Raymond Moody gets life in prison for murder of Brittanee Drexel
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ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Raymond Moody will serve a life sentence without parole for the murder of Chili teen Brittanee Drexel 13 years ago.
Moody pleaded before a South Carolina judge on Wednesday, who sentenced him to life for murder, 30 years for criminal sexual conduct, and 30 years for kidnapping. It was his first court appearance since he was charged in May.
Investigators say Moody kidnapped and strangled Brittanee while she was on spring break in Myrtle Beach in April of 2009.
62-year-old moody is a convicted child rapist who spent two decades in prison. In May, Brittanee’s remains were found in a wooded area in Georgetown about 45 minutes south of Myrtle Beach. Investigators said Moody directed them to her body.
Moody spoke at the court hearing. “I was a monster when I took Brittanee Drexel’s life,” Moody said. “I don’t have the words to express how horrible I feel and I’ve felt since that day. I’m very, very sorry.”
The father, mother, brother, and grandmother of Drexel gave emotional victim impact statements after Moody pleaded guilty.
Chad Drexel, the father of Brittanee Drexel, spoke in the courtroom about what it felt like as the months turned to years since his daughter went missing. He described Drexel as someone who loved soccer and fashion.
“I’ll never be able to walk Brittanee down the aisle and neither will her blood father or Dawn,” Chad said. “She’ll never be able to see my grandaughter, her niece who is amazing, all that’s snatched away from us.”
Camden, the brother of Brittanee Drexel, said he is going to film school in honor of his sister who was murdered. “I want to live for her,” he said.
Dawn Pleckan, the mother of Brittanee Drexel, said she wears Brittanee Drexel’s ashes and her picture in a necklace to celebrate her life.
“No one wins. The loss of my daughter ignited a fire in me and set me on a mission to strip away the rights and freedoms of people like you,” Dawn said.
Before the sentencing, the judge said that Moody’s horrific actions 13 years ago caused a lifetime of pain for so many.
You can see the full court hearing here:
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More of our coverage:
- ‘He’s a demon and a monster’: Victim of Raymond Moody hoping Brittanee Drexel case puts him away for good (May 19)
- Drexel case brings hope to other families of missing kids (May 17)
- Sheriff’s Office says convicted sex offender confessed to murder of Brittanee Drexel (May 13)
- Records show Raymond Moody’s obstruction of justice charge is same date teen was last seen (May 12)