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Brian Laundrie’s family release statement as search continues

The parents of missing man Brian Laundrie have released a furious statement regarding “speculation” they assisted their son in escaping.

Dog the Bounty Hunter joins search for Brian Laundrie

The parents of Brian Laundrie have released a furious statement regarding the whereabouts of their son, just hours after the FBI visited their home to request personal items they could test and match for DNA.

In a statement released by the family’s lawyer, Steven Bertolino, Roberta and Christopher Laundrie said “speculation” they assisted their son in any way to leave the family home or avoid arrest was “just wrong”.

“Chris and Roberta Laundrie do not know where Brian is,” the statement read.

“They are concerned about Brian and hope the FBI can locate him.

“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.”

Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito. Picture: Instagram
Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito. Picture: Instagram

With the search continuing for 23-year-old Laundrie, who has an arrest warrant for the “use of unauthorised access devices” following Gabby Petito’s death, it is still unclear what prompted the FBI to request more personal items from the family’s home.

“The FBI requested some personal items belonging to Brian Laundrie to assist them with DNA matching and Brian’s parents provided the FBI with what they could,” the Laundries’ lawyer, Steven Bertolino said to multiple news outlets.

Detectives have scoured the Carlton Reserve in Sarasota since last weekend after the Laundrie reportedly told his parents that he was going for a hike.

Laundrie was reported missing on September 17 – weeks after returning to Florida alone without his fiancee Gabby Petito. Petito’s remains were found last Sunday, an autopsy has given her cause of death as homicide but it has not been revealed what caused her death.

The Sarasota County Sheriffs Office and other surrounding law enforcement agencies continue their search in the T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve for Brian Laundrie.
The Sarasota County Sheriffs Office and other surrounding law enforcement agencies continue their search in the T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve for Brian Laundrie.

Police are expected to scale back the search efforts in the coming days.

Josh Taylor, of North Port Police Department, told Fox: “The FBI is now leading the search. I’m told, it will be scaled back and targeted based on intelligence.

“Hopefully water will lower in areas hard to currently access.”

Officers from NPPD will still be involved in the investigation.

Video Grab from the Moab City Police Department shows officer investigating an incident between Gabby Petito and her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie on the 8th of September.
Video Grab from the Moab City Police Department shows officer investigating an incident between Gabby Petito and her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie on the 8th of September.

However, experienced rancher Alan McEwen has cast doubt that Laundrie is hiding in the vast Carlton Reserve.

He told Fox News: “Unless he’s got a butt like a duck and can float, he’s not in there.

“I’ve been in the woods in and out all my life. I have learned a lot in my life, and one thing I know is no one is gonna survive out there for two weeks on foot.”

Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito. Picture: Instagram
Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito. Picture: Instagram

But, Mr McEwen doesn’t believe that Laundrie died in the wilderness as no buzzards have been circulating.

He said: “Anything dead you find in the woods, you’re gonna look up, you’re gonna see buzzards flying like crazy.

“No buzzards, no body is my theory. And I haven’t seen any buzzards flying.”

The rancher said Laundrie could be anywhere as the search to find Laundrie enters its ninth day.

– with The Sun

Originally published as Brian Laundrie’s family release statement as search continues

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/fbi-requests-brian-laundries-dna-for-matching/news-story/2d19527337203a970f434ad454959f19