Read more: Local, Brittanee Drexel, Mcclellanville, Shaun Taylor, Abduction, Ocean Boulevard
The family of missing spring breaker Brittanee Drexel is hoping that the arrest of a 37-year-old McClellanville man is the major break their daughter's case has needed.
Shaun Taylor of McClellanville turned himself in to Myrtle Beach police Wednesday in connection with an attempted abduction incident earlier this month. He is charged with attempted kidnapping and first degree assault and battery.
While it's still early and authorities haven't made any official links between the attempted abductions and the Brittanee Drexel disappearance, the Drexel family remains hopeful due to the glaring similarities.
The Drexel's haven't seen or heard from their daughter in more than one year.
"We're tired, you know, we're very tired. Me and (Brittanee's father) want some answers that will hopefully lead us to finding Brittanee. Its been a rough year and three months and this may be a big break in Brittanee's case," said Dawn Drexel, Brittanee's mother.
Since Brittanee was last seen leaving the Blue Water Resort on Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach in April of 2009, Dawn has made the more than 800 mile trip countless times between the Grand Strand and her home in Rochester, New York, looking for answers.
Now the family hopes that Wednesday arrest of Shaun Taylor may provide those answers.
"I have heard his name before and his brother's and his circle of his friends," said Chad Drexel, Brittanee's father. "So, this is a positive thing for this family... the family and law enforcement feel that it's no coincidence that it's within the same proximity (of Brittanee's disappearance)."
Dawn added, "we don't know if there are any connections between Brittanee, between that case and Brittanee's. There are a lot of similarities but right now at this point we're just waiting to hear back from police."
But the similarities are providing at least some hope.
"I had goose bumps," admitted Chad, "we're getting one step closer to knowing where our daughter is."
