FBI, Florida Police Scouring Swamp in Manhunt for Missing Boyfriend Amid Gabby Petito Missing Person Case
Richard Moorhead
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Federal and state law enforcement are now conducting a manhunt for the boyfriend of a New York woman who went missing while traveling across the country in a van with the man. Gabby Petito of Long Island has been missing since August 24th, with Brian Laundrie returning from a cross-country van trip without her.
Wyoming Rangers and the FBI are actively searching an area of the Teton National Park in Wyoming for Petitio, who only was reported as a missing person on September 1st.
Laundrie’s family in turn has revealed they last saw him on Tuesday departing his residence with a hiking bag.
Laundrie has declined to cooperate with law enforcement trying to find Petito, before going off the radar. Law enforcement are trying to locate Laundrie in the Carlton Reserve, a wildlife preserve in Central Florida. Police believe that Laundrie- who has been named a person of interest in Petito’s disappearance- may be armed.
North Port, Florida police have emphasized the search operation for Laundrie doesn’t entail a criminal investigation at the time. He’s not formally a suspect, and merely a person of interest on Petitio’s disappearance.
More than 50 law enforcement officers began scouring the Carlton Reserve with bloodhounds, 4×4 vehicle, drones, and sophisticated law enforcement technology. The search may represent a more significant law enforcement than previously reported, with Petito’s family suspecting Laundrie of involvement in their daughter’s disappearance. Police are unsure if Laundrie is armed.
“All of Gabby’s family want the world to know that Brian is not missing, he is hiding,” said a statement from Petito family lawyer Richard Stafford. “Gabby is missing.”
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