FBI to share information on Brittanee Drexel case at 1 p.m.

Officers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, state and local agencies will hold a press conference at 1 p.m. to discuss developments in the case of Brittanee Drexel, who disappeared from Myrtle Beach in 2009.

David Thomas, special agent in charge with the FBI, will hold the news conference in McClellanville to talk about the case and the FBI’s involvement in the ongoing investigation. Myrtle Beach police, Charleston County police, Berkeley County police, the S.C. Law Enforcement Division and United States Attorney Bill Nettles are also set to be at the conference.

Drexel was 17 years old when her family said she came to Myrtle Beach without their knowledge or permission on a spring break trip with a group of friends. She was last seen by her friends on April 25, 2009, when leaving the Blue Water Hotel on Ocean Boulevard.

Seven years later, Drexel’s family still holds annual vigils in her honor and the family continues to ask anyone with information about the case to come forward.

An unlit candle, a teddy bear, flowers and other tokens of remembrance were placed around a tree Tuesday in Grand Park near the Market Common. The family planted “Britt’s Tree” in her honor.

Police and CUE Center for Missing Persons have searched areas in Georgetown and Charleston counties after learning Drexel’s cellphone gave off its last known signal on April 26, 2009 in Georgetown County.

In August 2011, police searched a room at the Sunset Lodge on U.S. 17 near the Georgetown County Airport where someone identified as a person of interest had stayed, but police have declined to comment on their findings in that room.

Tips come in on a weekly basis and police continue to investigate the case, according to Lt. Joey Crosby with the Myrtle Beach Police Department.

But no arrests have been made and no leads have led officers to find Drexel yet.

“It’s been seven years and for there to be absolutely nothing is just unacceptable to me,” Drexel’s mother, Dawn Drexel, said in April.

In February, a new detective was assigned to the case after Det. Steven Clothier, who was the main detective on the case, was promoted to sergeant.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the Myrtle Beach Police Department at 843-918-1382 or the CUE Center for Missing Persons’ 24-hour tip line at 910-232-1687.

Check back with myrtlebeachonline.com for more on this developing story and watch a live video stream of the news conference on The Sun News’ Facebook page.

This story was originally published June 8, 2016 at 5:00 AM with the headline "FBI to share information on Brittanee Drexel case at 1 p.m.."