Beau’s family zips lips on missing L.I. woman
The family of a Florida man whose girlfriend disappeared as they traveled cross-country last month expressed their hope Tuesday for her safety — and then lawyered up.
The family of Brian Laundrie issued a four-sentence public statement about missing 22-year-old Gabby Petito, ending with word that “on the advice of counsel” they will have nothing further to say about the woman who went missing in late August while on the road with their son.
“This is understandably an extremely difficult time for both the Petito family and the Laundrie family,” the statement began. “It is our understanding that a search has been organized for Miss Petito in or near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.
“On behalf of the Laundrie family it is our hope that the search for Miss Petito is successful and that Miss Petito is reunited with her family. On the advice of counsel the Laundrie family is remaining in the background at this juncture and will have no further comment.”
In its own statement Tuesday, Petito’s family demanded “immediate answers” from Laundrie.
“Brian is refusing to tell Gabby’s family where he last saw her. Brian is also refusing to explain why he left Gabby all alone and drove her van to Florida. These are critical questions that require immediate answers,” reads the statement, which was posted on Twitter by WNBC reporter Pei-Sze Cheng.
“The Schmidt and Petito family beg the Laundrie family not to ‘remain in the background’ but to help find who Brian referred to as the love of his life. How does Brian stay in the background when he is the one person that knows where Gabby is located?” the family said. “The Schmidt and Petito family implore Brian to come forward and at least tell us if we are looking in the right area.”
Police in North Fort, Fla., said Laundrie declined to speak with them over the weekend about what happened to Petito as she rode with her boyfriend in a white Ford Transit van, refusing to even appear when the cops arrived.
“We attempted to speak to the boyfriend,” police spokesman Josh Taylor told the Daily News. “Instead, we spoke to the parents. He did not come to the door.”
The parents referred investigators to their son’s lawyer, he added. Laundrie returned home alone after their trip, and has yet to speak publicly about what happened.
She was last seen heading to Yellowstone National Park from Salt Lake City, according to a Facebook posting from her mother.