Brian Laundrie - update Dog the Bounty Hunter closing in as fresh details over burner phone emerge

Parents of Gabby Petito breaks silence

The lawyer representing the Laundrie family, Steven Bertolino, confirmed that a phone Brian Laundrie purchased before he went missing was turned over to the FBI. Rumours circulated online that Mr Laundrie bought a “burner phone” before he disappeared, though Mr Bertolino claims that phone was given to law enforcement.

A couple that was camping next to the Laundrie family during their trip to the Fort DeSoto campgrounds in Pinellas County, Florida, may have captured an image of Mr Laundrie in a selfie they took.

The campgrounds became a point of interest in the ongoing search for Mr Laundrie after Duane Chapman, better known as Dog the Bounty Hunter, said he’d received a tip about the family visiting the campground.

It’s been 10 days since Mr Laundrie disappeared on the same day he was made a person of interest in the missing person case of his girlfriend Gabby Petito, whose body was subsequently found later that evening. The body of another hiker, Robert Lowery, was also recently found in the same forest where Ms Petito’s remains were located.

Police rejected the tip, saying there have been no reported sightings of anyone resembling Mr Laundrie in the area. However, reporters later confirmed that the Laundries had stayed at the campground in early September, just days before Ms Petito was reported missing.

Steven Bertolino, the attorney representing Brian Laundrie’s family, confirmed on Tuesday that Mr Laundrie went on a camping trip with his parents after returning from his road trip. But the lawyer denied that his parents helped him go into hiding, insisting that all three Laundries came back from the campsite.

Show latest update 1632980698Internet sees search for Brian Laundrie as 'FBI vs Dog'

While the search for Gabby Petito’s missing boyfriend continues, commentators online are describing the effort to locate Brian Laundrie as a race between federal agents and Duane Chapman, aka Dog the Bounty Hunter.

The parallel search efforts have divided the internet into FBI supporters and those backing Chapman, who has claimed he is “closing in” on Mr Laundrie’s whereabouts.

Several memes and jokes on the search have been widely shared on social media platforms.

One user wrote: “If he [Duane Chapman] finds him [Brian Laundrie] before the FBI then there is no other option than to name Duane Chapman the director of the FBI.”

Others joked that if Chapman finds Mr Laundrie first, then they will stop paying taxes.

Maroosha Muzaffar30 September 2021 06:441632978018Dog the Bounty Hunter claims to be close to finding Brian Laundrie

Duane Chapman, aka Dog the Bounty Hunter, has claimed that he believes Brian Laundrie is alive and that he is close to locating the “person of interest” in the Gabby Petito homicide case.

While the FBI has an arrest warrant for Mr Laundrie over a fraud charge, Chapman launched a parallel search for the 23-year-old who was reported missing by his parents on 17 September.

He said on Wednesday: “We’re here at the island. This would be and could be the perfect spot for him to hide.”

He also said that “boat crews and ground teams have been called in and we have search and rescue dogs deployed.”

“The search now is really on. The search has just begun,” he added.

Earlier, Brian Laundrie’s family had called 911 when Chapman knocked on their door to ask questions about Mr Laundrie’s whereabouts.

Maroosha Muzaffar30 September 2021 06:001632976118Sheriff turns Florida campsite surveillance footage over to FBI

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has turned over the surveillance video footage from the campsite in Fort De Soto Park â€" where Brian Laundrie and his parents went on a camping trip â€" to the FBI.

Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Travis Sibley confirmed on Wednesday that the video was turned over to federal agents on Tuesday but referred any further inquiries to the FBI.

Steven Bertolino, the attorney representing Brian Laundrie’s family, had also confirmed that Mr Laundrie and his parents were at the campsite on 6 and 7 September.

Maroosha Muzaffar30 September 2021 05:281632974166Laundrie’s mother changed campsite reservation dates before Brian returned home

Brian Laundrie’s mother changed reservation dates at Fort De Soto Park campsite twice before Mr Laundrie came back home from the road trip without Gabby Petito.

On 24 August, Roberta Laundrie cancelled camping reservations for two people for 31 August and made new reservations for three people for 3 September.

Documents obtained by Fox News show that on 3 September Brian Laundrie’s mother again made new reservations for 6 September for three people.

Mr Laundrie was reported missing by his parents on 17 September. The three went on a camping trip to the Fort De Soto Park just days before Gabby Petito was reported missing.

Petito’s family has urged Mr Laundrie to turn himself in to the FBI.

Maroosha Muzaffar30 September 2021 04:561632972614Brian Laundrie takes to TikTok to clear his own name

The unidentified man is posting videos from the @notbrianlaundrie account, which has received more than 576,000 likes since it started.

Graeme Massie30 September 2021 04:301632969074Dog the Bounty Hunter will keep searching into the night

The TV star and his team are searching islands near Fort DeSoto in Florida, and he told WFLA that will continue.

Graeme Massie30 September 2021 03:311632964514Police in North Carolina say they chased down sighting of Brian Laundrie

Chief Patrick Gallagher of the New Bern, NC police department said his officers had followed up on a tip in coordination with the FBI office in Raleigh, but does not believe it is credible.

Chief Gallagher confirmed they do not believe Brian Laundrie is or was ever in the community in the eastern part of the state.

Graeme Massie30 September 2021 02:151632960074Dog the Bounty Hunter finds campsite deep in Florida woods

Duane “Dog” Chapman discovered a campsite and a fresh can of Monster energy drink while searching Shell Island off the coast of Florida for Brian Laundrie.

The Monster can showed no rust or faded colors, according to a Fox News.

Graeme Massie30 September 2021 01:011632957342Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie: Six key unanswered questions

Brian Laundrie returned home from a “dream” van-life trip without his girlfriend Gabby Petito exactly four weeks ago.

As the manhunt for Mr Laundrie approaches its third week, here are the key unanswered questions in the case, The Independent’s Bevan Hurley looks at the six key questions that remain unanswered:

Where is Brian Laundrie?

How did Gabby Petito die?

Where is Brian Laundrie’s burner phone?

Why did the Laundries go camping, while ignoring desperate requests for help from the Petito’s?

Could authorities in Utah have done more to protect Ms Petito?

Will Brian Laundrie be charged in connection to Gabby Petito’s death?

Justin Vallejo30 September 2021 00:151632955542Dog the Bounty Hunter pitching new TV series amid Petito search

Duane “Dog” Chapman is seemingly on the hunt for more than just Brian Laundrie in the wilds of Florida.

The TV bounty hunter is apparently shopping around a new series that “could include his current activities”, according to Variety.

Production company Thinkfactory Media is reportedly pitching the series as a day-in-the-life-of Dog, who has been chronicling his search for Brian Laundrie on social media.

Justin Vallejo29 September 2021 23:45

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