Georgetown, South Carolina — Dawn Marie Pleckan, mother of the late Brittanee Drexel, is pursuing additional legal action in an ongoing effort to claim part of the $700 million jury award she received after a significant court verdict in February. This latest lawsuit targets Raymond Moody, who is currently serving a life sentence for the kidnapping, rape, and murder of 17-year-old Drexel at the Pole Yard boat landing back in 2009.
Pleckan’s initial lawsuit against Moody resulted in a staggering award that includes $200 million in actual damages and $500 million in punitive damages for the emotional distress caused by her daughter’s murder. Although the verdict stands as a marker of justice for the Drexel family, it carries little financial weight since Moody, incarcerated and without significant assets, cannot fulfill such a judgment. Nonetheless, Pleckan continues her pursuit of accountability and recompense.
In April 2025, Pleckan’s legal team filed motions to seize Moody’s assets, including a property he inherited in Georgetown County. Despite the February judgment, she has yet to collect any funds related to the award.
On August 13, Pleckan escalated her efforts by filing a new lawsuit against Moody, his girlfriend Angel Cooper Vause, and Brian Cooper, who is reportedly the custodian of property owned by Moody. Vause is currently serving an 18-year prison term for providing false statements to investigators during the investigation of Drexel’s murder.
The new suit details that the $700 million judgment continues to accrue interest until it is paid in full. Pleckan asserts that the judgment establishes a lien on all properties owned by Moody at the time of the initial lawsuit. Specifically, she is seeking an eight-acre parcel on Rose Hill Road, which was transferred to Vause in 2022, as well as another property Moody deeded to Vause that same year.
The lawsuit highlights that the properties were transferred for a minimal sum of $5 and characterized as a gesture of “love and affection.” Pleckan argues that this transfer was fraudulent, claiming that it was designed to shield Moody’s assets from creditors, including herself.
In her filings, Pleckan is requesting that the court void the transfer deeds for these properties and allow them to be used to satisfy the judgment owed to her. She also seeks recourse for any remaining unpaid balances, which she maintains should remain as a personal judgment against Moody.
The legal battles continue to unfold, underscoring the relentless pursuit of justice by Pleckan for her daughter. The case serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing impact of Drexel’s tragic death on her family and the complexities involved in achieving legal and emotional closure.
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