Convicted Killer Says He and His Girlfriend Were 'Hunting' for a Victim the Night He Killed Brittanee Drexel

Mar. 15, 2025

Raymond Moody and Angel Cooper Vause.Photo:Charleston County Sheriffs Office; Charleston County Jail

Charleston County Sheriffs Office; Charleston County Jail

Raymond Moodysays his longtime girlfriend Angel Cooper Vause was involved in his plot to kidnap, rape, and murder 17-year-old Brittanee Drexel in 2009, the convicted killer told federal investigators.

Moody, now 64, was sentenced to life in prison in 2022 for raping and murdering Drexel while she was visiting Myrtle Beach, S.C. on a spring break trip, PEOPLE previously reported.

Now, the killer claims Vause, his 56-year-old longtime girlfriend, was not only present at the time of Drexel’s killing but an integral part of the plot to kidnap and rape her, according to several news reports.

Moody made the bombshell revelation during an interview with the FBI in Nov. 2024 at the Lieber Correctional Institution in Ridgeville, according to a summary of the interview filed in federal court.

Brittanee Drexel.FBI Columbia/missingkids.org

FBI Columbia/missingkids.org

The killer then alleged that Vause held onto their vehicle’s steering wheel while he restrained Drexel and helped lead her to a tent they previously set up in the Pole Yard Boat Landing in Georgetown, near their apartment.

Vause would then go get the keys to their apartment and instructed Moody not to rape Drexel until she returned, according to the memo. Moody claimed he and Vause previously agreed to rape Drexel together, with it being Vause’s idea the night before to go out and “hunt” for a young woman that they could kidnap.

Moody claimed in his interview with investigators that Vause had texted him the night before asking to “go hunting” with her boyfriend.

The convicted killer — who had previously served 21 years in jail for raping and beating an 8-year-old girl — told investigators that he didn’t recall Vause taking part in Drexel’s rape but that she was present in the tent during the attack.

Moody also alleged that Vause wasn’t aware of his plan to kill Drexel, although she was in the tent during the killing and allegedly didn’t attempt to stop her boyfriend.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Moody told investigators he had strangled Drexel with a nylon rope before stabbing her through the heart with an ice pick. He then buried Drexel’s body alone, because he was concerned Vause was going to tell authorities about the murder.

WCIVreported that Moody made the revelations to authorities in a deal to ensure part of his property to remain in a trust for Vause’s grandchildren.

“Moody emphasized that he is telling the truth not to be spiteful to Vause, but because he wants to take care of his grandchildren,” FBI investigators write in the document.

Vause was arrested last March on three counts of making false statements to the FBI, according toThe Post and Courier; she pleaded guilty last September to all three counts, pertaining to the rape and murder of Drexel.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

source: people.com