Gaby Petito murder: FBI seeks public’s help in search for ‘Person of Interest’ Brian Laundrie
The search for missing 22-year-old Gabby Petito ended on Sunday, September 18, when searchers found her remains at a makeshift campsite located in the Bridger-Teton National Forest on the eastern edge of Grand Teton National Park in western Wyoming. Following her autopsy, officials confirmed that those remains were indeed those of Gabby Petito with the coroner ruling that her death came as a result of being murdered. The Teton County Coroner, Dr. Brent Blue, said that Gabby’s cause of death is still pending the autopsy’s final results.
See: Search intensifies for missing Gabrielle Petito, last heard from on August 25
We are saddened and heartbroken to learn that Gabby has been found deceased. Our focus from the start, along with the FBI, and national partners, has been to bring her home. We will continue to work with the FBI in the search for more answers. ~ North Port Police Department
At the time of her death, Petito had been traveling the U.S. in a van with her boyfriend / fiancé, Brian Laundrie. Gabby had stayed in constant contact with her family during the trip and was documenting her travels on YouTube and Instagram – where she even shared videos and images of her travels with her boyfriend.
On September 15, Gabby’s Instagram page documenting her travels with boyfriend Brian Laundrie was taken down.
Gabrielle’s most recent Instagram post was made on August 25. The photos appear to be taken in front of a mural called “The Monarch” in Ogden, Utah. ~ Fox 13
By September 11, Gabby’s family reported their daughter missing. According to family, they were last in contact with her during the last week of August. Gabby’s mom, Nichole Schmidt, said that the last time she heard from her daughter was on August 25.
Now, a massive manhunt is on for 23-year-old Brian Laundrie. On September 14, Wink News reported that the North Port Police Department said that Laundrie was considered a “person of interest” in Gabby’s disappearance. According to Laundrie’s parents, their son went into hiding and hasn’t been seen Tuesday, September 14.
Law enforcement officials are searching the Florida nature reserve where Laundrie’s parents said he was headed to last Tuesday. According to Laundrie’s parents, their son left their Florida home on September 14 with only a backpack and was headed to the T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve near Venice, Florida.
On September 17, the North Port Police Department announced that they were being assisted in the search for Laundrie by the FBI. At this point, it appears that the FBI has taken the lead for Laundrie’s search.
Authorities have described their person of interest, Brian Laundrie, as:
- White Male
- 5’8 160lbs
- Brown eyes
- short brown hair
- trimmed facial hair
- last seen wearing a hiking bag with a waist strap.
“A weekend ground search and aerial search Monday of the 25-thousand-acre preserve has yet to yield any answers, but we must press on,” North Port Police said on Facebook. Police indicated the search picked up Tuesday in a different part of the reserve.
Search for Brian Laundrie Slideshow
Yesterday, the North Port Police Department described those assisting in the extensive search for Laundrie – and reported that in addition to the FBI – the Florida Wildlife Commission, Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, Sarasota Police Department, Venice Police Department, K9 search and rescue teams, and other government partners are working to find Laundrie.
Officials described the Carlton Reserve as a vast and unforgiving location, with waist-deep water in many areas. Searchers are working under dangerous conditions “wading through gator and snake infested swamps and flooded hiking and biking trails.”
Gabby’s YouTube video, “Van Life,” depicting her travels with Laundrie, was uploaded to the web on August 19 – less than one week after she was last heard from.
A GoFundMe initially created to raise money to help in the search for Gabby has now updated its goal from simply searching for Gaby, to “continuing to cover the general expenses incurred by the search and efforts to find and bring Gabby home, transportation, legal fees, and care of the family through this difficult period. The family will donate any remaining funds to a charity of their choosing at a later time.”
The FBI requests that any one with any information regarding this case to share that information through the tip lines 1-800-CALL FBI or tips.fbi.gov.
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter
