ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The best friend of Brittanee Drexel, the Chili teen who vanished on a spring break trip to South Carolina in 2009, says she believes each passing day brings us all closer to finding Brittanee's killer or killers.

In June, the FBI announced for the first time that Drexel was held against her will and eventually killed. Drexel, who at the time was 17 and a student at Gates-Chili High School, was last seen alive on April 29, 2009, leaving Bluewater Hotel in Myrtle Beach after visiting friends.

Tarah Friedman was among the friends who along with family began searching in those first few days, which became months and years. After the FBI made the announcement, Friedman wrote a letter to her friend.

"Dear Brittanee.  Hey Britt, there's been a lot of talk about you lately in the news."

"Britt, we looked high and low."

"You know what's strange, I have remained hopeful. Hopeful they'd find you alive."

"I've always held out hope for Brittanee," she said. "Over time, you accept the fact that she might not be coming home alive."

Though the FBI says Brittanee was abducted and killed, her body, and her killer, are still out there – somewhere.

"It's frustrating that it's been seven years, and we don't have all the answers that we want."

Friedman wants to tell the story many don't know, or may have forgotten, about Brittanee and who she was before she became a victim.

"She always had these big dreams and big goals in her life. She could light up a room with her smile. That's what drew me to her and that's how our friendship just grew."

Tarah remembers the phone call that told her Brittanee had disappeared.

"And I called her, left her a voicemail, and that's a really hard part. You call her, expect to get a call back, and I never got that call back."

She was one of many who spent months in South Carolina. They searched, only finding out recently from the FBI that Drexel was alive for days before her murder.

"I can't imagine what you went through those days leading to your death."

"I'm so sorry that we were too late.  I'm sorry we didn't find you.  We tried with our hearts and souls, but the FBI has raised their reward for you, Brittanee. I'm hoping for someone to come forward with more information."

The focus now is on McLellanville, South Carolina, about 50 miles south of Myrtle Beach. The FBI said it's one of the places Drexel was later seen.

Authorities now maintain there are people in the Georgetown, S.C., area who saw Drexel during the "several days" she spent there and know details that could put law enforcement "over the edge" to solve the case.

Billboards with Brittanee's photo have sprung up, and the reward for info leading to a break is now $25,000.

"Someone down there does know something."

Friedman hopes that by sharing the stories of Brittany's life, someone will provide the information needed to break the case.

"I believe someone in the community, just seeing her again, remembering who she was. They will want to come forward, they will remember something."

Brittanee Drexel's murder has also shaped her friend's path.

"Everything that happened with Brittanee, it shaped my life and shaped the path that I'm on."

Friedman attends law school in North Carolina and hopes to become a prosecutor.

"I just know I can make a difference in this world and it's because of Brittanee, because she's been with me this entire way."

Friedman believes Brittanee Drexel will get justice, and that friends and family, and Brittanee, will someday have peace.

"I don't want to say that I lost her, because she's with me every day," Friedman said. "I know that she's the reason why I do what I do and I feel her with me all the time.

"She watches over me and she's why I'm so determined in my path."