This archive report was first published on 16 September 2021.
On September 1, Brian Laundrie, 23, returned to his home in North Port, Florida, alone, after a cross-country adventure with his fiancée, Gabrielle Petito, 22. Ten days later, Petito's family reported her missing, prompting an investigation by the North Port Police Department and the FBI.
According to the police, Laundrie and Petito left New York on July 2 in a van outfitted for a four-month trip to visit and camp in national parks. The couple documented their journey on social media, posting photos and videos of their adventures.
However, on August 12, the police in Moab, Utah, responded to a report of a domestic problem after Laundrie and Petito got into an argument. Laundrie told the police that Petito had gone into a 'manic state' and slapped him, and he pushed her away in self-defense. The police arranged for Laundrie to stay in a hotel that night and let Petito keep the van.
Laundrie has since declined to talk to the police or cooperate with investigators, citing concerns that any statement he makes could be used against him. His lawyer, Steven Bertolino, said that Laundrie's family hopes for a successful search for Petito and that she is reunited with her family.
The police have seized the van that Laundrie and Petito used for their trip and are processing it for evidence. They are asking Laundrie to tell them when and where he last saw Petito, but he has not been arrested or declared a suspect in the case.
Laundrie was described as a person of interest because he was the last person known to have been with Petito before she went missing. The police are working with the FBI to find Petito and are pleading with Laundrie and anyone else with information to come forward.
