Body corresponding to Gabby Petito found in Grand Teton, Wyoming; Brian Laundrie’s research continues in Florida

NORTH PORT, Fla. (WABC) – Florida police continued to search for Brian Laundrie on Monday after a body matching Gabby Petito’s description was found in Grand Teton on Sunday.

The tragic development came after the Teton County Coroner said authorities responded to a body found in the Teton National Forest in Wyoming, the same general area where law enforcement had searched for Gabby Petito.

The FBI in Denver confirmed the discovery during a Sunday night press conference at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Grand Teton National Park.

They say full forensic identification has not been done and they don’t yet know the cause of death. An autopsy has been set for Tuesday.

“Full forensic identification has not been done to 100% confirm that we have found Gabby, but her family has been notified,” said FBI Surveillance Special Agent Charles Jones. “It is an incredibly difficult time for Petito’s family and friends.”

An undeveloped camping area on the east side of Grand Teton bordering national forest lands will remain closed until further notice while the investigation continues, Jones said.

Petito’s father, Joseph, tweeted a heartbreaking message in the wake of the discovery, claiming “it touched the world.”

The Laundrie family lawyer issued a statement Sunday evening saying “The news regarding Gabby Petito is heartbreaking. The Laundrie family are praying for Gabby and her family.”

The development of the Petito case comes as North Port Police concluded their search for Brian Launderie, who is still missing on Sunday evening.

North Port Police tweeted condolences, saying they were “heartbroken to learn Gabby was found dead”.

Just before the FBI announcement, North Port Police said they had nothing to report after another day of searching a large wildlife preserve for Brian Laundrie, 23, a person of interest. for the disappearance of his girlfriend, Petito.

Local and federal law enforcement marched through a huge county park known as the Carlton Reservation, which spans over 24,000 acres and is located just north of the house that Laundrie and Petito shared with his parents.

The police prepared the ATVs to be able to travel as much of the reserve as possible and blocked all entrances to the public.

Steven Bertolino, the lawyer for the Laundrie family, told ABC News on Sunday that the family had recovered the car Brian Laundrie was using Thursday morning from the reserve after going out on Wednesday in search of their son.

Laundromat left the family home on Tuesday morning with a backpack. Bertolino said the family traveled to the reservation on Wednesday to pick him up and spotted a note from the North Port Police Department on the car saying it must be removed.

The family left the car overnight “so that he could drive home,” the lawyer said. When Laundrie did not get home Thursday morning, the family returned to collect the car.

The family then called police on Friday to file a missing person report, authorities said on Saturday.

Prior to the discovery of a body, the FBI in Denver said it was conducting ground investigations in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, with assistance from the National Park Service and local law enforcement, looking for clues about Petito’s disappearance.

They also tweeted a map, asking anyone in the scattered Spread Creek camping area near Grand Teton National Park between August 27 and August 30 to call the FBI.

His last known contact with family members was from the national park known for its mountainous terrain.

Information about the case started pouring in on social media, like that of Miranda Baker, who said in a video from Tik Tok that she and her boyfriend had picked up Laundrie who was hitchhiking around Teton Park August 29.

Former FBI agent Brad Garrett looking for Gabby Petito, Brian Laundrie:

About 45 seconds after the Tik Tok video started, Baker said, “He offered to pay us around $ 200 to take him 10 miles, so it was a little weird… without his fiancé.”

WATCH | Chopper flies over police search for Brian Laundrie on Carlton Reservation

Petito’s family claim that Laundrie has not disappeared but is in hiding.

The Petitos released the following statement through their lawyer on Saturday night:

Gabby’s whole family wants the world to know Brian hasn’t gone missing, he’s in hiding. Gabby is missing.

More than 50 police officers were accompanied by FBI agents, drones, K-9s and sleuths to search for Brian Laundrie, law enforcement said on Saturday.

Police have shared new photos of the search for laundry in the Carlton Reservation area.

North Port, Florida Police spokesman Josh Taylor told a news conference that a family council had led law enforcement to the Carlton reservation.

His family told police on Friday that they last saw the 23-year-old leaving with a backpack on Tuesday and told them he was on his way to the reservation.

Laundrie’s family told police where he had gone after “worrying about where he was” and wanted to file a missing person report, according to Taylor.

He said Laundrie’s vehicle was in the reserve and was found at the family home, but when asked who or how the car would have returned without a sign from Laundrie, the spokesperson said “we are let us stick to the word of their family “.

Laundrie’s family say they haven’t seen Brian since Tuesday.

Investigators have removed items from the house from the laundries to help with his search, according to his lawyer Steven Bertolino.

RELATED | Timeline of Gabby Petito’s disappearance: what we know so far

Police said on Twitter that this was the first time the Laundrie family had spoken to them in detail about the case.

They reiterated that Brian is a person of interest in Gabby’s disappearance, but that they “are not currently working on a criminal investigation.”

Speaking to Good Morning America on Saturday, North Port Police Public Information Officer Josh Taylor said the police “were trying to corroborate everything they told us.”

Taylor said detectives spoke to Chris and Roberta Laundrie in person with their attorney on the phone.

“I wouldn’t say it was, you know, a full conversation. Right now their focus was on helping us find their son,” Taylor said.

Taylor said investigators are still working to piece together Brian’s journey from the western states to their home in Florida.

“Sure, that truck hasn’t driven from, you know, potentially, you know, the mountain to the west so far with a tank of gas, so we know there have been stoppages going on. road. If people have seen anything as far as these moves, we’re piecing that together, we’ve solidified parts of the timeline. We know her mother spoke to her, saw her on facetime on August 25, ” Taylor said.

Watch the full GMA interview with Josh Taylor:

“We’re glad they called the police and want to cooperate, but until … I’m not speculating, I don’t know what to believe,” Petito’s stepfather Jim said. Schmidt.

A spokesperson for the department appeared on CNN later Friday evening and said the department had more details but could not yet be released.

“I think it will come out here, very soon, we just want to line up our ducks a little bit,” the spokesperson said. “It’s been a situation that has developed very quickly here over the last hour for the most part. So we’re working on it. We want to make sure we’re specific in everything we say.”

Petito, a 22-year-old woman from Long Island, disappeared on a road trip across the country with Laundrie.

The Florida couple were on their way to Oregon when Petito stopped communicating with his family somewhere in Wyoming in late August.

Laundrie, who has been identified as a Person of Interest by Police in North Port, Fla., Returned to her Gulf Coast home in Petito’s white 2012 Ford Transit van on September 1, 10 days before Petito is reported missing by her family at Blue Point.

North Port Police held a press conference last Thursday in which Petito’s father pleaded for his safe return and for Laundrie to speak out and stop obstructing the investigation.

“What I need from everyone is help,” said Joseph Petito. “This goal is to get Gabby home safely. I ask for help from everyone here. I ask for help from everyone at home. I ask for help from Brian’s parents. , and I am asking for help from family members and friends of the Laundrie family as well. “

MORE: Police Body Camera Video Shows Gabby Petito Her Boyfriend After 911 Call

Petito’s mother Nichole Schmidt said the last video chat she had with her daughter was on August 24 or 25, although they texted for a few days.

She has since said that she doesn’t know if it was her daughter who actually sent these texts.

The engaged couples had documented their trip on YouTube and were due to arrive in Portland in October.

Detectives are asking anyone with information about the case to contact Suffolk County Police at 1-800-220-TIPS, North Port Police Department at 941-429-7382 or the FBI at 1-800 -CALL-FBI or 303-629. -7171. Information may also be submitted online.

ALSO READ: ABC Exclusive: Full Interview with Brian Laundrie’s Sister on Gabby Petito

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