Search warrant reports growing “tension” between Petito and laundry

Search warrant documents involving a hard drive found in Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie’s van noted that there had been “growing tension” between the couple prior to their disappearance.

An affidavit from cops seeking a warrant for the computer storage device sheds new light on what led Petito’s family to fear for his safety.

The affidavit notes that Laundrie refused to speak to police investigators after Petito’s family reported his disappearance on September 11. Cops in North Port, Florida said they believed the hard drive might belong to Petito, 22, and could help them find out where she was.

A judge approved the search warrant last week, days before Petito’s probable remains were found in Wyoming.

Detective Daniel Alix wrote in the probable cause affidavit seeking the warrant that Petito’s mother Nicole Schmidt had been in regular contact with her daughter after Gabby and Laundrie left New York on their trip across the country .

But “during these conversations there seemed to be more and more tension between [Gabby] and laundry, ”states the affidavit.

Petito’s mental health raised concerns after a domestic incident between the couple on Aug. 12 involving police in Moab, Utah, according to the document. Petito told cops she experienced “heightened anxiety” during their trip, according to the affidavit.

Then, Petito’s alleged suspicious final text to his mother arrived on August 27, according to the affidavit. That August date was about two days after his family last spoke to him.

“Can you help Stan, I keep getting his voicemails and missed calls,” Gabby’s alleged text read to her mother.

The reference was to Gabby’s grandfather – but her mother said her daughter had never called him “Stan”.

“The mother was worried that something was wrong with her daughter,” the affidavit said.

“[Gabby’s] the cell phone was no longer operational and she stopped posting anything on social media about their trip, ”the affidavit added. “By her family, this was not normal behavior for the subject, and they became more worried about her.”

The probable cause statement noted that a license plate reader showed the van arrived at the parents’ home in Laundrie, Florida on September 1. Laundrie arrived home without Petito. On September 11, when Petito’s family reported her missing, police attended Laundrie’s home and boyfriend’s family told her that Petito was not there and did not know where she was. .

“They refused to allow Brian to speak to law enforcement and asked the officers at the scene to speak to their lawyer,” the affidavit said.

Meanwhile, Laundrie, 23, has not been seen since last week, as he reportedly went for a hike in the 25,000-acre Carlton Preserve.

On Monday, FBI agents and local police raided the laundries’ homes with a search warrant.