More than three months after a 17 year old girl from New York disappeared while on spring break in Myrtle Beach police say they continue to follow up on regular tips and leads into the Brittanee Drexel search only to come up short.
But one local teen's unmistakable resemblance has had many people believing they've spotted Drexel.
Miranda Flinchum says she gets stopped, questioned, and stared at almost everywhere she goes and it's because she looks so much like Brittanee Drexel.
On April 25th, 17 year old spring breaker Brittanee Drexel walked out of the Blue Water Resort in Myrtle Beach and hasn't been seen since.
Although, Miranda Flinchum says, she experiences a Brittanee Drexel sighting almost every time she goes out.
"Two mornings ago I went to breakfast with my friend and the waitress asked if, said I looked just like her and then last week at McDonald's it happened. Then a couple of nights ago at Wal-Mart," recalled Flinchum, a high school student at St. James High School.
Miranda's mother, Debbie, fields phone calls from friends and family whenever Drexel's picture is seen on TV or posters.
Recalling the first time she saw Drexel's picture on television, Miranda's mother, Debbie said, "I got a phone call, and then I got another phone call and I probably had about, probably 20 phone calls within 30 minutes, wondering if that was my daughter because she looked so identical."
So identical, Debbie questioned it herself.
"When I saw the picture I actually went in to make sure that my daughter was in and safe in her room," said Debbie.
"It has been weird," admitted Miranda, "Everybody asking is me and saying I look just like her, and it's been sad, you know, they can't find her. People think it's me and they get hope when they see me," she continued.
"Having my daughter tell me that she's always stared at and pictures are taken of her, it just breaks my heart to know that someone's missing their daughter and she looks so much like mine," Debbie said.
But while Miranda may look like Brittanee Drexel, she is not Brittanee Drexel. And Brittanee's mother, Dawn Drexel, continues searching for her daughter.
"I'm just thankful everyday when I see my daughter's face, and hopefully one day (Brittanee's) mother will be able to see her daughter's face," said Debbie.
The Flitchum's added, all the attention her daughter Miranda gets proves something -- people out there remember what Brittanee Drexel looks like and they haven't forgotten that she's still missing.
Authorities say the search for Drexel has not let up. If you have any information -- you're asked to call police at (843) 918 1382.
