Brian Laundrie visited Florida just weeks before Gabby Petito was murdered

The search for Brian Laundrie has taken another bizarre turn, with his lawyer revealing there was a kink in the timeline leading up to Gabby Petito’s murder.

The nationwide search for Brian Laundrie has taken another bizarre turn, with his lawyer revealing there was a potential kink in the timeline leading up to Gabby Petito’s murder.

Mr Laundrie, 23, vanished from his home in North Port Florida on September 14, three days after Ms Petito’s family reported her as a missing person.

Ms Petito’s remains were found on September 19 at a remote campground in Briger-Teton National Park in the US state of Wyoming.

The coroner ruled the 22-year-old’s cause of death as homicide.

Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito. Picture: Instagram

Speaking to the New York Post, the lawyer for the Laundrie family revealed Brian had flown home to Florida on August 17.

Lawyer Steven Bertolino said Brian spent a week in Florida, before flying back to Salt Lake City in Utah on August 23 to rejoin Gabby.

“Brian flew home to obtain some items and empty and close the storage unit to save money as (he and Petito) contemplated extending the road trip,” Mr Bertolino said.

“To my knowledge, Brian and Gabby paid for the flights, as they were sharing expenses.”

Mr Laundrie flew home to his family on August 17. Picture: Octavio Jones/Getty Images/AFP

The flight is significant because it came just days after police pulled over Ms Petito and Mr Laundrie’s white van on August 12 after receiving reports of disorderly conduct.

The video of their interaction with police in Moab, Utah showed Ms Petito sobbing while talking to the officers.

In the haunting clip, Ms Petito told officers that Mr Laundrie had “grabbed her face” and left a “burning” gash on her cheek and red marks on her arm.

The police officers did not file charges, instead advising the couple to spend the night apart, with Ms Petito spending the night in her van and Mr Laundrie staying in a hotel.

The couple were last seen at a restaurant in Wyoming on August 27, with Mr Laundrie returning home on September 1, alone in Ms Petito’s van.

Brian Laundrie talking to Moab police officers.

Gabby Petito was sobbing while talking to police.

Cassie Laundrie Luycx, Brian’s sister, earlier claimed her brother had come home to visit briefly in August.

“I do not know where Brian is – I’d turn him in,” Ms Laundrie told Good Morning America yesterday. “I would tell my brother to just come forward and get us out of this horrible mess.

“I worry about him. I hope he’s okay and then I’m angry and don’t know what to think.

“I’ve tried to get in touch with him – phone went to voicemail. I hope my brother’s alive, because I want answers just as much as everybody else.”

Mr Bertolino previously released a statement saying the Laundrie family, including his parents Chris and Roberta Laundrie, "do not know where Brian is".

"They are concerned about Brian and hope the FBI can locate him," he said.

“The speculation by the public and some in the press that the parents assisted Brian in leaving the family home or in avoiding arrest on a warrant that was issued after Brian had already been missing for several days is just wrong.”

The couple were roadtripping the US. Picture: Instagram

While Mr Laundrie has not been named a suspect in the murder of his girlfriend, an arrest warrant has been issued for him over allegedly using Ms Petito’s credit card.

Despite that, David Aronberg, the state prosecutor for Palm Beach County in Florida, said it was “extremely likely” Mr Laundrie would face more charges if and when he’s found.

“That’s coming,” Mr Aronberg told News Nation Now, referring to more charges being laid.

“At trial, his flight can come back to haunt him because the prosecutors can point to that.

“In fact, it’s even in some jury instructions that says that if you flee, that is consciousness of guilt and juries hate it when you flee.”

Originally published as Brian Laundrie visited Florida just weeks before Gabby Petito was murdered