Raymond Moody, who admitted in 2022 to the abduction, rape, and murder of 17-year-old Brittanee Drexel, is currently serving a life sentence for the crime. Recently, Moody revealed unsettling details about what happened the night Drexel died, and he named his longtime girlfriend, Angel Cooper Vause, as being involved.
Brittanee Drexel, from New York, was visiting friends in Myrtle Beach in 2009 when she was tragically killed. Moody, who had previously served 21 years in California for stalking, abducting, and raping several women, including a young child, shared these disturbing revelations as part of a deal with authorities. In exchange for his confession, some of Moody’s assets will be placed in a trust for his grandchildren. Vause, who had previously been accused of lying to the authorities about her role in the crime, is scheduled to be sentenced next month, according to local news.
Legal documents that have now come to light show that Vause had texted Moody before the murder, saying she had fantasies about kidnapping a girl. In one exchange, Vause asked Moody, “So you want to go hunting with me, huh?” Moody responded, and she confirmed she was willing. The couple had been driving around Myrtle Beach on the night Drexel was killed, searching for a victim. Moody says that on the previous night, they had also tried to find someone, but they backed off, fearing their phone data might give away their locations.
On the night of Drexel’s murder, Moody says they spotted her walking alone and Vause spoke to her first. She allegedly gained Drexel’s trust by pretending they were tourists who were lost and needed directions. However, instead of taking Drexel to her hotel, as they promised, they took her to a tent they had set up. Moody claims that he and Vause had planned to assault Drexel together, and though Vause was present when the attack happened, he does not remember her actively participating. Moody also states that Vause was unaware he intended to kill Drexel but was present when the murder occurred.
Moody admits that Drexel was the first and only person he has killed. His account suggests that Vause had multiple chances to intervene, let Drexel go, or stop the murder, but she did not. Afterward, Moody says he disposed of Drexel’s body by himself. Despite Vause expressing fear about the situation, Moody chose not to kill her, though he had considered it.
Vause was arrested last year for making false statements to the FBI, including telling them that Drexel had joined them willingly to take drugs and that Drexel was missing when she returned to the tent. Moody now admits that he had instructed her to say these things. Vause pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and could face up to 24 years in prison for her role in the cover-up.
Drexel’s case remained unsolved for years, but in 2022, Moody, who had already been a suspect, decided to turn himself in and confess. In court, he admitted to his monstrous actions, stating, “I served 20 years and I thought it was enough, but it wasn’t,” referring to his earlier prison time. “I was a monster then, and I was a monster when I took Brittanee Drexel’s life,” he told the court.