By Alexander Wilson-
Brian Laundrie, the fiancee of missing Gabby Petito, is on the run, as a body matching the description of missing woman was found found by crews searching a national park in the US state of Wyoming.
Cops are yet to conduct tests to absolutely confirm the identification of the body found, but strongly belive it is that of Ms Petitio.The FBI said that while forensic examinations were yet to “confirm 100%” that the human remains were those of Ms Petito, they were consistent with her description.
Mr Laundrie was declared a “person of interest” in the case, but not charged with any crime. He declined to speak to police, and disappeared a few days later.A search team spent the weekend scouring a 25,000 acre wildlife reserve in Florida for signs of Mr Laundrie with police dogs and drones, but found nothing. He appears to be in hiding. Protesters on Friday gathered outside the Launderie family home, shouting ”where is Gabby”.
“As every parent can imagine, this is an incredibly difficult time for her family,” FBI agent Charles Jones told the media, choking back tears.
“The cause of death has not been determined,” he added.
Ms Petito, 22, was visiting the Grand Teton National Park with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, when she disappeared.
Ms Petito’s father, Joseph, posted a photo of his daughter on Twitter shortly after the news conference.
Romance Trip Gone Wrong
Mr Laundrie and Ms Petito had set out on a nomadic cross-country campervan trip in July, documenting their adventures on social media.
They filmed themselves smiling, kissing, and running on beaches in a YouTube video which has now been viewed more than 2.3 million times. On one occassion, Gabby petito said she wa shaving the best time of ehr life.
However, on 1 September, after a month of travelling, Mr Laundrie returned home to Florida with their white van and without Ms Petito. Her family reported her missing 10 days later.
Mr Laundrie’s family told cops they had not seen their son since Tuesday, meaning his present location is unknown.
His family released a statement through their lawyer, saying: “The news about Gabby Petito is heartbreaking. The Laundrie family prays for Gabby and her family.”
The search for Brian Laundrie continues, but for the family of Gabby Petito, it is unfortunately heartbreak and despair.
Cops last week had said they couldn’t obtain a search warrant because they had no evidence a crime had been committed, though the circumstances were suspicious enough for then to question suspicious Laundrie. With a body now found, and should it prove to be that of missing Gabby, a national manhunt for the whereabouts of Laundrie would be stepped up.