How the search for Brian Laundrie unfolded

Brian Laundrie is a person of interest in the death of his girlfriend.

ByBill Hutchinson, Ivan Pereira, Marlene Lenthang, Meredith Deliso, and Emily Shapiro
Last Updated: October 22, 2021, 6:22 AM EDT

A massive search for Brian Laundrie, the boyfriend of slain 22-year-old travel blogger Gabby Petito, took a dramatic twist Thursday with the announcement that human remains found in a Florida nature preserve are those of the wanted fugitive, according to the FBI.

The remains were recovered Wednesday, nearly five weeks after Petito's body was recovered in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming. The Teton County Coroner ruled her death a homicide by strangulation.

The search for the 23-year-old Laundrie was centered around North Port, Florida, where investigators said he returned to his home on Sept. 1 without Petito but driving her 2012 Ford Transit.

Laundrie had been named by police as a "person of interest" in Petito's disappearance and a federal warrant had been issued for him alleging unauthorized use of Petito's credit card.

He refused to speak to the police and vanished on Sept. 13. His parents told investigators they believed he was headed to the Carlton Reserve in North Port.

The case grabbed national attention as Laundrie and Petito had been traveling across the country since June, documenting the trip on social media. Petito's parents reported her missing on Sept. 11 after not hearing from her for two weeks.

Here is how the weekslong search for Laundrie unfolded:

Key events

All times Eastern.
Sep 24, 2021, 2:26 PM EDT

Nothing found so far in Friday search

North Port officials said nothing has been found so far in Friday’s search of Carlton Reserve. Details for a Saturday search are yet to be announced. 

Police shared video from the search showing swamp buggies riding through dirt roads and around vast swamps.

North Port Police Commander Joe Fussell said Friday that the warrant issued Thursday for Laundrie’s arrest “doesn’t change anything for us.”

“We’re working as hard to find him now as we did on day one,” Fussell said. “We’re not wasting our time out here. We are doing our due diligence to find Brian in an area that intelligence has led us that he could possibly be in.”

Sep 24, 2021, 9:42 AM EDT

Search for Brian Laundrie continues at Carlton Reserve

The search for Laundrie at the Carlton Reserve near North Port, Florida, is back on after a search Thursday yielded no leads.

Various agencies have been scanning the area throughout the week for signs of Laundrie. Authorities said he was last seen on Sept. 14. 

Sep 23, 2021, 6:59 PM EDT

Florida police halt search for Laundrie for the day, back Friday

Police in North Port, Florida, have halted their ground search for Brian Laundrie in the Carlton Reserve after another fruitless day. 

"Nothing found. We will be back at it Friday," North Port Police said on Twitter.

Authorities have been combing the massive preserve for any sign of Laundrie since Saturday.

Sep 23, 2021, 6:07 PM EDT

Arrest warrant issued for Laundrie in Wyoming

An arrest warrant has been issued for Brian Laundrie in Wyoming following a federal grand jury indictment, authorities announced Thursday.

The U.S. District Court of Wyoming issued the warrant Wednesday "related to Mr. Laundrie's activities following the death of Gabrielle Petito," FBI Denver said.

The indictment alleges Laundrie "knowingly and with intent to defraud" used an unauthorized debit card and "obtained things of value aggregating to $1,000 or more" between Aug. 30 and Sept. 1.

The investigation into Petito's death is ongoing, authorities said. The FBI in particular is seeking information from anyone who was at the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area between Aug. 27 and Aug. 30 and may have been in contact with the couple or saw their car.

 "We urge individuals with knowledge of Mr. Laundrie's role in this matter or his current whereabouts to contact the FBI," FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider said in a statement Thursday.

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