13 years later, ‘Brittanee is still missing’

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) – Monday marked 13 years since 17-year old Brittanee Drexel left her home in Chili, and traveled to Myrtle Beach for spring break. She hasn’t been seen, or heard from since.

News10NBC talked to her mother as she continues to search for her daughter.

Brittanee’s mother Dawn Pleckan told us it’s so frustrating that all these years keeps passing by, and she still doesn’t have any answers on what happened to her daughter.

"She had a lot of friends. She was an excellent soccer player. She was just a good person," said Pleckan as she described her daughter Brittanee as a fun loving teenager.

It’s been 13-years now since she last saw Brittanee who disappeared after traveling to Myrtle Beach back in 2009 for spring break against her mother’s wishes. Pleckan still remembers her conversations with Brittanee as she begged to go.

"I don’t know the people you’re going with," said Pleckan. She continued, "There’s no parental supervision, and something is gonna happen to you. In 2 days later she’s in Myrtle Beach, and disappears."

The search for Brittanee so far has been maddening and often misleading.

"It’s frustrating. I know a lot of families usually go through this with a missing person, but it’s very frustrating to the family. You know Brittanee just didn’t disappear off the face of the earth," said Pleckan.

Back in 2016 authorities announced that Brittanee was not only a victim of human trafficking, but also deceased. Pleckan doesn’t see it that way.

"Brittanee is still missing. Her remains have not been located. She has not been found, and no one has been brought to justice for her case," said Pleckan.

Family, friends, and several Myrtle Beach residents who’ve supported Brittanee over the years got together this past weekend.

"We marked her 13 year anniversary. We had a candlelit vigil for her. It was very nice. We had it at her tree that we planted quite some time ago, but it was beautiful," said Pleckan.

She is still asking anyone who has any information to please come forward, and talk to South Carolina investigators that are working on this case. Pleckan says there is a reward that leads to an arrest in this case.