Brian Laundrie manhunt: Here is what lawyer says can be used in court against him: LIVE UPDATES
Fugitive Brian Laundrie's motive in past domestic incidents could be used as evidence in a court of law if the FBI eventually finds him, a lawyer tells Fox News.
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Fugitive Brian Laundrie's motive in past domestic incidents could be used as evidence in a court of law if the FBI eventually finds him.
The FBI issued an arrest warrant for Laundrie on Sept. 23, accusing him of using an unidentified person’s Capital One card and the personal identification number to charge or withdraw over $1,000 between Aug. 30 and Sept. 1, a period when his now-deceased fiancée, Gabby Petito, was missing. He is a person of interest in Petito's killing but has evaded authorities since Sept. 13.
While it is a general rule that the prosecution is not allowed to "admit evidence of a prior crime to show that the defendant has a bad character … or acted in bad faith" or to show that "because he committed this similar crime before, he's likely to do it again," there are certain circumstances under Florida law where the prosecution can try to introduce evidence of prior bad acts to show motive, intent, knowledge, modus operandi or lack of mistake, Sarasota-based criminal defense attorney Ajay Pallegar told Fox News.
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The U.S. Marshals Service tells Fox News' Audrey Conklin on Monday that it "often supports investigations conducted by our federal, state, local, and tribal partners" following a claim from a man that the agency stopped him on the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina over suspicions he may have been Brian Laundrie.
"In this instance, the Graham County Sheriff’s Office (GSCO) in North Carolina had received a tip that the fugitive Brian Laundrie had been sighted in their jurisdiction," the U.S. Marshals Service said. "GCSO asked the USMS task force to support them in making contact with the subject."
Severin Beckwith from New York claims he was approached by "a bunch of guys with riot shields with ‘US Marshals’ written on them, handguns pointed at my face" while traveling on the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina.
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Gabby Petito and Diego Jaguart pose before Jaguart's mural in Colorado Springs. (Courtesy Diego Jaguart)
Colorado artist Diego Jaguart's mural of multicolored angel wings in Old Colorado City has taken on a new meaning after the tragic death of 22-year-old Gabby Petito.
Petito posted a photo of herself in front of the colorful mural to her Instagram page in 2019, and it has since appeared across various news outlets, as well as on posters and T-shirts commemorating the young woman's life.
"It's different now. For me, it changed," Jaguart told Fox News of the meaning behind the mural he created for Valentine's Day two years ago. "It's … bittersweet, you know? My sensation now is honor … because the people love the mural, but for the first time, I was feeling very, very sad."
The artist, who is originally from Argentina and moved to Colorado five years ago, "refreshed the mural" by adding "more intense color" earlier this week after it received renewed attention following Petito's death.
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The mother of deceased Gabby Petito says she believes fugitive Brian Laundrie's parents know "most of the information" surrounding her daughter's death "if not everything."
Petito's mother, Nichole Schmidt — as well as her father and stepfather, Joseph Petito and Jim Schmidt — joined "60 Minutes Australia" for an interview published over the weekend to discuss the mystery behind their daughter's disappearance and killing that has captured the world's attention.
"I think silence speaks volumes," Schmidt said of Laundrie's parents in the interview released Sunday. "I believe they know…if not everything, they know most of the information. I would love to just — face to face — ask, ‘Why are you doing this? Just tell me the truth.'"
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A man returned to the Laundrie home in North Port, Fla., with more signs Monday morning.
A protester visited the outside of Brian Laundrie’s family’s North Port, Florida, home early Monday morning to organize signs on the front lawn and call for a break through in the case.
The protester, who identified himself as Frankie Santana, said he lives in the area and has been following the case since Day One. He grew emotional and said he personalized Gabby Petito’s killing because it involves his hometown.
He said it is incumbent on the Laundries to tell authorities what they know about the situation.
“We’re going to get justice for you, Gabby,” he yelled while choking up. “We will.”
He returned later with two posters and hammered them into the lawn. He yelled to the house that he hopes the parents aren't getting sleep because he is not.
Laundrie and Petito were traveling in a van from New York to Oregon over the summer before Petito's parents reported her missing on Sept. 11.
The FBI discovered her remains eight days later at a dispersed camping area within Wyoming's Bridger-Teton National Forest on Sept. 19. Laundrie is wanted on debit card fraud charges and a person of interest in Petito's killing, which a coroner on Tuesday ruled as homicide by strangulation.
Steve Bertolino, Laundrie’s lawyer, has defended the family and has pointed out that Laundrie has only been charged with unauthorized use of a debit card belonging to Petito. "At this time Brian is still missing and when he is located we will address the pending fraud charge against him," he said after the autopsy report.
The Gabby Petito Foundation's first fundraiser kicked off Sunday afternoon at 89 North in Patchogue, New York. (Michael Ruiz/Fox News Digital)
The first fundraiser for the new Gabby Petito Foundation saw a line out the door when it kicked off Sunday afternoon in her Long Island hometown.
An estimated 200 people stopped in to pay their respects in the first hour of a planned six-hour event at 89 North, a rock venue in Patchogue, New York, which is ten minutes from where Gabby grew up in Blue Point, according to staff members and the volunteer doorman.
Petito’s story has touched the hearts of people across the country – with many referring to the travel-blogging 22-year-old as "America’s daughter." The fundraiser for a charity in her honor aimed at aiding the families of other missing persons drew supporters ranging from local business owners to civil servants and other citizens Sunday.
A fundraiser for the Gabby Petito Foundation held on Long Island Sunday raised nearly $14,000.
The fundraiser, which featured live music, food, drinks, a raffle, and an auction, raised a total of over $13,700.
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