In the quiet town of Moncks Corner, South Carolina, a family's life was irrevocably altered by the disappearance of 20-year-old Tyreek Jawaun Pettigrew. On the afternoon of February 21, 2018, Tyreek was last seen at a local Fuel Express gas station on U.S. 17-A around 3:00 p.m. He was a familiar face at the convenience store. At the time, he was driving his mother's black 2007 Nissan Infiniti G35.
His attire was a distinctive red, green, and white Mexico soccer jersey, paired with black pants and red sneakers. This sighting would be the last confirmed time anyone saw Tyreek. His family never heard from him again, a silence that was deeply out of character for the young man known for being close to his loved ones.
The hours that followed his last appearance at the gas station began to paint a grim picture of his fate. Just 38 minutes after he was last seen, at 3:38 p.m., the Infiniti he was driving was captured on surveillance video at the Janki-Mart on State Road, but Tyreek was not seen in the vehicle. In the very early hours of the following day, February 22, the car was discovered abandoned and completely engulfed in flames on Cainhoy Road, near Bamberg Circle in Charleston, South Carolina. There was no trace of Tyreek at the scene, and the discovery of the burned-out vehicle immediately raised alarms and intensified the concern for his well-being. His mother officially reported him missing on February 23, 2018, after learning what had happened to the car.
For years, Tyreek's family and investigators searched for answers. The case was marked by a painful lack of closure until a significant breakthrough occurred in November 2023. Authorities arrested Brandon Romaine Smith and charged him with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime in connection with Tyreek's disappearance. Court documents revealed a harrowing account from a witness who allegedly saw both Smith and Pettigrew together. The witness reported hearing gunshots as the vehicle they were in stopped, and then saw Smith emerge from the passenger side, reach into the driver's side, and heard more shots. Smith was then reportedly seen fleeing the area in Pettigrew's car. Despite this arrest, Tyreek's remains have not been located. The case is a heart-wrenching story of a young man who vanished, leaving behind a community searching for truth and a family grappling with a profound loss. Foul play is suspected due to the circumstances of his disappearance and the evidence that has since come to light.Last Seen: Feb 21, 2018
