Did Dark Family Secrets Lead to The Disappearance of Brittney Wood?

Brittney Wood, 19, a single mother of a nearly 2-year-old daughter, left her mother’s house around 7 p.m. on May 30, 2012, telling her she was headed out to meet her uncle, Donnie Holland. That was the last time anyone saw Brittney.

Donnie and Brittney traveled to a home in Robertsdale, about an hour away, where Holland lived, information learned from communications she had with her friends via text until 11:30 p.m. At 11:36 p.m. her incoming calls began going to voicemail. Her cell phone last pinged at 1:47 a.m. in Grand Bay, back closer to her home.

Two days later, Donnie’s wife and daughter found him slumped inside his SUV in the woods near his home with a gunshot wound to the head. He died at the hospital. Although his death was ruled a suicide, many of his family members suspect he was murdered.

Sex Allegations Emerge Through the Holland/Wood Family

Holland had been accused of molesting a child member of the family, a discovery made by Scott Wood, a family member of the victim, who found inappropriate messages on Holland's computer. He called law enforcement. Police began investigating Holland and quickly unraveled disturbing information. The lead prosecutor in the case told WKRG,

“Pretty much everyone in this extended family was having sex with one another and having sex with the children.”

Brittney's aunt and Donnie's wife is one of 11 members of the Holland/Wood family convicted of serious sex crimes. Brittney’s family believes these crimes prevented authorities from focusing on her disappearance the way they should have.

Brittney Reported Missing

Family members reported Brittney missing on June 2, 2012, two days after they last saw her, when they called to tell her about Donnie's death, but she did not answer or return their phone calls.

Some members of Brittney’s family believe she was about to come forward with information about sex crimes within the family, which could have led to her disappearance. She was one of the family members who had been sexually abused as a child. Others think she possibly confronted Holland about the accusations and he killed her.

Brittney's family members have different thoughts about her disappearance, but all agree that she would not have walked out on her child or her family. She loved her daughter far too much to leave.

Physical Description

It’s been 12 years since Brittney Wood disappeared, but her family remains hopeful someone will come forward with information that can help them bring her home or put the case to rest.

Brittney is a white female, 5’1”, and 105 pounds (at the time of her disappearance.) She has blue eyes and blondish-brown hair. She has a pierced lip and a tattoo of “Payton” on her left leg.

She wore a blue tank top, blue jean shorts, and flip-flops the day she disappeared. She carried a pink or teal-colored tote bag.

Help Find Brittney Wood

If you want a more comprehensive account of Brittney's disappearance, follow the family's Facebook page dedicated to the case, Missing Brittney Wood. If you have information about Brittney's disappearance, call the Mobile Police Department at 251-208-7211.

Family Members Arrested in Sex Crime Cases

According to the podcast Uncovered, family members arrested on sex crime charges include:

• Mendy Kent: Charged with second-degree sodomy and sex abuse of a child under 12
• Wendy Holland: Second-degree sodomy
• Randall Wood: Charged with second-degree rape, second-degree sodomy, enticing a child
• Billy Brownlee: Charged with second-degree rape, second-degree sodomy, first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy, and sex abuse involving a child less than 12
• Dustin Kent: Charged with first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy

You can read more about the various people in the family who were charged with crimes in the links in the "Sources" section below.

Sources:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15239868/

https://www.wkrg.com/news/age-progressed-photo-of-brittney-wood-released/

https://www.wkrg.com/news/age-progressed-photo-of-brittney-wood-released/

https://www.al.com/news/mobile/2014/08/missing_woman_brittany_wood_wa.html

https://www.wkrg.com/news/breakdown-wood-family-sex-case-pictures/