Massive search for missing women is Saturday
By Kelly Marshall Fuller
Kfuller@gtowntimes.com
More than 300 people, on horseback and on foot, will join in an extensive search for two missing women this weekend in Georgetown County.
Searchers from throughout North and South Carolina will gather on U.S. 17 South early Saturday to comb the isolated area for signs of 18-year-old Brittanee Marie Drexel and 28-year-old Crystal Gail Soles.
Drexel's cell phone gave out its last signal in Georgetown County.
Drexel was 17 when she disappeared from Myrtle Beach on April 25.
Crystal has been missing from a location near an Andrews convenience store since Jan. 24, 2005.
The Center for United Effort, a volunteer search center based in Wilmington, N.C., is coordinating the search for both women.
"Even with the advanced technology, it's the people off the street that actually know something,'' Monica Caison, CUE director said.
"Every community holds information abut a missing person."
Continued searches
Searchers have looked in Myrtle Beach this week for any signs of Drexel.
Drexel vanished after leaving a friend's hotel room on Ocean Boulevard around 8:15 p.m. April 25.
Searchers first came to Georgetown County this spring after following a signal trail that led to the area around the Santee River.
The cell phone was not located and Drexel was not found.
Soles, who is considered an endangered adult, was last seen in the area of Jones Avenue and Main Street in Andrews.
Soles was walking home from the area when she disappeared.
Her mother and son, and other family members, have continued to hold vigils and look for Soles. The CUE Center has also helped organize numerous searches for Soles.
Hundreds of searchers
This weekend's efforts will involve the Myrtle Beach Police Department, Georgetown County, the CUE Center, the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, Darlington County Sheriff's Office, Kershaw County Sheriff's Office and members of the FBI.
Local hunters are asked to be on the lookout for any signs of the two women in the wooded areas throughout Georgetown County.
Hunters are also asked to use caution when hunting around the area of U.S. 17 South, near the Santee River, throughout the weekend.
For information about Saturday's search, or to volunteer, call Caison at 910-343-1131.
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Anyone with information about Crystal Gail Soles should call the Andrews Police Department at 264-5223.
The Myrtle Beach Police Department is seeking information about Brittanee Drexel. Call 918-1300.
Missing Girls : 10/14/2009
Someone in these small little towns know about these girls. Please someone give some peace to these families. If you know anything please call the police.