Jimmy Richardson, Fifteenth Judicial Solicitor, said the hearing for Brittanee Drexel’s alleged killer, Raymond Moody, has been delayed.
In May, Moody was arrested and charged with murder, rape and kidnapping in connection to Brittanee's death. Her remains were found and later identified in a wooded area 2.5 miles from where Moody had been living when Drexel disappeared 13 years ago while visiting Myrtle Beach.
Richardson said the main reason Moody's hearing is no longer happening in July is that he’s received more information from the FBI with further details about Drexel’s death.
Richardson said the FBI has given him a terabyte file filled with 13 years of tips and statements surrounding the case.
“The defense attorney has got to filter through it and we’ve got an external drive full of basically a whole computer full just from the FBI,” he, said.
TIMELINE: The disappearance of Brittanee Drexel
He said all of this additional information is why Moody’s hearing will most likely be moved to October.
He also said that the terabyte file must be shared with Moody and his defense attorney.
“What we are banking on and what we are making sure of now, is that 10, 15, 20 years from now, Mr. Moody does not have a discovery issue where he could say ‘hey I need a new trial', or 'I need a new, I need my case reopened because I wasn’t given this piece of paper that the FBI had',” Richardson added.
Richardson said that working on this case has been a whirlwind of emotions.
“I use this word too often, but it’s really a weird concept that you are in some ways excited that you have found the parents’ worst nightmare. To a lesser degree, it’s probably the same feelings, to a much lesser degree, that Dawn Drexel’s going through. It is 'Gosh, I wish I could’ve given you better news,'” he, said.
He grieves with Drexel’s parents, stating that sometimes there are worse things in life than death.
"To a parent, it might be death with no real answers, or the realization that Brittanee’s not coming back, but couple that with I don’t know what happened,” he, said.
He said it is better for Brittanee's parents to know where her body was and that someone has been charged with her murder.
Richardson said Moody has waived his rights to bond hearings and arraignments in order to speed up the hearing process.
He said the next step is for Moody’s hearing, where he will either plead not guilty and go to trial, or accept a plea deal.