Gabby Petito’s family responds after Brian Laundrie said to be ‘missing’: ‘He is hiding’
Laundrie’s family told police they hadn't seen him since Tuesday when officers arrived at the family's Florida home expecting to speak with him
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The family of missing woman Gabby Petito responded Friday night after news emerged that the Florida family of her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, claimed they haven’t seen him since Tuesday.
"All of Gabby’s family want the world to know that Brian is not missing, he is hiding. Gabby is missing," the law office of Richard B. Stafford, attorney for the Petito and Schmidt families, said in a statement.
"Brian is not missing, he is hiding. Gabby is missing."
But police in North Port, about 85 miles south of Tampa, stressed late Friday that Laundrie was not considered a suspect in Gabby Petito's disappearance.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"It is important to note that while Brian is a person of interest in Gabby’s disappearance, he is not wanted for a crime. We are not currently working a crime investigation. We are now working a multiple missing person investigations."
"It is important to note that while Brian is a person of interest in Gabby’s disappearance, he is not wanted for a crime."
Laundrie’s family made their disclosure earlier Friday about Brian being away from home, after officers came by the home where he lives with his parents, expecting to speak with him. Laundrie had been lying low there since Sept. 1, police believed. Investigators were now searching for him too.
Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petitos. (North Port Police Department)
"We understand the community’s frustration. We are frustrated too," the release said. "For six days the North Port Police Department and FBI have been pleading with the family to contact investigators regarding Brian’s Fiancé [sic] Gabby Petito."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}.MISSING GABBY PETITO: PARENTS CLAIM THEY HAVEN'T SEEN BRIAN LAUNDRIE SINCE TUESDAY
Friday was the first time the family had spoken with investigators in detail, the release said.
Petito's stepfather, Jim Schmidt, said during a televised interview that he learned of Laundrie's parents' claim about Brian being missing during a televised interview.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"It's the first time we're hearing it," he told CNN on Friday night. "I am very caught off guard about hearing what we just heard."
Petito’s mother reported her missing on Sept. 11 to police in New York's Suffolk County.
The couple had embarked on a cross-country trip in Petito’s 2012 Ford Transit van at the start of summer. Both of them documented their journey on Instagram, stopping in several national parks out West.
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Petito’s family last spoke with her around Aug. 24 or 25 via Facetime, according to authorities, when she was believed to be in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. A week before that, the couple had traveled through Utah.
Laundrie drove the van back to Florida on Sept. 1 alone, police said.
Fox News' Michael Ruiz, Paul Best and Sara Ballou contributed to this report.