By Aaron Miller-
The anxious stepfather of the missing YouTube and Instagram star Gabby Petito, 22, has urged her suspicious fiancee , Brian Laundrie, 23, to “step up and do the right thing”, and assist police with their inquiries into her disappearance.
Odd Laundrie is still mysteriously unco-operative with police since the disappearance of the 22 year old girl. It is the sixth day since Gabby was announced as missing, and anxiety levels of her family has multiplied ten fold with each waking hour.
Gabby Petitio vanished during a cross-country trip with her fiance Brian Laundrie, and the latter returned home without her, and refused to talk to police.
Laundrie has been made a person of interest in the missing girl’s case, and increasingly becoming a suspect in her disappearance, though cops have not officially named him as such. because of the multiple potential scenarios that may explain her disappearance.
A police report yesterday revealed that cops responded to a 911 call to which they found Laundrie and his fiancee arguing and hitting each other, The couple, who were on a road trip in Ms Petito’s van, were spotted having an argument in Moab City, Utah on 12 August. The police determined the incident was a “mental health break” rather than a domestic assault situation and separated the couple for the night, without pressing any further charges. A background of domestic violence was rearing its ugly head on that occasion, but the couple most likely deceived police that matters would stay kept in check.
Police on Wednesday released bodycam footage showing emotional Gabby Petito and boyfriend crying as she stands beside a police car, while another clip shows boyfriend Brian Laundrie speaking also speaking to officers separately. Exactly why the couple were fighting has not been released to the public, except for the description of a mental breakdown of some sort, which leaves it vague.
After the North Port Police Department in Florida announced they were treating Ms Petito’s fiance as a person of interest in their investigation. Ms Petito’s family released a statement begging him to assist police in their search for the woman.
Ms Petito disappeared while on a road trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, who returned without her, prompting a frantic search for the 22-year-old woman that began on 11 September.
The North Port police will hold a press conference today at 11.30am EST to discuss the latest developments in their search for Ms Petito.
Nicole Schmidt, Ms Petito’s mother, said the last time she spoke with her daughter was 30 August, but because it was a text she cannot be sure that she was actually speaking with the woman. Before that the mother and daughter video chatted on 23 or 24 August. Ms Schmidt said it was normal for her and her daughter to video chat multiple times a week. When her daughter did not check in after Mr Laundrie returned early from their road trip, she grew concerned and eventually the family alerted the police.
Police said Laundrie returned to where the couple was living with a van they had been traveling in on September 1st. Gabby wasn’t with him and her father reported her missing 10 days later.
“We went to the door Saturday night. We asked to speak with Brian and his family and we were essentially handed the information for their attorney. That is the extent of our conversation with them. It’s my understanding we have had some conversations with his attorney, but certainly nothing to the level of providing us the details we would like,” said Taylor.
“We’re all hopeful that she’ll be back home. But certainly, there are a lot of signs that, certainly there are concerns for her well-being,” said Taylor.
Gabby’s last location is believed to have been in Wyoming, at Grand Teton National Park.
“Last time I checked, their child was home. My child is nowhere to be found and nor are we able to ask questions about how that came to be,” said Gabby’s father Joseph Petito.
He just wants her home.
On Thursday, the anxious stepfather of the missing YouTube and Instagram star Gabby Petito, 22, said her fiancee has to know something, and urged Brian Laundrie, 23, to “step up and do the right thing” and assist police with their inquiries into her disappearance.