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Post by Admin on May 11, 2013 22:11:58 GMT
Posted at: 06/15/2009 2:11 PM | WHEC.com Updated at: 06/16/2009 1:35 AM By: Lynette Adams Missing teen's mother believes friends have information on teen's disappearance It's been eight weeks since Brittanee Drexel, of Chili, was reported missing in Myrtle Beach. Her mother Dawn Drexel has been in South Carolina ever since searching for her. Over the weekend, Drexel pointed the finger at the friends who were with Brittanee. She thinks they know what happened to her daughter. Reached by phone again Monday, Dawn repeated her theory that the friends that Brittanee was hanging out with in Myrtle Beach have information they are withholding from police. Myrtle Beach Police say they have questioned all of the people that were with Brittanee. News 10NBC is told none of them have been cleared, nor have they been charged. Drexel is referring to the two young women Brittanee was staying with. Allana Lippa, an 18-year-old from Rochester, and 20-year-old Jennifer Oberer, who lives in Chili. Drexel says she has no evidence of wrong doing and is basing her theory on the way these people have behaved since Brittanee’s disappearance. She says not one of them has called or offered to help in any way, not even to express their sorrow. Drexel is also talking about a group of young men Brittanee partied with. That group Includes Webster resident Peter Brozowitz, who a month ago defended his actions on the Dr. Phil Show. Brozowitz said, “I can't comment on her feelings, her motherly feelings. That can be a gut instinct that she has and she's more than entitled to have those feelings, but as of right now from a police stand point we don't have anything that shows anybody is involved or anybody is being deceptive to us.” Dawn Drexel said, “Since day one, since Brittanee disappeared, I have felt her friends know something. I know they know something.” Reporter Lynette Adams spoke with Lippa by phone, she refused to talk with us. Another man interviewed by police - Anthony Schimizzi – also refused an interview. The 22-year-old said he's only going to talk with the police and has since moved from the Rochester area.
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Post by Admin on May 13, 2013 22:56:40 GMT
Saturday, July 4, 2009 Search For Missing Teen Comes Back Home 06/26/2009 11:01 PM By: Casey J. Bortnick Friends and family of a missing Chili Teenager say they're doing everything they can to bring her home. Brittanee Drexel was last seen on April 25th at a resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Since then there have been no new leads, the family hopes a new approach will pay off. "I still hope she's alive, I do," said Brittanee’s Mother Dawn Drexel. For the last two months hope has kept Drexel going. After two months of searching for her missing daughter in South Carolina Drexel is trying something new. "I'm staying home. If something happens, I'll head back down there but it's only going to be for a couple of days," Drexel said. But Drexel and hundreds of others aren't giving up; they're reminding everyone Brittanee's still out there Just getting the word out there letting more people know what's going on and what they can do," said Brittanee’s friend Lacey Inzana. More than a hundred people came out to "Fill the Dome to Bring Brittanee Home" Friday night in Henrietta. An organizer said what was originally a teen battle of the bands needed a greater purpose. "Two months ago my daughters came to me and said ‘daddy with all the people you know can't you do something.’ And since then, I've been something. I haven't done anything else but eat and sleep this event," said Event Coordinator Chuck Lamagra. Tee-shirts and bracelets were sold to help keep Brittanee's image and name out there, but the real goal was to raise money to help the help the family hire a private investigator to keep this search going. "We're hoping to make a donation that's a couple of decimal points the right way. As much as we can," Lamagra said. Drexel said once Brittanee is found all the money raised will be used to help others families with missing children. "It's just horrible not knowing you know," said Drexel. So far raising money appears to be raising spirits. Drexel said after two months of searching any sign of optimism is a good thing. "We as a family still hope she's alive. I mean it doesn't look good," Drexel added.
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Post by Admin on May 13, 2013 22:57:26 GMT
Search continues for missing NY teen Posted: Jul 06, 2009 10:38 PM Updated: Jul 07, 2009 12:01 PM MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - She's been gone for over two months, but her family says they're still not giving up home. 17-year-old Brittanee Drexel went missing back in April while vacationing with friends in Myrtle Beach. Drexel's grandparents say there was a possible sighting of Drexel a few days ago near Wilmington, NC. However, Myrtle Beach Police say they have nothing substantial in this case at this time. In the meantime, Brittanee's grandparents, Al and Carol Wagner, continued the search for their grandaughter, preparing for a benefit Saturday afternoon at the Beaver Bar in Murrell's Inlet. "It's been close to 10 weeks now," said Carol. "It seems like an eternity, but I know Brittanee's out there and I hope she hears that Grandma and Grandpa are still waiting for her." The family says they are exhausting all resources to find Drexel, even saying that Drexel's mother has gone to a psychic to try and find clues about where her daughter might be. ©2009 WMBF News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Post by Admin on May 13, 2013 22:58:10 GMT
Posted at: 07/05/2009 4:29 PM | WHEC.com Updated at: 07/07/2009 1:38 AM By: Berkeley Brean S.C. Police say "no new leads" with Brittanee Drexel Police in Myrtle Beach, S.C. say they have no new leads in the search for missing missing Chili teen Brittanee Drexel. Responding to Drexel's mother Dawn Drexel, Myrtle Beach Police Chief Warren Gall told News 10NBC, "I'm not sure what Mrs. Drexel is referring to, but while we are actively investigating the missing person status of her daughter, we have no new leads at this time." Sunday, News 10NBC reported there could be a break in the search for Drexel after Drexel said police in South Carolina, "Do have some leads they're working on right now. But that's all I can disclose." "I think we're very close," she went on to say. Dawn Drexel still agonizes over her missing daughter and it gets worse over holidays. "Yesterday was really hard because Brittanee was usually with us on the 4th of July and the fireworks and all that and she's not here," Drexel said. Brittanee Drexel disappeared over spring break in Myrtle Beach, S.C. She's been missing for 10 weeks. On Sunday, her soccer team, the Churchville Razz, held a fundraising soccer game at Marina Auto Stadium. Brittanee's sister wore her number 2 and the players literally had it in their hearts. "It's just really hard to believe she's gone," said teammate Erin Skelly. "And we think, oh no, she's not gone. She'll be back and then you look down at your shirt where the heart is, and it's like, yeah, she's really gone." "The girls on our team, it's the same. They think about her everyday and hope that she gets back here," assistant coach Sabrina Veltre said. "We just, we miss her." Dawn Drexel says she appreciates the support. It helps her fight on to find her daughter. "I'm not giving up on my daughter. I love her way too much to give up on her," Drexel said. Dawn says she still has a private investigator working in South Carolina. Drexel has returned home to start working again. She says she has no immediate plans to go back south unless her daughter is found. But again, Drexel says police are working on new leads.
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Post by Admin on May 13, 2013 22:58:52 GMT
Monday, Jul. 06, 2009 Police | Investigation continues for missing N.Y. teen POLICE GRAND STRAND Investigation continues for missing N.Y. teen Dawn Drexel, the mother of missing New York teen Brittanee Drexel, said Sunday that police are working on leads that could help in the search for 17-year-old Brittanee, who disappeared April 25 after visiting Myrtle Beach. But Myrtle Beach Police Department investigator Carol Allen said her agency does not have new information, though officers are still investigating the case and following up on any leads they get. Family members also are not giving up. Dawn Drexel is home in Rochester, N.Y., as the area continues to hold fundraisers for Brittanee. And Brittanee's grandparents, Carol and Alan Wagner, are still in the Myrtle Beach area, Dawn Drexel said. She said she might return to the area in a couple of weeks. Anyone with information is asked to call the Myrtle Beach Police Department at 918-1382 or 918-1952. Crime Stoppers is also offering a reward for anyone with information leading to finding Drexel. Call 888-274-6372.
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Post by Admin on May 13, 2013 22:59:30 GMT
Saturday, Jul. 11, 2009 Police still hunt for Drexel Veteran officer says there is hope 17-year-old is alive By Kurt Knapek - kknapek@thesunnews.com A veteran Myrtle Beach police officer said the investigation into the disappearance of a New York teenager in April has circumstances "that are different than any that I've worked since I've been here," but would not reveal the details. Sgt. Joey Crosby said there is still hope that Brittanee Drexel, 17, is alive despite not being heard from since April 25. Crosby said that officials receive tips about the case on a daily basis, but would not discuss them in detail. "There are some intimate parts of the investigation that make it different than any other missing persons case that we've worked," he said. Most of the calls that police have received focus around sightings of the teen, last seen leaving the Blue Water Hotel on Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach. Officers with Myrtle Beach police met with investigators from Georgetown and Charleston counties on Friday to discuss Drexel's case, which has drawn national attention. "We're looking at every person, every possible scenario because we don't want to cross anything out prematurely until we have some type of physical evidence to tell us otherwise," Crosby said. Dawn Drexel, Brittanee's mother, said Friday that she knew of the meeting but hasn't heard any of new information about her daughter's whereabouts. Crosby said officials will continue to treat Drexel's disappearance as a missing person case "until you have exhausted all leads or until you have nowhere else to turn in your investigation." "We still have hope," he said. "We've worked very hard like it was day one of the investigation going back over all of our information and making sure we have everything covered."
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Post by Admin on May 13, 2013 23:00:11 GMT
Officials discuss missing teen case By Joel Allen Friday, July 10, 2009 at 6:50 p.m. It was a meeting of the minds Friday, as police continue the search for a missing New York teenager. It's been two and a half months since 17-year-old Brittanee Drexel disappeared in Myrtle Beach. Friday, all the local agencies involved in the investigation got together to brainstorm. Those agencies are Myrtle Beach Police, the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office, and the Charleston County Sheriff's Office. They hope that by sharing information and ideas, maybe they'll shake something loose that will lead them to Brittanee Drexel. Tips and potential sightings still come in to Myrtle Beach Police every day. "But nothing that has led to any fruitful information," Joey Crosby, MB Police, said. Sadly, teen runaways and disappearances are not unusual for Myrtle Beach. Detectives say, most of those cases are wrapped up within a day or two, but not Brittanee Drexel. "This case has various circumstances surrounding it that are different than any that I've worked since I've been here," Crosby. He said he can't reveal what makes Brittanee's disappearance different than the others, but with all the time, effort and information that's gone into this case, Myrtle Beach Police thought it worthwhile to bring in Georgetown and Charleston County investigators to share ideas. "Maybe one of the investigators says something that maybe somebody might have said or somebody might have done that really sparks something, that really puts the pieces of the puzzle together," said Crosby. Brittannee was last seen as she left the Blue Water Resort in Myrtle Beach on April 25th. The last place her cell phone gave off a signal was on the Charleston/Georgetown County line the night she disappeared. Since then, police have been in contact with Brittanee's mother almost every day, keeping her up to date on any new developments and hoping Brittanee might still be out there, ready to be found. "If she is out there, and she is listening to us, our most important thing right now is that we want to know that she's OK and where she's at. That's our number one goal right now," said Crosby. Crosby says the potential sightings have led them all across the United States, from East Coast to West Coast, north and south. They look into all those tips, but so far nothing. Brittanee's family is holding an event this weekend to raise money to help them pay for their search. The fundraiser will be held at the Beaver Bar in Murrells Inlet Saturday from 1pm until 6pm. There will be food and entertainment and all the money raised will go to defer the family's expenses while they stay in Myrtle Beach looking for her. Brittanee's grandmother says they're keeping their spirits up and still have hope. "We keep busy every day. That's the only way you keep strong. i have a positive feeling that she's out there," Carol Wagner said. Brittanee's mother spent weeks in Myrtle Beach, passing out fliers, holding vigils, and helping searchers scour the area looking for the teenager. The family has also hired a private investigator to aid in their search.
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Post by Admin on May 13, 2013 23:00:51 GMT
Investigators Converge to Myrtle Beach for Missing Teenposted 07/10/09 6:22 pm Myrtle Beach, SC - Investigators from Charleston to Horry County are meeting Friday in Myrtle Beach, sharing information in the case of Brittanee Drexel, the New York teenager missing for more than two months. The family and the community have no plans to give up. This the last time anyone saw Brittanee Drexel alive, a video of her walking out of a Myrtle Beach hotel on April 25th. Since that time, Drexel’s Grandparents, Al and Carol Wagner have staged a grassroots effort to find her. “Trying to get the word out everyday, so Brittanee doesn’t go out of the picture we got to keep going to find her,” said Wagner. The teens picture on display in nearly every store front, post, and police station from Charleston to Myrtle Beach. Despite the financial and emotional burden, Carol vows to press on. “We are going to keep plugging away until we get some answers,” said Wagner. As the search moves forward, the community plays a critical role in helping the family. Leslye Beaver runs the Beaver Bar in Murrells Inlet. She searched on foot and is hosting an Awareness Benefit for Brittanee this weekend. “When I look at her and wanted to say I know how you feel, but I know I don’t because this has to be an absolute nightmare,” said Beaver. A nightmare this family can’t wake up from. Another possible sighting in Wilmington last week raised hope, but like so many others, its was another dead end. The family has searched over 150 miles up and down the South Carolina coast in this van, throughout that time the mission remains the same, a search for answers. For more information on Saturday’s Benefit: beaverbar.net/#/whats-happening/4533409757
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Post by Admin on May 13, 2013 23:02:35 GMT
Police: Still no new leads in search for Brittanee Drexel Posted: Jul 10, 2009 2:46 PM Updated: Jul 11, 2009 8:51 PM MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - Officials in Myrtle Beach, Georgetown and Charleston counties met Friday to help in the search for a 17-year-old New Yorker who disappeared in April. Brittanee Drexel, of Rochester, NY, was last seen April 25. Investigators searched throughout Myrtle Beach and south into Charleston County along the Santee River and Coastal Reserve. Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and Georgetown County officials met to talk about the search, and where to move on from here. Officials say they get about three new tips a day in this case, but still have nothing new that they consider significant. "Maybe one of the investigators says something that really sparks something and puts the pieces of the puzzle together," explained Sgt. Joey Crosby of the Myrtle Beach Police Department. A benefit for the missing teen is planned for 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Beaver Bar in Murrells Inlet. Brittanee's grandparents, Al and Carol Wagner, are trying to keep the girl in the public eye after there was a possible sighting last week near Wilmington, NC. "It's been close to 10 weeks now," Carol said. "It seems like an eternity, but I know Brittanee's out there, and I hope she hears that Grandma and Grandpa are still waiting for her." Drexel was last seen in the area of 11th Avenue South and 20th Avenue South in Myrtle Beach after meeting up with friends from her hometown. Drexel was in Myrtle Beach on spring break, against the will of her mother. Contact was lost with Drexel and family in New York on Saturday evening, when authorities say she disappeared. Police say a number of leads surface on her whereabouts, but have led to a dead end. CrimeStoppers is encouraging anyone with information regarding the disappearance of Drexel to contact the agency at 1-888-CRIME-SC. ©2009 WMBF News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Post by Admin on May 13, 2013 23:03:09 GMT
Posted at: 07/07/2009 11:24 AM | WHEC.com Updated at: 07/07/2009 11:32 AM Possible Brittanee Drexel sighting in North Carolina Rochester, NY - There is new information out of South Carolina on Brittanee Drexel, the missing Chili teenager. Our affiliate in Myrtle Beach is reporting Drexel's grandparents say there was a possible sighting of Drexel a few days ago near Wilmington, North Carolina. Drexel’s grandparents are continuing the family's search in the southern states. They believe the 17-year-old is still alive. It's been close to ten weeks since Drexel disappeared while on spring break. Myrtle Beach Police say they have nothing substantial to go on at this time. The report also says Dawn Drexel, Brittanee's mom, has gone to a psychic to find out clues about her daughter's disappearance. For more Rochester, N.Y. news go to our website www.whec.com.
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Post by Admin on May 13, 2013 23:03:44 GMT
NEW YORK, May 7, 2009 Boyfriend: Missing Teen Still Alive Says Spring Breaker Wasn't Suicidal, Wouldn't Run Away, Likely Met With Foul Play Font size Print E-mail Share 17 Comments Search For Spring Breaker Russ Mitchell spoke with the boyfriend of missing S.C. teen Brittanee Drexel regarding new details about her disappearance. Photo Seventeen-year-old Brittanee Drexel, of Rochester, N.Y., went missing in Myrtle Beach, S.C. while vacationing with friends on April 25, 2009. (CBS) Photo John Grieco, the boyfriend of missing teen, Brittanee Drexel, appeared on The Early Show to plea for her safe return. (CBS) Previous slide Next slide 01Stories Where Is Brittanee Drexel? (CBS) John Greico refutes many of the theories surrounding the disappearance of his girlfriend, Brittanee Drexel. He says he doesn't think Drexel's problems at home or depression caused the 17-year-old spring breaker to vanish nearly two weeks ago in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Both are from Rochester, N.Y. "That is something that I really want to get out to the nation, that she didn't run away," Greico told Early Show news anchor, Russ Mitchell, on Thursday. "This is not a runaway case, and it should not be handled like a runaway case." And he says he still believes -- 12 days after her disappearance -- that Brittanee is alive. "I speak for myself, my family, and her family, we miss her terribly. And we're going to do everything in our power to bring her home safely," Grieco said. " ... We all love her with all of our hearts." Grieco told CBS News Drexel was going through a lot when she traveled to Myrtle Beach without her parents' permission: Her parents were getting divorced, she had her own relationship issues, and her family was losing their home. Grieco said she needed the trip to clear her head. Drexel told her mother she was going to stay the weekend a friend's house. "I knew she was going," Greico said. "It was only for three days, so I wasn't concerned -- I never thought anything could happen in three days." Grieco himself has taken two trips to Myrtle Beach to search for Drexel and follow leads -- many of which have now gone cold. "I can't stand to be in Rochester without her," he said. "It is more like a marriage. I miss her. I was going through my voicemails, and there was one of her yelling at me, and I even miss her yelling at me." Grieco says something must have gone wrong, but he doesn't think suicide should even be considered. "She definitely met with foul play," he said. "I think somebody saw her walking and offered her a ride and she got in the car with the wrong person." Grieco said the police have leads that they won't discuss, so as not to ruin the investigation. "(The police) are giving us a positive vibe, so we are hoping that the outcome is also positive." Grieco said. "(Brittanee) is a fighter. If anybody of going to survive this she will." The last person known to have been with Brittanee is Peter Broswick, a high school friend she went to visit in another hotel that night. Police named him a "person of interest" in the case. Drexel is described as five feet tall, weighing 103 pounds. She has brown, shoulder-length, straight hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a multi-colored striped shirt, black shorts, and silver flip-flop sandals. She was also seen holding red flip-flop sandals in a surveillance video. If you have any information about Brittanee Drexel's possible whereabouts, contact the Myrtle Beach Police Department at (843) 918-1382. Anyone with pictures or videos from 11 South and 20 Ocean Blvd. between 8:45 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. on April 25, is urged to contact police. Crime Stoppers is now offering a $1,000 reward to anyone with information in the case. © MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Post by Admin on May 13, 2013 23:04:21 GMT
Brittanee Marie Drexel is 5 feet tall and weighs about 103 pounds. She has brown, shoulder-length, straight hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a multi-colored striped shirt, black shorts, and flip-flop sandals. When vacationing with friends in South Carolina, she stayed at the Bar Harbor Motel in Myrtle Beach on April 25. The following day Brittanee Drexel’s friends moved to the Boardwalk Motel. Brittanee Drexel is sometimes misspelt as Britney Drexel or Britanee Drexel. If anyone has the information about her, the Myrtle Beach Police Department tip-line is (843) 918-1382.
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Post by Admin on May 13, 2013 23:04:50 GMT
Posted at: 07/11/2009 10:14 PM | WHEC.com Glimmer of hope in the case of a missing Chili teenager There is a glimmer of hope in the case of a missing Chili teenager. A veteran Myrtle Beach Police Officer, working on the case, believes Brittanee Drexel may still be alive. Sgt. Joey Crosby was quoted in an article in The Sun News. According to the report, Sgt. Crosby says there are intimate parts of the investigation that make this case different than any other missing persons case they've worked on. Crosby would not reveal the details. The 17-year-old has been missing for over 2 and a half months. She disappeared while on spring break in Myrtle Beach. Drexel was last seen leaving the Blue Water Hotel on Ocean Boulevard. Police say they receive tips about the case on a daily basis; many are supposed sightings of Drexel. Drexel's grandparents are still in Myrtle Beach. They had another fundraiser on Saturday and refuse to give up. "Everyday that those flyers are out there, they get a few more tips that’s what we need, we need that little piece of that puzzle to put together and hopefully we can bring Brittanee home," said Brittanee's grandmother Carol Wagner.
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Post by Admin on May 13, 2013 23:05:21 GMT
News - Breaking News Sunday, Jul. 12, 2009 Drexel's grandparents hold fundraiser to continue search for New York teen Janelle Frost - jfrost@thesunnews.com The grandparents of a New York teen, who disappeared in April while visiting Myrtle Beach, held a fundraiser Saturday night at the Beaver Bar on U.S.17 Business in Georgetown County. Carol and Alan Wagner plan to use the funds raised to hire a private investigator, and for gas and food while they stay in the Myrtle Beach area, Carol Wagner said Sunday. She said that she has hope that her 17-year-old granddaughter, Brittanee Drexel, will be found. "And I hope whoever has her out there will return her safely," Carol Wagner said. She said she is not sure how long they will stay in the area. Drexel, who disappeared April 25, was last seen leaving the Blue Water Hotel on Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach. Saturday's fundraiser comes a day after officers with Myrtle Beach police met with investigators from Georgetown and Charleston counties on Friday to discuss Drexel's case, which has drawn national attention. Myrtle Beach police Sgt. Joey Crosby said there is still hope that Drexel is alive, and that officials will continue to treat her disappearance as a missing person case until they have exhausted all leads or have nowhere else to turn in their investigation. In the meantime, the family is doing what all they can to keep the search going and to continue to raise awareness of Drexel's disappearance. On Sunday, Carol and Alan Wagner passed out fliers at the homeless shelter, Street Reach, and in the Oak Street area, Carol Wagner said. She said they will continue to pass out fliers in the Myrtle Beach area.
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Post by Admin on May 13, 2013 23:06:04 GMT
Family raises money to continue search for teen Posted: Jul 11, 2009 10:23 PM Updated: Jul 13, 2009 11:55 AM By Brandon Herring - MURRELLS INLET, SC (WMBF) - It's been two and a half months since 17-year-old Brittanee Drexel went missing from Myrtle Beach while visiting with friends. Her family continues to do what they can to keep the search active. Brittanee's mother Dawn Drexel has had to return to work in Rochester, NY, so Brittanee's grandparents have taken over the search. On Saturday, those grandparents hosted a fundraiser at the Beaver Bar along with the bar owner Leslye Beaver. People who came to the bar on U.S. Highway 17 Business in Georgetown County were able to give direct donations or contribute through a raffle. Brittanee's grandmother Carol Wagner said she and her husband need the money because they continue to hand out flyers with Britannee's face on them every day. She said the money will help them pay for the food and the gas they need to continue those efforts. "Every day that those flyers are out there they get a few more tips, and that's what we need," explained Wagner. "We just need that little piece of that puzzle to put together and hopefully we can bring Brittanee home." Wagner said she's not sure when or if the family will end the search for Brittanee. ©2009 WMBF News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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