Laundrie's parents could be charged if they gave false information: Former detective
Former D.C. homicide detective Ted Williams reacts to the latest developments in the manhunt for Brian Laundrie
NORTH PORT, Fla. – Saturday is National Daughters Day, and the parents of New York’s Gabby Petito, who mourners around the country have referred to as "America’s daughter," spent it preparing for her funeral Sunday.
Petito's mother, Nicole Schmidt, posted on Facebook Friday to grieve the loss of her daughter.
"As I scroll through all the posts, my heart is full of love. I wish I could reach out and hug each and every one of you!!! Your support has been so overwhelming and we are so filled with gratitude. Please know what you are all doing for us does not go unnoticed, and with all of you by our side, we will get #justiceforgabby."
The parents of Brian Laundrie, who police have named as a person of interest in Petito's disappearance, also have a daughter. For much of the day they were ducking scrutiny at their home in North Port, Fla., where their son arrived on Sept. 1 in Petito’s van without Petito.
Laundrie has not been charged in connection with Petito’s death, which the medical examiner ruled a homicide. He has been charged with debit card fraud. Laundrie vanished from his parents' home before police found Petito's body abandoned at the bear-packed Wyoming park where they were last seen camping.
GABBY PETITO: SEARCH FOR BRIAN LAUNDRIE WILL BE 'SCALED BACK AND TARGETED': LIVE UPDATES
(@petitojoseph/Instagram )
Police announced on Sept. 17 that when they spoke with Laundrie's parents, they were told he had left on Sept. 14. He hasn’t been seen since, and a massive manhunt is underway at the T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve, an inhospitable swamp full of gators, coyotes and other hazards northwest of the Laundrie home.
Calls to the Laundries went straight to voicemail, and their attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
GABBY PETITO CASE: WHERE COULD BRIAN LAUNDRIE BE 10 DAYS AFTER SLIPPING AWAY?
On Friday night, residents of Petito’s Long Island hometown and elsewhere across the U.S. placed candles at the foot of their driveways to honor the slain 22-year-old.
Her disappearance drew national attention. Laundrie’s has too.
Tatiana Boohoff, a prominent Florida attorney and mother of two, announced a $20,000 bounty on him this week.
And TV’s Dog the Bounty Hunter, the profession’s most recognizable face, arrived Saturday to join the search.
Experts have expressed doubt that Laundrie is hiding out in a swampy nature reserve near his parents’ house, and they have speculated that he may have returned to the national parks circuit, the Appalachian Trail or even relocated to an urban area to try and hide in plain sight.
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As of Saturday afternoon, authorities still hadn’t found Laundrie.
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