In a chilling jailhouse interview, Raymond Moody, the man convicted of raping and murdering 17-year-old Brittanee Drexel during a spring break trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, revealed some disturbing details about the crime. This tragic event took place over 15 years ago, and Moody, now 64, has been serving a life sentence since October 2022.
Moody recently spoke with FBI agents for more than three hours at Lieber Correctional Institution in Ridgeville, South Carolina. During this conversation, he implicated his girlfriend, 57-year-old Angel Vause, in the crime, claiming she helped lure Brittanee into their SUV. According to Moody, they were actively searching for a victim that night, and when they spotted Brittanee walking alone, they saw their opportunity.
Brittanee was visiting Myrtle Beach with friends from upstate New York, and on the night of April 25, 2009, she was heading to return some borrowed clothes. Moody described how Vause approached Brittanee, pretending to be friendly and offering her a ride.
Once Brittanee got into the vehicle, Moody took control, handcuffed her, and demanded a ransom of $5,000 from the local chamber of commerce.
After driving to a tent they had set up along the Santee River, Moody left Brittanee with Vause while he went to get some disturbing items from his apartment. When he returned, he assaulted Brittanee and ultimately killed her, burying her body in a shallow grave. Moody claimed that while Vause did not participate in the actual assault, she was present and watched everything unfold.
Interestingly, Moody revealed that Vause was drawn to him because of his criminal history, which included a previous conviction for kidnapping and raping a young girl in California. Their relationship seemed to thrive on their shared dark interests, as shown in a text exchange where Moody asked if she wanted to “go hunting” with him, to which she eagerly replied, “Yeah.”
For years, Brittanee’s case remained unsolved, with various false leads and rumors complicating the investigation. It wasn’t until Moody turned himself in that the truth began to surface. He confessed to the crime, providing crucial details that led to the discovery of Brittanee’s remains, which were only identifiable through dental records.
Following Moody’s conviction, authorities turned their attention to Vause. She had previously pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during the investigation. Prosecutors are now seeking a 24-year prison sentence for her, the maximum allowed, although a sentencing date has yet to be set.
This heartbreaking story serves as a reminder of the dangers that can lurk in seemingly innocent situations and the importance of justice for victims like Brittanee Drexel.
