A South Carolina jury in the civil trial surrounding the death of Chili teen Brittanee Drexel has ruled against her killer.
A jury unanimously ruled on Tuesday that Raymond Moody, the man who admitted to kidnapping, raping and murdering Drexel, owes her estate $500 million in punitive damages and $200 million in actual damages.
Drexel's estate had filed a civil suit against Moody, citing emotional distress and ensuing bills Drexel's mother incurred in the 13 years her case went unsolved.
Drexel was 17 years old when she went missing during a trip to Myrtle Beach in 2009. The high school student had been celebrating spring break with friends.
Moody was previously sentenced to life in prison after admitting he killed Drexel. Moody led police to Brittanee Drexel’s body in 2022 after advances in technology helped investigators determine that the teen’s cell phone was in Moody’s vehicle the night she disappeared while walking alone along the Myrtle Beach waterfront.
When the trial began on Monday, Moody said he did not intend to put up a defense.
"I'm at a loss for words and I have so much regret," said Moody in court. "And I realize it doesn't matter how sincere I am about how I feel about things I've done, It's not enough."
Moody, 62, said he offered marijuana to Drexel and that she voluntarily went to his campsite 35 miles away in Georgetown County. However, investigators say they will never know whether Drexel got into Moody’s SUV on her own or was forced inside. After his girlfriend left, Moody said he tried to have sex with Drexel, who refused. Moody said he then strangled Drexel because he realized he would go back to prison as a convicted sex offender — he had previously been convicted of raping an 8-year-old girl in California.
Drexel's estate is also suing the resort where she was staying at when the teen disappeared.
In February, Moody's longtime girlfriend Angel Vause, 57, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison after she pleaded guilty to three counts of giving a false statement to a federal agent. Officials say she admitted to lying about Drexel's kidnapping, saying the 17-year-old voluntarily accompanied her and Moody to do drugs.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
