter had gone to South Carolina last Wednesday and thought that she was staying at a friend's house. Dawn said that she kept in regular contact with her daughter and had spoken with her on Saturday afternoon.

"I asked her what she was doing and she says, 'Oh, mom, I'm at the beach.' And it was an 80-degree day in Rochester so, of course, I thought maybe she was at the beach in Rochester with one of her girlfriends," Dawn said during an appearance on HLN's Nancy Grace last night. "I said, 'I love you, Brittanee,' and she says, 'I love you, Mom.' And then we hung up the phone."

Dawn did not learn of the deception until Sunday morning, when friends called to tell her that Brittanee was missing.

A family friend filed the initial missing person report with police on Sunday. When investigators went to the Bar Harbor Hotel, they discovered that all of Brittanee's belongings, except for her cell phone, were accounted for.

Read the Missing Person Report

When police questioned the men at the Bluewater Resort, they discovered that Peter Brozowitz had checked out at around 1:00 a.m. Sunday and made the 17-hour drive back to Rochester. Brozowitz allegedly left his belongings at the hotel and did not pick up his $100 deposit from the front desk.

Brozowitz has since arrived back in Rochester and has retained attorney John Parrinello. According to Parrinello, Brozowitz is cooperating with investigators.

"It is certainly unfair to him if anybody implies or suspects him of having done anything wrong with respect to Brittanee," Parrinello told whec.com.

Dawn Drexel, several of her relatives, and Brittanee's boyfriend, John Grieco, have traveled to Myrtle Beach to help police search for Brittanee.

"I'm not going home until she's found," Grieco said in an interview with whec.com. "I'm hoping she came and enjoyed the weather and needs a couple more days. Then, hopefully, she'll come back."

Meanwhile, police have received a tip from two witnesses who claim that they saw a girl matching Brittanee's description getting off a bus on North Ocean Boulevard this morning. The location is not far from where Brittanee was when she disappeared. Investigators are following up on the lead and conducting searches in the area.

View Brittanee's Flyer

Brittanee Drexel is described as a white female, 5 feet tall, 103 pounds, with blue eyes and shoulder-length straight brown hair. She was last seen wearing a multicolored shirt, black shorts and flip flops. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the Myrtle Beach Police Department at 843-918-1300.

Photo Credits: Contributed

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission from Discovery Communications. All quotes must include a link back.

Comments

[cb]

Maybe Brozowitz's lawyer can simply put forth some reasonable explanation as to why his client was compelled to leave in the middle of the night. That would help clear up some suspicions, wouldn't it?

[Kim]

CB - the kid initially told police that he had to come back home to make it to school on Monday - however he does NOT attend school. The lawyer told the media that he was to attend a BBQ on sunday and had meant to leave at that time and there was nothing to be suspicious about.

I hope this girl is found. Parent's give you limits to keep you alive and when mom and dad both say NO you can't go on a Spring Break trip, then you don't lie and go, you listen and be grateful that someone cares enough to keep you safe. No reason for a 17 year old girl to be at clubs and out drinking in a twon she knows nothing about.

[Stacey CHarter]

ok, lets say I'm a 17 or 18 year old boy, at a beach for spring break and I decide at 1am to leave my belongings, my friends and most importantly my $100 behind and drive home early... traveling 17 hours alone- when I get home one of the first things I do is get a lawyer... Sure - nothing wrong with this picture.

Anyone think that last text message possibly did not come form this poor girl but from her attacker/murderer?

saying prayers for her and her family

[Militarymale]

That guy is so full of it, No one leaves at 1am, leaves belongings, $100.00 and drives 17hrs to get a lawyer he is guilty of hiding something. Anyone that doesnt see this as beyond suspicious is a idiot especially his lawyer. Its amazing some people they will represent just for money. If he is found guilty his lawyer should get a penalty as well.

[Kuske]

She went to Myrtle Beach without telling her mom so she's afraid to go home. So she disappears for a few days to generate sympathy then when she is ready to go home everyone feels sorry for her. At least that is the best case scenario. She is probably hanging out with a 25 year old guy in a hotel.

[Dan]

Kim: Maybe when mom and dad both say no to letting you do something that everyone of your friends is allowed to do that makes you run away to the beach. BTW the club is under 18, so you know, there is a reason for a girl of 17 to be there. The girl is mad at her parents for being more strict then all of her friends parents so she is giving them a scare. She has been spotted twice on the beach already. Just because an attractive white chick goes missing doesn't mean the world is coming to an end.

[James]

She looks a lot like every other 17 year old blonde girl on the beach. Sounds like this could be Halloway Part II.

Something's not right, and it just doesn't strike me as a runaway. Too much time, too many suspicious actions and no contact. By now she would have called a friend, used a credit card, cell phone, something.

[Kim]

Dan it wasn't her at the beach it has been verified she was not the same girl spotted. Her cellphone has not been used and she has no money - her bank card, purse, clothes were all left int he hotel room. So she only had her cellphone. I don't think she ran away.

[Pat]

I think some of the comment's on Brozowitz are misplaced.

"tacey CHarter | April 30, 2009 at 10:09 AM" Is particularly confused and leading.

1. If you are 100% innocent and questioned in a case like this more than once you should retain an attorney. There is nothing suspicious in that. You can bet the two hotels and the club have engaged attorneys as well. This is a sue happy country and innocent people get railroaded all the time.
If he bought her a drink he could be charged even though the club let her in. Getting a lawyer is what anyone with a brain does after a second police interview -- especially the innocent.

2. It doesn't appear he left his belongings. the reporting as of today is that he took all his belongings but two shirts. Not a weird thing in a room with four young guys.

3. Deposit. That was his share of the deposit. He could not get it as long as his friends were still occupying the room.

4. Driving back at 1:00 am Sunday . What if he struck out with the girl, and wanted to be home by Monday? He and his friends had two cars. At 22 years old I drove back from Florida spring break at starting after midnight on Sunday to beat the spring break drive rush and traffic!

[TJ]

Pat...This Peter kid has absolutley something to hide. Spring Break traffic, please...Peter is that you!

[Scott]

Thank you, Pat. number 2 through 4 are dead on the money. It all makes perfect sense, and I did the same crazy stuff at 22: Driving a long trip just after midnight so there was no traffic, etc. I just read a report that her cell phone signal led the police to the North, and South Rivers. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

[cheryl]

This girl's mother didn't seem to keep very close tabs on her daughter. I'm not blaming her for the girl's disappearance, but she couldn't even pinpoint when the girl left home. She "thinks" it was Wed. night.

My kids hated me when they were teenagers.
But they love and appreciate me now.

[C-fashizzle]

Now the investigators are saying the cell phone signaled near a river in Georgetown county. About 50 people have been searching for her. This is so sad.

[Nik Law]

Hi,

I am thinking here. It seems Britnee was going back to return these shorts to one of the girls. She didn't make it because it was a set up. The girl called for shorts then someone picked her up instead of some sort. Then rode her away and maybe hurt her and dumped her body on the way home. This would leave all Britanee's items in the room as she never made it there to begin with. The cell phone was thrown and now is dead in an area and who knows if it will be found. The text from her cell phone back to the companion at 845 could have been made by anyone. Not a voice just typing.I would check all those kids cell phones to see what kind of pattern they had going.Why would it take her 35 minutes to change out shorts anyway. Just thinking
NL

[xdrfox]

Has her computer been looked at for IM's maybe on yahoo. The IM's are kept on Hard drive in yahoo program and can be decrypted with a program if they do not know her password on yahoo to check IM's. This is sad, She favors other girls missing from the East Coast the last 3 years or so. A couple of them from Florida. This does seem to be an abduction. The phone was most likely thrown away for abductor/abductors know of pings/locator's device. Are there any cameras along US-17 ? Gas Stations where a van (often used in abductions) may have got gas in that time period ? Check all convenient stores cameras along that route for late night gas buys. They may have planned an abduction traveling to Myrtle Beach and carefully planned their exit. I pray for her and family.

[xdrfox]

For years I have been placing names to Jane and John Does, All this is sadly familiar to so many missing girls in the U.S. So many to sometimes find years later and often years before a name to give back to them and give some closer to families.

There are some sick people out there, be careful of your surroundings Always. Check your back seat before entering your car. Be aware of vans, SUV's in all parking lots, careful where you park or walk anywhere you can be push you into a vehicle in 2 seconds. Often strangers may befriend you before they abduct you later.

Stay Alive Wise !

[localguy]

If you have nothing to hide, you don't need a snake to help you hide the truth! The club has a snake to help them, because they should not have let a 17 year old into a club that serves drinks, in sc 18 to get in 21 to drink!

[Debbie Marchione]

My prayers are with her family. I can not imagine what they are going through right now! I hope she is found alive and healthy. God bless you.

[Debbie Marchione]

This comment is to Cheryl - you said you are not blaming the mother but it sure sounds like it. Your comments are very inappropriate. You can't be with your kids 24/7.

[wolf]

Nik law I have had the same thought about the shorts. They should investigate the girls and their friends. Even the people they met.

[kierstyn]

I posted alot of things about this on websites. i have people helping. i want to help find her... Brittanee, we will find you, i promise. just hold tight.<3

[JC]

I have followed this case since hearing it on the news. I just returned from vacation for 11 days in Myrtle Beach. While there I saw one posted missing person sign of Brittanee Drexel and that was at a nail salon on Hwy 544. My family was up and down the strip from North Myrtle to Murrels Inlet during the ll days shopping, eating in restaurants and playing miniature golf. We only saw 1 picture of her. I know that the family is posting pictures and desperate to find her but I wonder if the businesses are removing the pictures because they don't want tourist to think the area is unsafe, which it is for a beautiful young girl alone. My prayers are with Brittanee and her family.

[yeah right]

look i honestly feel bad for this girl, and for the family. i am into my early 20s, but i dont have any kids, i do have a smaller brother he is 17 aswell, and love with all my life. soo, heres what i know, now in highschool; rolling ( popping e), drinking, sex, lying, blazing, and partying is nothing weird. with the access the youth has to older guys with money now is alot easier, due to facebook and myspace, and social networks, now im not saying they are bad. but i do agree that this brittanee girl snuck out to hang out with older guys, to drink, do drugs, hook up have sex, and have fun. and her parents where NOT strict, ummm hello she wanted to drive out 17hrs away with older guys, any parent that loves their children would say no to that, actually i wouldnt let my little brother go with older people to another state. so yeah its a sad state, but i think this girl is safe, she is with a much older bf, and he is making her not tell anyone because hes prob 21 or 22 with a 17 year old, doesnt want to get charged or anything...all i am saying is
PLEASE KIDS stay away from all this, it doesnt benefit us in the long run to live our lives like this. read, be moderate with activities.

[regina]

In SC it is very easy to ge into clubs even if you are under age!! My prayers go out to the family!! and it is not strange to drive at night.. its actually the best!!

[j.stephen.h]

Yeah right thats probably one of the most naive statements i've ever seen. For starters..runaways take personal effects with them, they dont leave behind everything but a cellphone to run off with older men. THere is NO mention of drugs, and only one mention of a bar which she may or may not have been drinking at. It's wrong to say the mother didnt care because you dont know jack about her personal life, she could be a workaholic with little time on her hands and the Girl Deceived her by lying about where she was. A case like this could be a variety of things...An accidental overdose, if the young men were afraid of getting in trouble they could have dumped the body. An accidental drowning, bodies disappear in the water all the time. Or an Abduction...you just don't know. WHen making assessments of a case you leave the personal krap out of it though in favor of whats known about the specifics.(but NOTHING about this case points to a runaway teen...nothing)

[angela thomas]

what a beautiful girl it is so sad i was that age once and no matter what you tell a teen they are going to do what they want she didnt do any thing any other teen would not do but she out of all other girls more than likely had to pay the ultimate price her life i hope to god she is alive and i pray for her and the family but remember god only takes the good ones he had plans for that girl.

[maria hansen]

I feel with the familly and friends, hope you find her. We have heard about it in DK (Denmark) a little country in Scandinavia, it's terrible.

[j.stephen.h]

A suggestion to the family of this girl that may offer some clarity into the case..if they havent tried or considered it yet..would be to test her hair follicles for drug presence...it would give them an idea at least as to their daughters doings.

[dee]

HI,

I THINK HE HAS A LOT TO DO WITH IT. AND KNOWS SOMETHING ABOUT IT. WHO DOES THAT? WHO DOES WHAT HE DID? HE'S GOTTA KNOW SOMETHING? IT JUST DOESNT MAKE SENCE AT ALL? SOMEONE ONE OUT THEIR KNOWS SOMETHING. AND I THINK THE BOYS DO. AND DONT WANT TO SAY ANYTHING. I'TS TO BAD. I REALLY HOPE THEY FIND HER. AND FIND HER ALIVE. I WISH SHE WOULD JUST COME HOME. AND GET HERE ANYWAY JUST SAFE. I HOPE YOUR ALRIGHT AND SAFE BRIT. PLEASE COME HOME. WE MISS YOU AND WANT AND NEED YOU BACK HOME. WHERE ARE YOU? I WILL PRAY FOR YOU. GOD BLESS D

[D]

HI,

THEY NEED DO TALK TO THAT BOY AGAIN.
HE KNOWS SOMETHING. I HOPE THEY FIND HER AND BRING HER HOME. OR SHE JUST COMES BACK HER SELF? ITS NOT HER MOMS FAULT AT ALL. SHES A MESS. ITS SO SAD. GOOD LUCK WITH THE SERCH. I HOPE YOU FIND HER SOON. GOD BLESS. WE WILL ALL PRAY FOR BRIT. BRING HER HOME.LOL D

[Michael Rafferty]

Hi. I was watching a missing persons programme here in Ireland and was checking up on the results(it was made a while back) to cut a long story short i was checking names of missing people when i came across this Brittanees name i checked it up and came across a person.
http://twitter.com/brittaneedrexel
If its not Brittanee its a very sick person then that the authorities need to speak too.

[Joey Jones]

Thank you for posting that, Michael Rafferty, but I know for a fact that it isn't her. It is some idiot trying to impersonate. If anyone else gathers information about that kinda of subjective, please list it or call the authorities working on Britt's case.

Joey Jones
- Best friend of Britt's

[Joey Jones]

I've been keeping in touch best as possible with some personal friends and listening to the news. I would of been there more to help with whatever I could, but had a personal family issue to take care of - death of my grandfather. I've known Britt for a good 5 years and I know the type of person that she is. For god sake, I hope they find her. I wish I could, but I'm stuck doing other stuff. At the moment, I'll be calling the authorities working on the case and hopefully getting in contact with her madre. Again, if anyone comes across internet activity, contact the police asap.

Thankyou,
Joey Jones
Best friend of Britt's