Gabby Petito: Search for missing woman continues; Brian Laundrie is person of interest: LIVE UPDATES
Fox News has obtained bodycam footage showing officers interacting with Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie after a witness called 911 around two weeks before she disappeared to report a “possible domestic violence” incident.
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Lara Yeretsian, a criminal defense attorney based on the west coast, said that complicated cases like the disappearance of Gabby Petito need to be taken day-by-day, but she thinks an arrest could come soon.
"I wouldn't be surprised if there's an arrest, an arrest of the fiancé," Yeretsian said Thursday.
"Fiancés are going to want to help. Most fiancés who love their girlfriend or their significant other, they're going to do everything in their power to help. This tells me something is not right."
Protesters gathered outside the Brian Laundrie's home in North Port, Florida on Thursday evening to protest his silence on the disappearance of his fiancée, Gabby Petito.
Some carried signs and drove by in golf carts while others chanted, "Where's Gabby?"
Laundrie was named a person of interest in Petito's disappearance on Wednesday and has refused to cooperate with authorities on the advice of his attorney, according to police.
Gabby Petito was on a cross-country road trip when she disappeared. (Credit: Fox News Instagram screenshot)
The sister of Brian Laundrie, who is not cooperating with authorities in the disappearance of his fiancée, broke the family's silence on Thursday.
"Obviously me and my family want Gabby to be found safe," Cassie Laundrie told ABC. "She's like a sister and my children love her, and all I want is for her to come home safe and found and this to be just a big misunderstanding."
Brian Laundrie has retained a lawyer and remained silent about the disappearance of Gabby Petito late last month, according to the North Port Police Department.
Petito's family has pleaded with Laundrie and the rest of his family to come forward with any information.
"We believe you know the location where Brian left Gabby. We beg you to tell us," a letter from the Petito family to the Laundries said.
"Gabby lived with you for over a year. She was going to be your daughter in law. How can you keep her location hidden? Please, if you or your family have any decency left, please tell us where Gabby is located. Tell us if we are even looking in the right place."
Brian Laundrie's lawyer said Thursday night that law enforcement "has to follow protocol and all leads that they get," but any potential connection between the disappearance of Gabby Petito and a double homicide in Moab last month will be determined at a later date.
"Law Enforcement has to follow protocol and all leads that they get," the attorney, Steven Bertolino, said in a statement Thursday night. "Whether or not these two cases deserve to be linked will be determined at some point in the future."
Grand Teton National Park was Gabby Petito's last known location.
The last time Gabby Petito's mother had a verbal conversation with her daughter was on Aug. 25, when she was in Grand Teton National Park with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie.
Petito's stepfather, Jim Schmidt, traveled to Wyoming this week to assist in the search and investigation.
"The police, law enforcement agencies are all working together out here. They’re all actively investigating any leads they have," Schmidt told Fox News Thursday. "Right now, we’re just here to support them and help them with anything they may need."
A missing person flyer for Gabby Petito in Wyoming
Gabby Petito's last known location was in Grand Teton National Park in late August.
She told her mom that she was going to Grand Teton, then eventually Yellowstone with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie.
Grand County Sheriff’s Office says it is not rulling out connection between double homicide of Crystal Turner and Kylen Schulte (left) and disappearance of Gabby Petito (right).,
The Grand County Sheriff’s Office said it is not ruling anything out and is looking into whether the disappearance of Gabby Petito could be connected to a double homicide that occurred at a campground near Moab last month.
“The Grand County Sheriff’s Office has been in contact with Florida authorities and we are actively looking into any connection between the Gabby Petito missing person case and the double homicide that occurred in Grand County," the sheriff said in a statement Thursday.
"The Sheriff’s Office is not ruling anything out at this time and appreciate the concerns of the public and their willingness to contact this office with those concerns and information.”
Crystal Turner, 38, and Kylen Schulte, 24, were found shot to death at a campground outside Moab in mid-August, five days after they were last seen leaving a downtown Moab bar on Aug. 13.
Schulte worked at the Moonflower co-op, which is the same store that Petito and her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, got into a physical altercation near on Aug. 12, according to a police report obtained by Fox News.
Emily Stock, the Board President of the Moonflower co-op, told Fox News that no one from the store witnessed the altercation on Aug. 12.
Gabby Petito's stepfather, Jim Schmidt, called out his stepdaughter's fiancé for not cooperating with authorities or assisting the investigation.
"You say she’s the love of your life. She’s missing. You were on a trip with her, but you have no comment. You have nothing to say and you’re hiding behind an attorney," he told Fox News on Thursday.
"I understand the constitutional rights that people have, but you have pieces to this puzzle that we need to find Gabby and you’re withholding them from us."
Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie were on a cross-country road trip when she went missing. (Joey Petito)
Gabby Petito's family put out a desperate plea for her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, and his family to help them find the missing woman.
"We believe you know the location where Brian left Gabby. We beg you to tell us," a letter read by the family's lawyer at a press conference Thursday said.
"Gabby lived with you for over a year. She was going to be your daughter in law. How can you keep her location hidden? Please, if you or your family have any decency left, please tell us where Gabby is located. Tell us if we are even looking in the right place."
Gabby Petito and her best friend.
Gabby Petito's friends and family are desperately seeking answers in the 22-year-old's disappearance.
"Gabby made a mark on anyone she came in contact with. Even it was a quick interaction," her best friend told Fox News. "She not only sees the light in everyone but spreads her light with everyone. At my lowest she managed to help me keep my chin up."
This picture of Gabby Petito and her best friend was shared with Fox News on Thursday.
Gabby Petito was reported missing on Sept. 11, roughly two weeks after her family last heard from her.
Fox News has obtained the bodycam footage showing officers interacting with Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie after a witness called 911 around two weeks before she disappeared to report a “possible domestic violence” incident.
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Joe Petito tells reporters gathered at an ongoing press conference Thursday that "what I need from everybody here is help.
"The goal is still not met and that goal is to bring Gabby home safe. I’m asking for help from everyone here, I’m asking for help from everyone at home, I’m asking for help from the parents of Brian and I’m asking for help from the family members and friends of Laundrie family as well," he said.
"There is a tip line you can call anonymously. Whatever you can do to make sure my daughter comes home I’m asking for that help. There is nothing else that matters to me now," he added.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the case to contact the FBI's tip line at 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324).
(Fox News/Sara Ballou)
Media have swarmed the North Port, Fla. police department awaiting a highly-anticipated update from FBI, police, and Gabby Petito's family on her disappearance,
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The high school in New York's Long Island where Petito and Laundrie attended. (Fox News/Stephanie Pagones)
Sean Leahy, whose son went to school with Brian Laundrie – the person of interest in Gabby Petito’s disappearance – tells Fox News’ Stephanie Pagones Thursday that Laundrie was “quiet” and “a good kid growing up.”
“The one thing that troubles me is that he came home. He didn’t say nothing,” Leahy said regarding the case. “And he got a lawyer.”
Leahy added that “I don’t want to think the worst of him” and “I’m hoping for the best for her.”
Leahy’s son, also named Sean, went to high school with Brian and Gabby.
“All of this stuff coming out, I'm like surprised because every time I ever hung out with Brian, had classes with Brian, he was a really nice kid, a really funny kid,” he told Fox News.
“I only met Gabby probably one or two times, three times. She, every time I met her, she was really nice," he added.
North Port Police Chief Todd Garrison tells ‘Fox & Friends’ on Thursday that Brian Laundrie is being considered a person of interest in Gabby Petito’s disappearance because “there is only one other person that was with her.”
Police in Utah reportedly have released bodycam footage showing officers interacting with Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie after a witness called 911 around two weeks before she disappeared to report a "possible domestic violence" incident.
The video shows officers from the Moab City Police Department talking to a visibly distraught Petito – and Laundrie – after they pulled their white van over.
Police separated the pair before they each described the incident that prompted the 911 call.
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One of Gabby Petito’s best friends tells Fox News on Thursday that “we all just want everyone to focus on finding Gabby before anything else.”
“Gabby made sure I kept going when I didn’t want to,” said the friend, who asked to remain anonymous. “She shines light on every situation and was always talking about her family.”
The friend says they last spoke to Petito at the beginning of August.
Gabby Petito's father Joe has told 'Fox & Friends First' on Thursday that his main priority is "to make sure we get my daughter home first." Then, he says, "we'll start worrying about Brian" Laundrie, whom police in North Port, Fla., have named as a person of interest in the case.
Petito's last known location was Aug. 25 in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Laundrie, meanwhile, drove back to the Florida Gulf Coast town of North Port, where their trip began, on Sept. 1, and the van was recovered by police at his family's home on Sept. 11.
“I don't care what happens to him right now,” Joe Petito said about Laundrie. “That can't be my primary focus if he's going to sit in the comfort of his home, you know, and get home cooked meals, why my daughter's out, you know, God knows where, you know, I don't give two craps about him.”
“I got to be out there to help her, because the one person who is supposed to be leading the charge is sitting home in his lazy boy chair, you know, not talking to anybody,” Joe Petito added.
Fox News’ Paul Best contributed to this report.
The family of the Florida woman who vanished while on a cross-country trip in a converted camper with her boyfriend last month are growing impatient with his alleged refusal to provide police with "helpful details."
Gabrielle Petito’s extended family issued a statement Wednesday urging Brian Laundrie, who was named a person of interest in her disappearance, to help in the investigation, Fox 35 Orlando reported.
"Brian, how could you do this to Gabby? You selfishly remain silent while Gabby is all alone in the wilderness. Brian, your silence is reprehensible! We beg you to do the right thing and help us bing [sic] Gabby home," the statement read.
They accused Laundrie of sitting “in the comfort of his home” while her family continues the desperate search.
"Brian claims he wants to sit in the background while we search for Gabby in the wilderness of the Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. Brian left Gabby in the wilderness with grizzly bears and wolves while he sits in the comfort of his home. In his home!"
Investigators say Petito, 22, was last in contact with her family in late August when the couple was visiting Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. Much of their trip was documented on social media accounts that abruptly ceased.
Laundrie returned to their Florida home in her 2012 white Ford Transit van on Sept. 1 — 10 days before Petito’s family reported her missing — according to police in the Gulf Coast town of North Port. That van has since been impounded by investigators and processed for clues.
He has not been charged with any crime. Fox News attempted to contact Laundrie through a family member's possible email.
“The lack of information from Brian is hindering this investigation. The answers will eventually come out,” North Port police Chief Todd Garrison said.
AP contributed to this report
Gabby Petito disappeared in late August during a cross-country road trip with her boyfriend. (Steve Petito)
The Johnny Mac Foundation, a nonprofit formed by the wife of FDNY firefighter who passed away from 9/11 related cancer, is raising money to assist in the search for Gabby Petito.
Petito was raised in Blue Point on Long Island, and her mother is a long-term volunteer and current Johnny Mac Foundation Board Member.
"We are heartbroken and want to do anything we can to help find this beautiful soul," the foundation wrote on its website.
Utah investigators are not ruling out a connection between a double homicide that occurred near Moab in mid-August and the disappearance of Gabby Petito.
Utah investigators have not ruled out a potential connection between two high-profile cases in the scenic campgrounds around Moab – a grisly double-homicide that left newlyweds dead and an apparent lovers’ quarrel involving a woman who has since gone missing.
Crystal Turner, 38, and Kylen Schulte, 24, were last seen on Aug. 13 at Woody’s Tavern on Main Street in Moab. They were found shot to death in the South Mesa area of the La Sal Loop Road five days later.
Deputies have not yet identified a suspect, the spokesman said, and they are investigating all possible leads.
A friend discovered the victims partially undressed and riddled with bullet wounds, according to a warrant obtained by the Salt Lake City-based FOX 13.
Schulte worked nearby at a co-op grocery store called Moonflower – the organic, herb-scented bodega where Gabby Petito, 22, and Brian Laundrie, 23, got into an emotional argument that prompted a police response on Aug. 12.
The proximity of time and location prompted speculation that the two separate incidents may share another connection.
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