Wood's mother feels Brittney was abused

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) - The mother of missing teenager Brittney Wood said she believes her daughter was the victim of sexual abuse.

The teen has been missing since May 30, but Chessie Wood said her daughter wouldn't have just walked off.

Chessie Wood believes her daughter Brittney knew arrests were coming in a sex crimes investigation before she disappeared.

She also believes her daughter was sexually abused by her now-dead uncle, Donald Holland, Sr.

"I was told by authorities that Brittney was one of his victims," said Chessie Wood.

She said she feels she is still being victimized by her uncle because he was the last person to have seen her. A source told FOX10 Holland was a suspect in a sex crimes ring but, before he could be questioned, he killed himself.

Chessie Wood says she asked her daughter Brittney if anyone had touched her or made her feel uncomfortable and she told her 'No.'

"A lot of rape victims do this. We don't know why they will protect the molester," said Chessie Wood.

Wood believes Holland held the key to her daughter's disappearance.

"I believe Brittney was trying to protect some people in the family she loved and she paid the ultimate price for it," Wood said. 

Five people have been arrested and charged with sex crimes in the Baldwin County investigation.

Holland would have made six, except authorities said he used Brittney Wood's gun to kill himself.

"Why did Brittney carry a gun?" asked FOX10.

"For protection," answered Chessie Wood. "She had a lot of obsessive ex-boyfriends and look what was going on across the Bay... I guess she was scared."

CONTINUING COVERAGE: The disappearance of Brittney Wood

But Chessie Wood said if her daughter did run out of fear, she would not have left her gun or cell phone behind.

If you have any information on the disappearance of 19-year-old Brittney Wood, please call KlaasKIDS at (855) 733-5567 or (251) 348-1562.