Brittanee Drexel has become a household name for many in our community.

Sunday marks the first anniversary of the day the 17-year-old disappeared in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Saturday’s vigil marked one year of uncertainty for family and friends of Brittanee Drexel. It has been a year-long emotional roller coaster with no clear end in sight.

"She had gotten one last text from her boyfriend and she never responded back and this was from her leaving the hotel where she was at and then going to the other hotel where her friends were at. And she just never showed up," said Dawn Drexel, Brittanee’s mother, during an interview a year ago on April 27, 2009, after her 17-year old daughter, a junior at Gates Chili, was reported missing.

Drexel was on spring break with friends.

Throughout the year, Brittanee's story has made national headlines. There have been sightings and searches, plus numerous fundraisers and events in an effort to find Brittanee.

From playing cards to countless flyers, family and friends have pushed to keep her name in the public eye. From past to present, there are still many unanswered questions.

"One of these kids knows something. How could you come back here and live with yourself? I don't understand how they can sleep," said Chad Drexel, Brittanee’s father, during an interview last April.

This weekend, family and friends held a vigil for Brittanee in South Carolina marking the first anniversary of her disappearance. As her family and friends find a way to cope with this living nightmare, many still hang on to hope.

"It means the world to us to have people come here that don't even know Brittanee. It means the world to us, also all the people from her search teams, from the CUE Center, and our family and friends, it means a lot to us and we appreciate all the support and prayers we've gotten from them," said Brittanee's mom, Dawn Drexel.

Investigators told YNN they have not classified Brittanee's case as a homicide; however, police in neighboring Georgetown, South Carolina have recently said they are looking at multiple persons of interest.

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