FBI search home of Gabby Petito’s boyfriend
Brian Laundrie, of Florida, has been reported missing
Just hours after announcing a body found near Grand Teton National Park may be the remains of missing 22year-old Gabby Petito, police and FBI agents searched the family home of Petito’s boyfriend, “person of interest” Brian Laundrie — who has recently vanished.
“The #FBI is executing a court-authorized search warrant today at the Laundrie residence in North Port, FL relevant to the Gabrielle ‘Gabby’ Petito investigation. No further details can be provided since this is an active and ongoing investigation,” the Tampa FBI Twitter account shared Monday.
A live broadcast showed police and at least one FBI agent rush into the Laundrie home. Some time later, they brought in a stack of cardboard boxes. Local media reported Laundrie’s parents were seen leaving the property in a van.
Petito’s family reported her missing Sept. 11 and told police they hadn’t heard from her since late August. The report set off a nationwide search for the missing Long Island woman — a search police paused Sunday after discovering a body in Wyoming they believe could be Petito.
“Full forensic identification has not been completed to confirm 100% that we found Gabby, but her family has been notified,” FBI agent Charles Jones said.
Laundrie, Petito’s childhood sweetheart, had been living with his parents in the North Port home before the couple set out on their multi-state tour of national parks.
The two were pulled over in their converted van by Moab, Utah, police who observed the vehicle speeding Aug. 12.
Police footage from the interaction shows a visibly upset Petito. According to the video, the couple got into an argument that turned physical.
“We’ve been fighting all morning, and he wouldn’t let me in the car before; he told me I needed to calm down,” Petito says in the footage.
Police insisted Laundrie and Petito separate for the night, but no domestic charges were filed. It was documented as a “mental health crisis.”
Laundrie returned to Florida alone Sept. 1, according to police. He’s been named a person of interest in the case and wanted for questioning, but his parents told authorities they hadn’t heard from their son in nearly a week.
They filed their own missing persons case for Laundrie on Friday.
Authorities have not released any further details about the body discovered in Wyoming. An autopsy is scheduled for today.
Dr. Brent Blue, the Teton County coroner, told the New York Post that no preliminary findings or positive identification have yet been made on the remains.
The Post added two YouTubers reviewed personal video they took of their trip to Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming and noticed a van on the footage that matched the description of Laundrie and Petito’s and alerted authorities.