BCSO: No proof Wood, sex abuse arrests connected

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) - Relatives said the search for missing teen Brittney Wood has seen its share of setbacks.

Since the teen’s disappearance on May 30, three family members have been arrested on sex crimes; and according to relatives, a fourth committed suicide the day she vanished.

“We're definitely focused on finding her one way or another,” said Brittney’s stepmother Stephanie Hanke, who spoke to FOX10 with Brittney’s father. “The not knowing is what is killing us.”

Relatives said the teen was last seen heading to visit her uncle, Donald Holland, in the Styx River area.

He was later found dead, due to an apparent suicide.

“We don't know if what happened to Brittney went to the grave with him,” said Hanke.

In the weeks that followed, two of Brittney’s uncles and most recently her own brother, Derek, were arrested and charged with sex crimes, including incest.

Baldwin County deputies maintain Brittney’s disappearance and the sex abuse cases are not related.

“She is not a victim in our sex abuse case, and our case has been going on much longer than the missing person's report that was filed with Mobile Police Department on Brittney wood,” said BCSO Major Anthony Lowery.

Some of Wood's family, however, said they need more than that.

“That’s not a good enough reason for us,” said Hanke. “They cannot explain to us, to convince us that it has nothing to do with it. They have yet to convince us.”

Her family said they want to see justice served for those victims. But in the meantime, they said their focus is, and will remain finding Wood.

“No matter how many more arrests come or don't come or whatever, we still have to find Brittney one way or the other. If nothing else, for closure for her 2-year-old,” she said.

Deputies told FOX10 news all victims involved in the sex abuse case were under the age of 16 at the time.

Authorities said they are expecting to make two more arrests in that case.

Meanwhile, the search for Brittney Wood continues.

If you would like to help you can visit the “The Hometown search for Brittney Wood” on Facebook or klasskids.com