GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. — A South Carolina jury has awarded Dawn Conley, the mother of murder victim Brittanee Drexel, a staggering $700 million in a civil lawsuit against Raymond Moody, the man who admitted to killing her daughter. The verdict, delivered on Tuesday, includes $500 million in punitive damages and $200 million in compensatory damages for the emotional distress Conley has suffered since her daughter’s disappearance in 2009.
The case, which has captured national attention, centers on the tragic death of Brittanee Drexel, who vanished while on a spring break trip to Myrtle Beach from her home in New York. After a lengthy investigation, Moody was arrested and subsequently pleaded guilty to kidnapping, raping, and murdering the teenager. He was sentenced to life in prison in October 2022.
During the trial, Conley sued Moody directly for the intentional infliction of emotional distress. Her attorney, Roy T. Willey, described Moody as remorseless. “He’s a psychopath,” Willey stated. “He watched for 13 years as the search for Brittanee was broadcast on billboards and TV, never coming forward until his capture.”
Testifying in court, Moody expressed regret but acknowledged that his sentiments could never rectify the pain he caused. “I’m in loss of words…I have so much regret,” he said, highlighting the insufficiency of his late remorse.
In presenting her case, Conley revealed the profound personal toll of her daughter’s disappearance. Diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety, she described periods of unemployment catalyzed by her ongoing trauma. Conley’s testimony underscored the years of emotional and psychological strain she endured while searching for answers in her daughter’s disappearance.
Brittanee Drexel’s case remained a mystery until Moody’s confession several years later, during which he disclosed the grim details of her final moments. The lawsuit further claimed that Moody deprived Conley of the perennial love and affection from her daughter, intentionally prolonging her suffering by concealing her fate.
Adding to the case’s complexity, Moody’s girlfriend, Angel Vause, was recently sentenced for lying to the FBI regarding the murder. Conley has publicly advocated for additional charges against Vause, believing her to be complicit in the circumstances surrounding her daughter’s death.
The jury’s decision reflects a significant acknowledgment of the immeasurable pain and suffering endured by families of murder victims, setting a precedent for subsequent civil actions against perpetrators of violent crimes.
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