Gabby Petito case update: Brian Laundrie still missing after issuance of arrest warrant in case

NORTH PORT, Fla. (WABC) – Brian Laundrie was still missing on Friday morning after an arrest warrant was issued on Wednesday, linked to Laundrie’s activities following the death of Gabby Petito.

The Wyoming District Court issued the warrant and indictment.

The charge relates to Laundrie’s unauthorized use of a Capital One debit card and PIN with “intent to defraud” between August 30 and September 1 in Wyoming and elsewhere of value of $ 1,000 or more.

FBI Denver released a statement on Twitter on Thursday:

“While this arrest warrant allows law enforcement to arrest Mr. Laundrie, the FBI and our partners across the country continue to investigate the facts and circumstances of Ms. Petito’s homicide. urge those who know Mr. Laundrie’s role in this matter or where to contact the FBI. “

Laundromat search continues at Florida Wilderness Park

Meanwhile, a fifth day of research in a huge wilderness park yielded no new results on Thursday.

Petito, 22, was reported missing on September 11 by his parents after they did not answer calls and texts for several days as the couple visited parks in the West on their trip through the country.

His body was discovered Sunday at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. A coroner ruled her death a homicide.

Laundrie’s search for a huge reserve, which includes thousands of acres of swampy and forbidden subtropical terrain teeming with alligators, snakes, turkeys, deer and other wild creatures.

There are over 100 miles of hiking and horseback riding trails.

City of Moab, Utah opens investigation into police handling of domestic incident

The city of Moab, Utah, has launched an investigation into police handling of the Petito and Laundrie domestic incident which was caught on a body camera on August 12.

In a statement from the City of Moab Police Chief Bret Edge, he said that “an outside party has filed a request with the City of Moab Police Department requesting a formal investigation into the incident on the 12th. August in Moab involving Gabrielle Petito and Brian Laundrie “.

He goes on to say, “At this time, the city of Moab is not aware of any violation of police department policy during this incident. However, the city will conduct a formal investigation and, based on the findings. results, will take any next steps that may be appropriate. “

Couple seen in explosive argument at Wyoming restaurant in Wyoming

A woman named Nina Celie Angelo took to her Instagram account, saying she was there that day and saw the couple arguing explosively at the restaurant.

Angelo said Laundrie was yelling at the hostess and Petito was in tears and apologizing.

The Blue-Collar Restaurant Group confirmed to ABC News Wednesday that they believe Petito and Laundrie were at their Merry Piglet restaurant in Jackson Hole, Wyoming on August 27.

“Friday August 27th, 1pm sitting right next to them, they were kicked out of the restaurant and arguing with the hostess. They were arguing with the hostess – she was crying hysterically and she went out and she was crying and she was staying on the sidewalk, ”Angelo said on his Instagram Stories.

WATCH | Gabby Petito Special: Tragic Cross Country Adventure

The underwater team joins the search

Meanwhile, divers joined the search for Laundrie, 23, in Florida on Wednesday.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed it has sent members of their sheriff’s underwater salvage force to the Carlton Reservation.

Laundrie’s search centers on a huge reserve near North Port, where investigators said he returned to his family’s home on September 1 without his fiancee Gabby Petito, 22, but driving his 2012 Ford Transit. .

Officials said large bodies of water are located in the reserve and the deployment of the dive team does not mean nothing has been found. It’s part of the overall research process.

Laundrie has been named by police as a “person of interest” in Petito’s disappearance. He refused to speak to the police and has not been seen since Tuesday, September 14, according to the police.

Investigators first searched the 25,000-acre Carolton reserve over the weekend without success. They focused on the area after Laundrie’s parents told police he may have been there.

The search moved to the Venice area of ​​the reserve on Tuesday, where they stayed on Wednesday. Authorities have also deployed dogs, several all-terrain vehicles and drones in their search.

Laundry neighbor remembers seeing Brian after returning home

A neighbor of Laundrie’s in North Port, Florida, says she saw Brian Laundrie after returning home.

Karyn Aberts told Kristin Thorne that she had seen him walk with his parents but hadn’t thought about it. She called the current situation “very surreal”.

The full interview is below.

A 2nd witness corroborates a marital dispute between couples

Police released a written statement from someone who witnessed Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie’s marital dispute in August.

In the statement released on August 12, the witness, named Chris, claims the couple appeared to have some sort of dispute and recalls Petito punching Laundrie on the arm and face.

Another witness who called 911 said he saw Brian Laundrie “slap” Gabby Petito and chase her down a sidewalk.

The Moab, Utah Police Department responded to the incident that day, located the van, and arrested the couple.

Why is there no arrest warrant for Brian Laundrie?

ABC News chief legal analyst Dan Abrams explained why no arrest warrant has been issued for Brian Laundrie in the Gabby Petito case and why Petito’s cause of death has yet to be released. published.

“They want to find him. Period. They are now devoting all of their resources as if there is an arrest warrant against him. But there is still no official arrest warrant,” Abrams said. “I think they want to put all the evidence together so that they don’t get accused later in a trial of having made mistakes.”

A warrant could change the obligations of Brian Laundrie’s parents, he added.

You can watch the full interview here.

The man seen on video in Panhandle was not him

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has identified with certainty the individual whose image was captured by a deer track camera near Baker and shared on social media, sparking nationwide speculation that it was Laundrie.

OCSO has confirmed that the man is an Okaloosa County resident who admitted he was the one walking the deer trail with his backpack. Several OCSO deputies close to the individual noted the resemblance to the photo of the person seen on the deer trail, as well as the presence of a tattoo on his neck.

The ordinary citizen has been located and a positive identification has been made.

During its search and investigation, OCSO found no indication that Brian Laundrie is or was in Okaloosa County.

Gabby Petito’s Coroner’s Report

Gabby Petito died of a homicide, a coroner concluded Tuesday while confirming that the human remains recently found in a Wyoming national park were those of the 22-year-old woman.

Her body was discovered in a Wyoming national park over the weekend, months after the Long Island couple took a road trip across the country.
Teton County Coroner Dr Brent Blue said the cause of death was pending final autopsy results.

Growing Memorial for Gabby Petito’s Hometown

Neighbors installed teal ribbons around the Petito family home in Blue Point, New York on Long Island. It is a show of support to remember and pay homage to Gabby’s memory.

In Wyoming, someone installed a makeshift cross with rocks from the slowly disappearing Spread Creek River. The location is where Petito’s remains are believed to have been found.

An attorney for the Petito family has released a statement promising a family statement when “Gabby comes home.”

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

The FBI said investigators were still seeking information from anyone who might have seen the couple around Grand Teton.

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

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