Brian Laundrie - update Gabby Petitos family calls fugitive the missing piece of the puzzle

Brian Laundrie: Police fly drone over Carlton Reserve as activity ramps up

Gabby Petito’s stepfather, Jim Schmidt, has called Brian Laundrie “our missing piece to the puzzle to find out what happened.”

The Petito family also urged Mr Laundrie to “do the right thing” and turn himself him. Her mother Nichole Schmidt has said she believes Petito’s boyfriend “knows everything.”

Meanwhile, Brian Laundrie is alive, his parent’s family lawyer has suggested as the search for the missing 23-year-old continues.

“I believe Brian is still in the preserve,” the lawyer told Fox News, referring to the Carlton Reserve where the missing man’s parents told investigators he was going hiking last month.

Father Joseph Petito, said he wanted Mr Laundrie to see the inside of a jail cell for the rest of his life. Mr Laundrie has not been charged so far.

Police activity at the Carlton Reserve picked up after several days of scaled back searches. Mr Laundrie is believed to have hiked in the preserve on 13 September and has been missing ever since.

Mr Laundrie’s father, Chris Laundrie, also joined law enforcement authorities on Thursday at the Carlton Reserve.

Show latest update 1633672430Police reveals Brian Laundrie was under surveillance before disappearing

The North Port Police has revealed that Brian Laundrie was under surveillance before his parents reported him missing.

Josh Taylor, the North Port police spokesperson, told CNN that the police were surveilling the 23-year-old fugitive “as best as they could legally” before he went missing.

Officers never spoke with Mr Laundrie directly but had him under surveillance around the time he disappeared, CNN reported.

On Thursday, more than two weeks after Mr Laundrie went missing, his father Chris Laundrie joined law enforcement efforts in Carlton Reserve to help them find his son.

Maroosha Muzaffar8 October 2021 06:531633670437Brian Laundrie fled Florida with help, expert suggests

A former FBI agent has cast doubt over Brian Laundrie’s whereabouts and suggested that “it seems unlikely that he’s still in that reserve.”

Bryanna Fox â€" who also is an associate professor of criminology at the University of South Florida in Tampa â€" told NBC that the law enforcement “did not find any trace of him so far. It’s been weeks.”

Prof Fox suggested that Mr Laundrie, who is a person of interest in the Gabby Petito homicide case, may have had assistance from someone.

She said: “The idea that nothing has been said reinforces to me that he was likely getting help. Obviously, that person would have to be very loyal and very close to him, to not compromise his identity.”

Maroosha Muzaffar8 October 2021 06:201633670368Lawyer expresses hope over Laundrie manhunt

Steven Bertolino, the attorney representing Brian Laundrie’s parents, expressed hope that “Brian will be located soon.”

On Thursday â€" the day the fugitive’s father Christopher Laundrie joined law enforcement officials in the manhunt for his son in Carlton Reserve â€" the lawyer said: “There were no discoveries but the effort was helpful to all. It seems the water in the preserve is receding and certain areas are more accessible to search.”

He added: “The entire Laundrie family is grateful for the hard work of the dedicated members of law enforcement that have been searching the preserve for Brian over the last few weeks. Hopefully Brian will be located soon.”

Maroosha Muzaffar8 October 2021 06:191633666721Gabby’s father promises ‘we’ll make a difference’

Gabby Petito’s father, Joseph Petito, wrote on his Instagram this morning that the Gabby Petito Foundation has “amazing things coming” and promised, “we’ll make a difference”.

Mr Petito posted a photo of his daughter with her brothers and in the caption said: “Thank you for all the amazing support. The GabbyPetitoFoundation.org has amazing things coming. We will make a difference. Changes are coming, tell us your stories, share your safe plans if you can.”

There was an outpouring of support and love from the Insta community. One user said: “I worked in a domestic violence shelter for 10 years. I am devastated over what happened to your sweet girl but am so moved to see the changes and good you and your family are bringing from it. You are magical people and it is clear where Gabby came from.”

Another said: “I’m so sorry for all of the pain and heartache you are having to endure.”

The Petito family has, meanwhile, urged Brian Laundrie to turn himself in and called him the “missing piece of the puzzle” to finding out what happened to their daughter.

Maroosha Muzaffar8 October 2021 05:181633665833Petito’s stepfather calls Brian Laundrie ‘missing piece to the puzzle’

Gabby Petito’s stepfather, Jim Schmidt, has called Brian Laundrie “our missing piece to the puzzle to find out what happened.”

Talking to Fox News, the Petito family urged Mr Laundrie to “do the right thing” and turn himself him.

Her mother Nichole Schmidt has said she believes Petito’s boyfriend “knows everything.”

During the interview, the family also said that they want Mr Laundrie to be alive so he can provide answers to all the questions related to their daughter’s homicide.

Meanwhile, Mr Laundrie’s father, Chris Laundrie, joined the hunt for his son alongside law enforcement officers at the Carlton Reserve.

Maroosha Muzaffar8 October 2021 05:031633663853At least a dozen sightings reported in North Carolina

Gabby Petito’s missing fiancé Brian Laundrie could have spent last weekend near the Tennessee border in North Carolina, according to tips received by the police from strangers who said they met a man fitting his description.

At least a dozen such tips and calls from the area have been received by the police since Thursday, said a spokeswoman for the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office.

Petito’s death was confirmed last month after her remains were found in Wyoming’s Spread Creek, the same location where the couple’s traveller van was stationed. A manhunt was launched for Mr Laundrie, who had later gone missing.

Justin Vallejo8 October 2021 04:301633660253

While social media Sherlocks peddled theories online about Mr Laundrie’s location, the North Port Police - and later the FBI - have remained focused on their search of the T Mabry Carlton, Jr Memorial Reserve, a vast swampland just north of Mr Laundrie’s home in North Port, Florida.

The Carlton Reserve is a difficult place to search. It comprises more than 24,500 acres, most of which is inhospitable swamplands that frequently flood. Alligators, venomous snakes, and other varied creatures inhabit the nature preserve, which North Port police claim is “75 per cent under water.”

The reserve also abuts the Myakka River State Park. A 12-mile trail within the reserve leads directly into the park, which sites to the reserve’s north, meaning Mr Laundrie - if he is in the area at all - could be anywhere within the vast borders of the natural area.

Justin Vallejo8 October 2021 03:301633656653Dog the Bounty Hunter’s own daughter calls his search for Brian Laundrie a ‘publicity stunt’

One of Dog the Bounty Hunter's daughters has dismissed her father's search for Brian Laundrie as little more than a publicity stunt.

Cecily Chapman, 28, is the estranged daughter of Duane Chapman, aka Dog the Bounty Hunter.

Ms Chapman reportedly told The Sun that she wanted her dad to back off the search and leave the efforts to find Mr Laundrie to the FBI. She said her father's search was "just a publicity stunt."

She claimed that images of Mr Chapman wading through waist-high water during his search were "totally staged" and questioned how he was funding his latest foray into the limelight.

“A real network would be aware of the situation and I’m pretty sure everyone knows that this is a f****** publicity stunt,” she said.

Graig Graziosi reports.

Justin Vallejo8 October 2021 02:301633653053ICYMI: Brian Laundrie’s father joins search for his son, family lawyer says

Brian Laundrie’s father Christopher Laundrie the search to find his missing son, who is a “person of interest” in the homicide case of Gabby Petito, the Laundries’ family lawyer has said.

On Thursday morning, Mr Laundrie was seen leaving his home in North Port in long pants, a ball cap and a carrying a plastic bag. He left his home in the family’s red truck and joined law enforcement at the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, which is a part of the Carlton Reserve.

When media members asked the family’s lawyer, Steven Bertolino, where he was headed, the lawyer said he believed he was going to help the search.

Justin Vallejo8 October 2021 01:301633649453Gabby Petito’s mother describes moment she was told Brian Laundrie had returned to Florida alone

“I screamed at the detective, I said, ‘where’s my daughter’,” Nichole Schmidt told Fox News .

“The night I knew the van was in Florida, I instinctively knew that my daughter was not here anymore,” she said.

Bevan Hurley reports.

Justin Vallejo8 October 2021 00:30

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