Search resumes for person of interest in Gabby Petito case

Elizabeth Fry reports

NORTH PORT, Fla. – As searches continue out west for missing Florida woman Gabby Petito, police resumed their search for her fiancé – and person of interest in her disappearance – in a swampy, wooded Sarasota preserve Sunday.

Petito and her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, were on a cross-country trip, visiting scenic locations and sharing them on social media. Family reported Petito missing on September 11 after not hearing from her since August 25; Laundrie returned to their Northport home on September 1 with the van the couple was traveling in – without Petito.

RELATED: Gabby Petito: Police speak with TikTok user who claimed to give boyfriend Laundrie a ride

Gabby Petito case timeline

Graphic via FOX News

Laundrie was named a person of interest in the case earlier this week. However, despite pleading with the family and their attorney, investigators had not Heard from the Laundrie family at all until Friday night, when they told investigators their son had actually been missing since Tuesday.

Investigators spent two hours at the Laundrie home collecting things they say may help them find Brian and hopefully get answers.

An attorney for the Petito family says Brian is not missing but rather on the run, adding that the Laundrie family’s request to have the North Port police look for their son but not for Gabby is “reprehensible and hypocritical.”

The search resumed Sunday morning (NPPD photo)

Saturday, 50 law enforcement officers from five agencies, including the North Port Police Department and the FBI, began searching the Carlton Reserve, a 25,000-acre park in Venice.

“Brian’s parents have reported to us that he was last seen Tuesday when he went for a hike there. They reported him missing three days later. The North Port Police Department and the FBI are working to corroborate the story,” North Port Police Department public information officer Josh Taylor said.

As day one of the search for Brian wound down, FBI agents were preparing to search Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park for Gabby. Taylor said that search was based on investigations into the last place she is believed to have been.

Petito’s family said Sunday that the FBI is aware of a video that shows a similar white van at a campground in Grand Teton National Park on Aug. 27 – a few days after their last contact with her.

RELATED: Gabby Petito’s van spotted in stranger’s footage at Grand Teton National Park, family believes

Meanwhile, a crowd gathered in North Port last night, hoping and praying for Gabby’s safe return. The vigil only lasted about 15 minutes, but those who attended say it was an important way for them to show support for Gabby’s family.

Vigil shows support for Gabby Petito’s family

Jordan Bowen reports

People held signs that said, “North Port loves Gabby.” Someone sang amazing grace while others spoke to the crowd.

“We do need to find her, don’t we? Gabby needs to be found, and so what I want to do is I want to pray.”

“There’s not really much we can do for them outside of giving them prayer and giving them our support as a community because if you live here in North Port you know this is a small city.”

RELATED: North Port community shows support, solidarity for family of Gabby Petito

NPPD photo

Investigators are asking the public for help in locating both Petito and Laundrie. They say Laundrie is described as a white male, 5-foot-8 and weighing 160 pounds. He has brown eyes, very short brown hair, trimmed facial hair, and was last seen wearing a hiking bag with a waist strap.  

Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-Call-FBI.

MORE COVERAGE: