Monday

Brittanee Drexel Case Approaching Three Year Mark: Is There New Information Coming Out Of New York?


April 25th, will mark three years since Brittanee Drexel was last seen on a spring break trip taken to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Brittanee was a high school junior from the Rochester area who traveled with friends and without her mom’s permission to Myrtle Beach on April 23, 2009. Her fate still unknown to her family, friends and loved ones who have tirelessly searched for the missing teen since she went missing on that fateful evening. Her cell phone gave off it's last signal in Georgetown County and no activity on her bank account has been detected since she disappeared. Brittanee's last known footsteps were captured on video camera she was seen departing the Blue Water Resort after she reportedly visited a group of friends also from the Rochester area who were staying at that location. The police have stated publicly that the video tape is the last known sighting of Brittanee as she departed around 9 pm on that evening.

There have been numerous reports for the past three years that have indicated possible breaks in the case. So far, this information has not produced the location of Brittanee Drexel. Endless searches continue to be conducted by law enforcement officials along with The CUE Center for Missing Person's; a national missing person's organization who has been involved in the Drexel case from the beginning and continues to advocate for Dawn Drexel and her family. Many questions have been left unanswered for three long years but have the tides of "wondering" started to shift gears into another direction?

At the start of this case, attention immediately focused onto those that Brittanee Drexel was last known to be in the company of before she mysteriously vanished. Specifically, one of many friends, a young man by the name of Peter Brozowitz, also of New York. Brozowitz was instantly targeted in which a national media frenzy was born. Brozowitz, sans his spring break companions, now at the center of the storm appeared on the talk show Dr. Phil claiming he had nothing to do with Drexel's disappearance. After three long years will Brozowitz's words ring to be true after all?

Brozowitz stated on the Dr. Phil show:

“I know just as much as the media, and like I said the media twisted everything that’s going on, and you weren’t there,,” Brozowitz said. I was there with four other people and I’m the one that is singled out.”

Truly, Brozowitz was singled out by being named publicly by the media after returning to New York and retaining an attorney. But what is seemingly remarkable is the untouched issue of the other four people he mentions as well as the little focus on those other "friends" Drexel traveled to Myrtle Beach with and the rooted friendships that are intertwined between the groups of friends. Brozowitz clearly states on the Dr. Phil show that "I know just as much as the media" in which this statement seemingly translates he is equally aware of information as anyone else by way of media reports. In the same breathe he continues next to state "and like I said the media has twisted everything that's going on". His next statement is a complete and utter contradiction to what he just claimed prior; in which he was in agreement with media in the sense that he posses equal information as anyone else by way of media reports. Can these two statements bear any semblance of truth when clearly they are contradictory statements?
Can there be a realm of truth in both statements and how would this even be possible? How can Brozowitz claim to know as little or only what the media reports but in the next statement claim the media have it all wrong unless he does have some type of knowledge of what may have happened to Drexel? My opinion is that it can possibly indeed be both ways in the first two statements he makes and for a variety of reasons in which I will report more in depth as this case continues to develop. He goes on next to state:

"And you weren't there"

- EXACTLY! Brozowitz though WAS there in Myrtle Beach and so were many other friends and teens from the Rochester, NY area. But the key information that needs to be focused on as gospel truth is in what Brozowitz states next and that is:

"I was there with four other people and I’m the one that is singled out"

EXACTLY! Tall tales aside for a moment; is this one of more honest statements being made by Brozowitz? Brozowitz is one of several friends that were in Myrtle Beach, a mysterious early departure, a quick retaining of legal counsel, and yet the one and only who has spoken publicly through the media and under such intense scrutiny. Where have the other friends been? Have they offered support, compassion or empathy to Dawn Drexel and family? Finally, was Brozowitz a scape goat for the others? Time will tell....

Amidst, the national attention this case has sparked, messages boards, forums and comments sections have been plagued with rumors for the past three years. Accusations have been slung and opinions have been stated by many; reflecting back on a few opinions that were held in 2009. One may now be starting to ask whether or not there was some actual truth to any of these opinions with so much time passing since the night Drexel vanished.

From a internet website www.topix.com a poster named "Batman" wrote on April 29th 2009:

"This is absolutely ridiculous. I have never been so embarrassed of my country and fellow Rochesterians. Peter is an amazing kid, he wouldn't harm a fly. Do you only listen to what you want to hear? Do you thrive off of other peoples misery?...if so you are being VERY ignorant! Peter was released, no problems at all, he was with 5 of his friends who all saw her leave the hotel, ALONG WITH THE HOTEL VIDEO survelliance. She was the one who left to return shorts to her "friends" Why are people still questioning him?!!! Where are her so called FRIENDS who left her? Peter was simply letting her vent to him and his friends, while watching a baseball game! It is sad that the poor kid has to hire a lawyer in order to feel safe from all of you low life people who enjoy making someone feel as if they did something wrong. I am a very sensitive person, mother, however I would never judge someone based on no evidence what so ever! I hope that Brittnee does decide to return home and that she is safe. However, it is too bad that all of your negative comments and false accusations will be forgetten, as if you never said them to the public, and you have damaged someones feeling of safety, respect and their character because of what you said...once again..BASED ON NOTHING!!!!! I hope Brittanee returns home safe and you are all forgiven!!"



Next a person who goes by "Allison" wrote on May 28th 2009 voiced their opinion:

"I think you need to look at the girls she was with. They seem pretty sketchy."

Some offer that they feel the cavalier attitude accompanied by the lack of forthcomingness, cooperation and compassion from the individuals that Brittanee was known to be with as some type of omission of guilt. A poster who labels himself as "Get Serious" stated his opinion on May 28th 2009: --

"I agree completely. If these girls can post some of the comments about her on their myspace pages that are so cold-hearted and spiteful, then who knows what else they may have done to help create the situation it is now. It seems to me as they had it out to try and ruin her and it may have gone too far. I never would post on a website for the world to see comments about a friend or acquaintance, especially if they had mysteriously disappeared. The kids these days have no sincerity or respect for each other and have no idea about "The Golden Rule" or treat others as you would like to be treated"

Another entry that caught my attention was written by "wunder" who also wrote on May 29th 2009: --

"TheTruth, I wish there was a way to contact you without anyone else seeing that information. I don't know anything important, but wanted to share some conversations I had with Brittanee in the past few months. One thing I'll say is that she was not steady with her boyfriend at all. One time instead of taking her home, she had me take her to a friend's house because she didn't want to be home alone and have John come over. Said they had broken up about 4 or 5 times. In other conversations, she said she "never wanted to get married."

Three years is a long time. Time eventually fades away, memories have fallen short, "facts" have changed, guilt slowly starts to seep in, people grow and change, friendships fade, boyfriends come and go, and the inner conscious keeps one awake at night as they as wrestle with one of the best hidden secrets until...........

Who would have the capability and motivation between friends to constitute an ultimate punishment to Brittanee Drexel by vanishing her from those who love her? What type of person would do such a thing? Would this person be emotional vested? Jealous? Envious? -- that is a question many want answered; sources seem to be leaning toward an indication that the answers to the main question "Where is and what happened to Brittanee Drexel on April 25th 2009" may be coming to light in the very near future. You may ask yourself why those who know these answers have remained steadfast in silence for all this time - were they scared? are they still scared? And of what and whom? Is the power bigger than anyone could have ever fathomed?

William Faulkner once said "Clocks slay time... time is dead as long as it is being clicked off by little wheels; only when the clock stops does time come to life."

I agree that time will surely tell.

Thursday

FACT REPORT: Candice Shields Mysteriously Vanishes While Three Months Pregnant From Her Home In Graham, Texas


It was Saturday December 10th around 9:30 PM when Johnny Salinas last said goodnight to his grand-daughter Candice. Her family unaware that on this evening this would be the last time anyone would see or hear from her. Candice's family having no clue of the unimaginable nightmare that loomed ahead and the journey that no family ever wants to embark on when a loved one vanishes. Candice Renee Shields, "Candy" to her friends; a vibrant 20 year old was three months pregnant at the time of her disappearance. It was early morning the following day on the 11th of December when Salinas her grandfather, whom she shared a home in the small town of Graham, TX went to wake Shields anticipating giving his grand-daughter a ride to work. Shields was expected to report to work that morning at 8AM. She had just begun employment at What-A-Burger, a local burger joint on the prior day. Salinas discovered that Shields was not in her room or in the residence. Her cell phone, purse and all of her personal belongings still in her room. Family members began calling around to various friends and relatives seeking information as to where Shields may be located. Shields' best friend Marissa Munn arrived at the Salinas residence in attempt to determine what Shields may have been wearing when she left the house. After going through personal items and clothing left behind in the room, the determination was made that Shields was most likely in her favorite plaid green pajama pants bearing an XBOX logo, black hoodie sweatshirt and white tennis shoes. Munn, no stranger to familiarity of Shields' personal effects, had been roommates with Shields prior to her moving into her grandparents' residence.

The last words Shields posted on her facebook.com page, along with other postings in the days leading up to her disappearance, rang an ominous tone. Just past midnight pushing into the early hours of the 11th, a post was made by Shields, stating:

"idk wat to do anymore" 12:38am CST via mobile.

Other posts made by Shields indicated she was feeling stressed while trying to locate a vehicle for transportation to and from work. Another early hour posting on the 10th, the night before she was to begin her new job, she posted:

"well if anyone out there finds or sees a car for sale and or nos about one text me or message me please i need a car to get to work and home thnx and i some one can help lol" 2:15am via mobile.

According to Shields' mother, Candice did not have a drivers license and would have had no means to purchase a car at the time as she had just started working that day. Shield's listed on her facebook profile as being"
"in a relationship" with "Jeremy Thornburg"


Candice Shields' mother, Michelle Quillan who lives a couple hours away, has traveled back and forth in efforts to locate her daughter. Quillan is unable to find any logical explanation as to why her daughter would have left behind her cell phone, purse; which contained all of her identification including her brand new debit card, makeup and all personal day to day items including all of her clothes. Quillan and other family members have expressed that Shields is a social butterfly, known to always be on her phone. "It's like she had it glued to her hand, Candice is very social and her friends and family are very important to her" says Quillan. What is even more disturbing Quillan claims that she has learned her daughter had refilled the minutes on her cell phone, which amounted to an unlimited month usage, earlier on the day she was last seen before vanishing. The worry felt by Quillan continued to escalate when a couple of days later her birthday arrived with no call from her daughter. "Out of all my children, Candice is always the first to wish me Happy Birthday and there was no call from her and I really started to panic" says Quillan. Without having the usual contact with her daughter on her birthday only contributed another unusual factor in the realm that Shields did not vanish or leave on her own accord. When asked whether or not Shields had expressed any behavior or issues to family, friends or those in contact with her in the days leading up to her disappearance, Quillan did state that "a family member picked Candice up from her first day of work and she told this member of our family that she had been threatened by a co-worker and that she was scared to go back to work". In a message earlier on the day of Shields disappearance, after finishing her first shift on her new job, she responded to a question left on Facebook inquiring if she has a new job? Then in which yielded Shield's responsed:

"yeh and it very stressful and idk how I am going to do this". December 10th at 3:29PM

With family members confirming Shields' expression of fear that day; the Facebook messages left by Shields could potentially substantiate the unknown events on Saturday, December 10th 2011.

The real question today is where on this earth is Candice Renee Shields? Many people are searching for her and will continue to search for her until she is located. In most cases there is always a "SOMEONE" WHO KNOWS the answers to these burning questions that her family is so desperately seeking "Where is Candice"? The questions in this case; who are these "SOMEONE(s)" who either by accessory or default bear full knowledge or possess limited but possible factual information of Candice Shields whereabouts or potential whereabouts? It is always highly recommended that these "SOMEONE(s) follow the law in proceeding to become forth coming to investigators with ANY information or suspicions or potential of which may assist in locating Candice Shields. I encourage these people to call the Graham Police Department first and foremost with any information. Understandably, there are many situations where these type of "SOMEONE(s)" are as fearful for their own safety and for these "SOMEONE(s)" there is an anonymous tip line set up through the CUE Center that can be dialed on any phone or another option to remain anonymous is by submitting an tip online on the CUE Center website ensuring your identity is protected. The information will then be sent to the authorities but will allow the person(s) to remain anonymous.


Candice Shields' mother and family led the way bringing in ground support last week with a national search organization; Community United Effort also known as "The CUE Center For Missing Person's" who was called at the request of Shield's family along with volunteers from the community.


Candice Renee Shields is loved and missed by many, most of all by her family and especially by her mother. Candice writes on her personal MySpace page under "my heros" she lists her "Mother" as one of them. While there are many remaining unanswered questions surrounding Shields' location, her mother Michelle is not giving up hope in praying her daughter is out there, a best case scenario for a family when a member disappears under unusual classic uncharacteristic circumstances. As recent as today another message of the many posted by Michelle hoping for Candice on Facebook reads:

"Candice . I hope u can see this we if u have a way to a phone please call collect 210-236-8500 we will come a pick u up where ever u r , and if some one has u he will pay , we miss u babe .
And if someone has my daughter and u can read , please let her come home
her family needs her. Candice if u are running this is no way to hide ur family needs u , we r family and thats what family does we stick together thru anything. please call us we can help no matter what it is . its no worth running babe
I love you"

Quillan explained that her family had just moved prior to her daughter going missing, she is not that comfortable putting her phone number on the internet but willing to take any risk to bring her daughter home. You can also follow along information on the family's Facebook page
"Official Facebook Page- Help Find Candice Shields"
http://www.facebook.com/groups/223972177689097

We will continue to cover the disappearance of Candice Shields.

Contact Information:

Lead Investigative Agency - Graham City Police Department: 940-549-6441

or

Cue Center For Missing Persons 24 hour tip line" 910-232-1787
Cue Center For Missing Persons 24 hour online tip submission: http://www.ncmissingpersons.org/candice-shields