Police announce missing women, Brittanee Drexel and Crystal Soles, featured on deck of cards (with video)

The stories and photos of Brittanee Drexel and Crystal Soles are among 50 other cases featured in a campaign to increase awareness about missing people and unsolved homicides in the state.

The missing women are featured in a deck of cards that are sold to prison inmates throughout the state through a program by crime stoppers. Drexel also was featured in a deck of cards released in Florida.

Brittanee Drexel was last seen on video surveillance leaving the Blue Water Hotel on Ocean Boulevard while on spring break in the area on April 25, 2009. Dozens of searchers have scoured Myrtle Beach and wooded areas in Georgetown and Charleston counties looking for clues in the teen's disappearance.

Searches began about nine months ago after officials learned Drexel's cell phone gave off its last known signal on April 26 around U.S. 17 Bypass and the South Santee River in the Georgetown County.

Also from the Georgetown County area, the case of Crystal Soles, who was 28 when she was last seen Jan. 24, 2005 at Shaw’s Corner Store in Andrews, is featured in the card campaign.

The cards were unveiled Friday and families of the women will gather along Ocean Boulevard today for a march and candle light vigil to mark the year anniversary since the Drexel was last seen in Myrtle Beach.

“It’s hard to come back down here, very emotional,” said Dawn Drexel, Brittanee’s mom. “I think it’s wonderful to get her name and face out there. We need information about her. We’re very thankful to them for putting her in that deck of cards.”

Brittanee’s dad, Chad Drexel, said he hopes the cards, which are sold in state prisons and in some county detention center, will generate some information that can be left anonymously with state crime stoppers.

“We’ll do anything to help to bring our daughter home,” Chad Drexel said. “Criminals know criminals. Someone knows something out there.”

More than 20 people came from the Rochester, N.Y., area where Brittanee lived to support her family. Those supporters included two of Brittanee’s friends.

“We came to show her that we care and for support,” said Jessica Nice, who has known Brittanee her entire life. “We want to show her we haven’t given up yet.”

Chad and Dawn Drexel said the year since their daughter was last seen has been “hell.”

“It’s been a roller coaster ride of endless nightmares,” Chad Drexel said. “I just want to wake up and it’s not there, not real.”

“The not knowing where she is or is she hurt, is she not alive has been the worse,” Dawn Drexel said. “We need someone to come forward with that key piece of information so we can get some resolution to Brittanee’s case.”

Soles’ mother, Gail Soles, said she understands how the Drexel family feels as the anniversary approaches.

“We know what it’s like. Lord, I wish I could find my child, just to have closure. It’s hard. It’s really hard not knowing,” Gail Soles said. “Somebody please come forward and give us some more information. Let us bring her home because we really need closure.”

Monica Caison, director of the Community United Effort Center for Missing Persons, said the cards do generate leads in cases.

“I know it solves cases and it brings forth tips,” Caison said. “This is reassurance that no one has forgotten them. This is just another outlet to get their information out there.”

Anyone with information about Brittanee Drexel's disappearance can call Myrtle Beach police at 918-1300 or go to the Web site at www.helpfindbrittaneedrexel.com.

Anyone with information about Crystal Soles’ disappearance can call Andrews police at 264-5223 or go to the Web site at www.findcrystalsoles.com.