Gabby Petito’s parents, stepparents speak out searching for answers in disappearance
Father Joe Petito, mother Nichole Schmidt, stepfather Jim Schmidt, stepmother Tara Petito, plea for help from Gabby’s fiancé and family.
Concerned parents in North Port, Fla., are set Friday to protest outside of the home of Brian Laundrie – the person of interest in Gabby Petito’s disappearance – urging him to speak out and cooperate with investigators.
The demonstration planned for 5 p.m. local time comes as the family of the missing 22-year-old has made repeated pleas for Laundrie to reveal more information.
"We’re all trying to find the answer and the only person who knows it is sitting over in their house," Gabby Petito’s father, Joe, said on "Hannity" Thursday night. "You can’t have a more frustrating situation… Look where we are. Everyone’s sitting here trying to bring Gabby home and the only one who doesn’t care is the one who’s supposed to care about her the most."
Brian Laundrie's home in North Port, Fla., on Friday morning. (Fox News/Sara Ballou)
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Petito’s mother, father and stepparents said they have all tried to reach out to Laundrie’s parents multiple times but have not heard any response. Petito’s stepmother Tara Petito explained that Laundrie’s mother knew her son had already returned home by the time they were contacted.
"We’re asking everybody to continue looking because obviously the three people that live in that house just don’t care," Joe Petito said. "They can put whatever statement they want out. At the end of the day, they do not care. It’s as cold and as cruel as you can possibly be."
Laundrie’s sister, Cassie, told ABC’s "Good Morning America" that she hasn’t been able to get in contact with her brother recently either.
"I haven’t been able to talk to him. I wish I could talk to him," she said.
"Me and my family want Gabby to be found safe," Cassie Laundrie added. "She is like a sister and my children love her. All I want is for her to come home safe and sound and this to be just a big misunderstanding."
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Demonstrators already rallied outside of the Laundrie home in North Port on Thursday, with one holding a sign saying "Truth always comes out!"
Protesters carry signs to home of Brian Laundrie on Thursday urging him to speak with police. (Fox News)
"We’re standing up for somebody who’s lost that's in our city, and we’re a big family in our city, in North Port. And we are definitely going to do whatever we can to help the family find this missing daughter," one protester told Fox News on Thursday.
Other protesters chanted outside the home, "Where's Gabby?"
Elsewhere in the neighborhood, a "Where is she?" was plastered onto a stop sign, according to a report.
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Petito and Laundrie were traveling around the U.S. in a van when she disappeared.
Petito's last known location was Aug. 25 in Grand Teton National Park. 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.
Fox News’ Sara Ballou, Angelica Stabile and Paul Best contributed to this report.
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