Update Wednesday, Oct. 20
Since finding the belongings earlier today, officials have stated those belongings are a backpack and notebook. In addition, human remains have been found in the area as well. At this moment, the FBI has not identified who the remains have been identified as.
The family’s lawyer did make a statement on the latest update:
“Chris and Roberta Laundrie were at the reserve earlier today when human remains and some of Brian’s possessions were located in an area where they had initially advised law enforcement that Brian may be,” Bertolino shared. “Chris and Roberta will wait for the forensic identification of the human remains before making any additional comments.”
As the search continues for Laundrie, the Sarasota County Medical Examiner has been called to Carlton reserve area. Furthermore, a cadaver dog has been brought to the scene, too.
Near a trail at Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, some articles belonging to Laudrie were found. Yesterday, Laundrie’s parents informed the FBI and local police they intended on searching the path today — a trail the family has frequented in the past.
Update Tuesday, Oct. 11
Our article on the cause of death to Petito can be found here.
Update Monday, Oct. 10
Dog the Bounty Hunter has returned to Colorado after injuring his ankle. Despite Dog needing to exit the search for Laundrie to recover, he does still have a team in Florida continuing to help authorities with the search.
Update Thursday, Oct. 7
Authorities were informed today of a new campsite inside the Carlton Reserve. An unknown source found remnants of a freshly abandoned campsite near the area being searched for Laundrie. At this time, authorities do not know if he was there but are still investigating.
In addition, Laundrie’s father has joined the search today for his missing son.
“Chris Laundrie is assisting Law Enforcement today in the search for Brian. Chris was asked to point out any favorite trails or spots that Brian may have used in the preserve,” a statement from the family’s attorney, Steven Bertolino read.
Update Tuesday, Oct. 5
As the manhunt for Laundrie continues, his sister Cassie Laundrie is urging him to ‘come forward’.
She spoke exclusively about this today on ‘Good Morning America‘.
“I would tell my brother to just come forward and get us out of this horrible mess,” she said on the show.
Update Sunday, Sept. 26:
Gabby’s family held a funeral in Holbrook (just outside of New York) as mourners flooded the church to pay their respects to the young woman.
“She was a beautiful soul; she was full of life, always smiling,” shared Desiree Keeffe, a friend of Petito’s mother, Nicole. “She gave you love. She was just a beautiful soul. She touched everybody like she did now.”
Update Saturday, Sept. 25:
Reality star Duane Chapman — who is better known as Dog the Bounty Hunter — has joined the search for Laundrie. Chapman went to the home of Christopher and Roberta in North Port, FL to start his search.
“I will find him. I’m chasing several leads,” Chapman stated on Laundrie’s whereabouts. “We’ve got a lot of leads. I can’t tell you more but we are getting leads every 10 minutes.”
Update Thursday, Sept. 23:
The U.S District Court of Wyoming has issued a federal arrest warrant for Brian Laundrie.
Update Tuesday, Sept. 21:
As of 5:30 pm EST
The autopsy confirmed the found body does belong to Petitio. Results also confirmed the cause of death was a homicide.
As of 11 am EST
A swampy preserve area in Florida is being searched as the manhunt for Laundrie continues.
An autopsy of the body found Sunday night — fitting the description of Petito — is being conducted today.
Update Monday, Sept. 20:
The FBI searched the Florida home of Laundrie’s parents home where Petito was living with her fiancé, Brian. In addition, his parents were escorted from the home but were later led back inside for questioning.
A 9-1-1 call was made while Petito was with Laundrie on their trip. The audio released was made by a man calling to report a domestic violence situation where he saw Petito being slapped — he even gave officers the license plate which matched the one they were driving in.
Update Sunday night Sept. 19:
Upon the discovery of the body found Sunday in Wyoming agents found to be “consistent with that of Gabby Petito,” the family was notified. A more thorough forensic autopsy must be completed before the body can be positively matched. Lead investigators remind those following the case that Brian Laundrie is not wanted or being sought out for criminal charges but is under a lot of pressure to provide answers.
However, even with Laundrie missing (or hiding), the answers authorities need for unraveling the mysterious disappearance of Gabby Petito are slowly coming to light with each passing day.
Original story
After a young couple left on a cross-country tour of national parks in a converted van, only one has returned with his partner missing. Twenty-two-year-old Gabby Petito and her fiancé Brian Laundrie set out in June for an epic adventure while recording a YouTube series called “Van Life.” By September 11th, Petito was missing and a massive search began to find her- then for her fiancé, Laundrie, who had returned alone several days prior but quickly vanished.
With very little evidence and even less help from the Laundrie family, these are a few of the facts that FBI have in their investigation thus far:
~Petito and Laundrie set out in June together to visit all the national parks while living in their converted van.
~While in Utah at the end of August, police were called to an incident between the couple where Laundrie was seen slapping Petito by witnesses. No charges were filed as the couple said they were in love and didn’t wish for further police involvement.
~Petito had consistent communication with her family throughout the trip. However, the last form of communication she had was a text to her mother on August 30th where she referred to her grandfather by his first name (parents of Petito said she “never” does this).
~Laundrie returned home September 1st alone, refused to talk to police, and is now also filed as a missing person by his parents.
~An unidentified body has been found that is consistent with Petito, but a full forensic identification has not been completed so it’s not certain that it belongs to Petito.
It was during their stop at Grand Teton National Park when the family became concerned and then lost communication with Petito. This came shortly after the domestic dispute police officers in Utah responded to and released the couple because “insufficient evidence existed to justify criminal charges.” For the duration of Petito and Laundries’ trip, Petito had had nearly daily contact with at least one of her family members. The abrupt silence raised concern from the family and several days later the Petito family officially filed for a missing person’s report.
Meanwhile, Laundrie had already returned to his and Petito’s home in North Port, Florida in the van they had begun their trip in together. Laundrie was allegedly there for multiple days before slipping away to Saratoga, Florida to a nature preserve.
However, by the time Laundrie had decided to leave there were already swarms of reporters at his home and the only people who saw him leave were his parents- who were also the only ones who were seen in the car he took to the preserve. The Laundrie family has refused to speak about Petito and what happened. The only thing they did that was made public was hire an attorney and file a missing person report for their son after they claim to have lost communication with him once he went to the over 25,000-acre nature preserve.
Brian Laundrie has not been seen since last Tuesday (Sept. 14) but the validity of this alibi has recently been in question. With all the reporters and nearly 24/7 surveillance of Laundrie’s home — how did NOBODY see him leave that day? Further investigation into his possible departure before September 14th is beginning but the manhunt for Laundrie is in full swing.
What was meant to be a memorable trip for the couple has turned into a living nightmare for the Petito family. With the Laundries’ only compliance with the police being them handing officers papers for their attorney, any hopes of them breaking the silence are moot for now. Though the FBI are conducting missing person’s searches for both Petito and Laundrie, the Petito family released this statement through their attorney Richard Stafford,
“All of Gabby’s family want the world to know that Brian is not missing, he is hiding. Gabby is missing.”
More details are to come as the story develops.
