The body of record Powerball winner Jack Whittaker's 17-year-old granddaughter was found Monday in a rural area in western West Virginia, State Police said.
Brandi Bragg's body was tentatively identified based on tattoos on her neck, said State Police Sgt. Jay Powers.
"The troopers (at the scene) had talked to her in the past and knew her," Powers said.
State Police found the body behind a junked vehicle in a grassy area on Scary Creek Road outside Scott Depot in Putnam County, across the road from a church at about 10:30 a.m. Monday. A missing child poster with Bragg's photo on it was nailed to a telephone pole beside the church.
Bragg was last seen Dec. 4 at the home of a male friend on Scary Creek Road, police had said. Whittaker reported her missing five days later.
The unidentified friend told police that she was still at his home when he went to bed. When he woke up, she was gone, but her vehicle was still parked at his house. The friend is not considered a suspect, Sgt. Lisa Arthur of the Putnam County Sheriff's Department said last week.
Authorities do not know how long the body had been at the scene but that it could have been there since Bragg was last seen alive, Powers said.
There were no obvious signs of violence at the scene. A cause of death will not be determined until an autopsy is performed, he said.
Bragg's family was notified of the body's discovery, he said.
Troopers searched the area based on information received "through talking to people," Powers said.
"We knew where we were going," he said.
Bragg's grandfather became an instant celebrity on Christmas Day 2002 after winning a $314.9 million Powerball jackpot. He took his winnings in a lump sum of $113 million after taxes. Since then, Whittaker has been arrested twice for drunken driving in the past year and has been ordered by magistrates in two different counties to undergo substance abuse treatment.
I was not expecting this at all. I knew she was missing but thought she might have ran away because she had a quarrel with her family. This is really sad. I dont know who's fault it is but may god rest her soul.
You guys seriously have no clue about the situation do you??? Jessie's Family did not have anything to do w/ this.... seriously how stupid could you be??? No one knows anything about this situation unless you live around here... so i dont wanna hear it
Yes, God Rest Her Soul..... along w/ Jessie's..... they were good kids.... that got into bad things.... It jus hurts me to see that people would even think of Jimmy( Jessies father) would have anything to do w/ her death.... you cant jus blame innocent people.... her death and Jessie's death has been too close to home for me.... i knew Jessie and he was a good kid.... I didnt know Brandi as well.... jus have friends that were friends of hers.... I hope Jack decides to change his life...its really sad these things had to happen , and things had to end this way.....
It is shocking news to me ...It rather use her to exchange money than killing her, why they have to play the final step like that? . She is young and innocent ...
from doctorew220 " i'm betting she was killed out of jealousy. you know how some people will do everything to get at someone just because of their good fortune."
I totally agree with your thinking!You are smartttt and very understand human ..... and I don't feel comfortable they could be everywhre beside people in the street..This is the game for anybody to have a chance to win fairly!
Someone is incredibly evil and horrible .. I 'm not rich but I never even think about going too far like this!!!
Hey! Evil wrongdoer you will get the EFFECT for thisssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
I knew something like this had happened. Very sad.
He should have moved away from there. I hope he feels some responsibility. His prior actions may have contributed to this..this is so sad..
I was not expecting this at all. I knew she was missing but thought she might have ran away because she had a quarrel with her family. This is really sad. I dont know who's fault it is but may god rest her soul.
im sorry about jack's grandaughter iwish it could be different
Why don't we wait until we have all the details before trying and convicting poor ol Jack ?
This MAY not have had anything to do with him or his money. Doubtful, but lets all at least wait until the body is cold.
DD
it probly was the family of the boy they found dead in his house
i'm betting she was killed out of jealousy. you know how some people will do everything to get at someone just because of their good fortune.
May the Great Spirit have mercy on her Soul.
either my last post or jack whittaker pissed someone off.
You guys seriously have no clue about the situation do you??? Jessie's Family did not have anything to do w/ this.... seriously how stupid could you be??? No one knows anything about this situation unless you live around here... so i dont wanna hear it
I saw in the news that a theory was she overdosed and her boyfriend freaked. God rest her soul.
Yes, God Rest Her Soul..... along w/ Jessie's..... they were good kids.... that got into bad things.... It jus hurts me to see that people would even think of Jimmy( Jessies father) would have anything to do w/ her death.... you cant jus blame innocent people.... her death and Jessie's death has been too close to home for me.... i knew Jessie and he was a good kid.... I didnt know Brandi as well.... jus have friends that were friends of hers.... I hope Jack decides to change his life...its really sad these things had to happen , and things had to end this way.....
Was she the typical rich girl fancy cars nice vacations etc? Because in a recent picture I saw of her she didnt look it.
Hello brothers and sisters:
It is shocking news to me ...It rather use her to exchange money than killing her, why they have to play the final step like that?
. She is young and innocent ...
from doctorew220 " i'm betting she was killed out of jealousy. you know how some people will do everything to get at someone just because of their good fortune."
I totally agree with your thinking!You are smartttt and very understand human ..... and I don't feel comfortable they could be everywhre beside people in the street..This is the game for anybody to have a chance to win fairly!
Someone is incredibly evil and horrible .. I 'm not rich but I never even think about going too far like this!!!
Hey! Evil wrongdoer you will get the EFFECT for thisssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss