Officials: Gun uncle used in suicide was Brittney's

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - FOX10 News has uncovered new information in the case of missing teenager Brittney wood.

Wood was last seen May 30 heading to Baldwin County and the Styx River area with her uncle, Donald Holland.

Deputies said Holland was found two days later with a self-inflicted gunshot wound on June 1. He died in the hospital June 4.

Investigators confirm the Raven .25-caliber handgun Holland used in the suicide belonged to Wood.

We spoke with Wood’s mother about the discovery.

Chessie Wood said she felt her daughter's disappearance was mysterious since the beginning. However, she is unsure how Holland may have gotten Brittney’s gun.

"We believe we have missed something that is hollering our name, and maybe it was so obvious,” said Chessie.

At first, some relatives thought Brittney may have skipped town.

"We as a family do not see how she had the means to run,” said Chessie. “We’ve covered every friend, every one of them are accounted for. I mean if she had to run because she's that scared, I would really believe that she would have [taken] her daughter with her.

“It just really does not look good that she went missing May 30 and two days later he commits suicide.”

Just a few weeks after her daughter vanished, four family members were arrested and charged with sex crimes, including incest.

A source close to the investigation said Holland was a suspect in that same family sex abuse case and was expected to meet with authorities June 1, about half an hour after he shot himself.

Relatives said they are back to square one and hope a $1,500 reward will lead to more information about the case.

“I mean, I just want an answer. That’s all I want. I want to bring her home whether it be tragically or a happy ending,” said Wood.

Brittney’s relatives told deputies that the teen normally only had two bullets in her gun. FOX10 confirmed the weapon did have just one bullet left, after Holland shot himself..