WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Teen missing from MB on cover of People

Teen missing from MB on cover of People

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - It's been almost seven months since a New York teen went missing in Myrtle Beach, and now, Brittanee Drexel is being featured on the cover of this week's People magazine.

The article tells the stories of six young people who went missing in 2009, including Drexel's. That issue of People hit news stands Friday.

Myrtle Beach resident Barbara Hamilton saw the magazine issue and she says she still thinks about where Drexel could have gone.

“Any time you can get a missing person's picture or information out there, it's always good,” said Hamilton.

Dorla Martinez agrees and hopes this national exposure will help to keep the search alive.

"We're still believing that she's out there somewhere and someone will see her or know of her whereabouts,” said Martinez.

Drexel went missing back in April while on a spring break trip to Myrtle Beach. The Rochester, NY, teenager was last seen on April 25 leaving the Bluewater Hotel on Ocean Boulevard.

After spending weeks canvassing the area with flyers,  Drexel’s mother, Dawn, is back home near Rochester, New York.

“Anything that can put her name and her face out there, it can bring in more leads,” said the mother.

Dawn says it's getting more difficult to live without her daughter as the holidays get closer and closer.

"Christmas was one of Brittanee's most favorite holidays,” said Drexel. “You know just decorating, making cookies, and things like that, you know, she enjoyed that. Right now, as it looks, she's not gonna be here for that, and it's gonna be very hard."

Dawn says she hopes this magazine cover will bring more awareness to the search - awareness that hopefully won't go out with next week’s edition.

Copyright 2009 WMBF. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.