Secret Recordings | How Steph Watts Orchestrated a Confession in the Brittanee Drexel Case

2025-02-05

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In this episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum, talks with investigative journalist Steph Watts about the Brittanee Drexel case. Steph shares how he first got involved in the case, his bond with Brittanee’s mother, Dawn Drexel, and the shocking details that finally led to answers. Sheryl and Steph reveal how Raymond Moody and Angel Vause were responsible, the tremendous work done by Steph Watts to get a confession from Raymond Moody, and what happens next with the charges and resentencing.

Brittanee Drexel, a 17-year-old from New York, disappeared while on spring break in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in April 2009. She was last seen walking alone after leaving a hotel. For years, her whereabouts remained a mystery until a breakthrough in 2022 revealed that she had been abducted and murdered by a known offender, Raymond Moody.

Guest Bio and Links:

Steph Watters is a TV Journalist specializing in crime and justice programming and creating compelling content across all platforms. Steph launched his career at Court TV, producing live and taped national trial coverage, managing all aspects of media logistics, overseeing editorial accuracy, and producing longer format documentaries.

Listeners can learn more about Steph Watts at his website, and on IG @stephwwatts

Show Notes:

(0:00) Welcome back to Zone 7 with Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum
(0:10) Sheryl introduces guest, Steph Watts to the show
(2:20) Background of Brittany Drexel’s case
(3:00) Specifics on the initial investigation
(9:30) Breakthrough in the case
(16:00) Raymond Moody pulled over - police miststeps
(22:00) Document from Raymond Moody - detailed confession
(24:00) The participation of Angel Vause
(30:00) The relationship between Ernie Merchant and Raymond Moody
(34:00) The confession and FBI involvement
(38:00) Steph discusses the horrific details about Britanee’s murder
(40:00) Breaking down the charges
(49:00) Closing thoughts
(50:10) ”I was a monster.” - Raymond Moody
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Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an Emmy Award winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnLine, Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department. She is the co-author of the textbook., Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. Sheryl is also the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a collaboration between universities and colleges that brings researchers, practitioners, students and the criminal justice community together to advance techniques in solving cold cases and assist families and law enforcement with solvability factors for unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnapping cases.

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