US police return to nature reserve where Brian Laundrie ‘vanished’

The search for Brian Laundrie, the man who was likely the last person to see his murdered girlfriend alive continues, with police heading back to one spot.

The desperate search for Brian Laundrie, the man who was likely the last person to see his murdered girlfriend Gabby Petito alive, is continuing.

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

Police in Florida today confirmed they had returned to a spot they’d already searched – an “unforgiving” nature reserve near Mr Laundrie’s home.

Mr Laundrie left for Carlton Reserve on September 14 for a hike, wearing his clothes and a backpack, but never returned.

A police source told CNN that a search crew had discovered what looked like the remains of a campsite in the reserve, triggering the new search.

The sprawling nature reserve is currently closed to the public as local police and FBI agents turn their attention to the search.

Brian Laundrie talking to police in Utah in August.

North Port Police Department spokesman Josh Taylor last week described the reserve as “a vast and unforgiving location”.

“A weekend ground search and aerial search (last week) of the 25,000-acre (10,117 hectares) reserve has yet to yield any answers, but we must press on,” Mr Taylor said.

“It is currently waist deep in water in many areas … This is dangerous work for the search crews as they are wading through gator and snake infested swamps and flooded hiking and biking trails.”

Police at Carlton Reserve on September 21. Picture: Octavio Jones/Getty Images/AFP

Search for Brian Laundrie continues in the Carlton Reserve Friday. pic.twitter.com/eqxVH3xpRR

— North Port Police (@NorthPortPolice) September 24, 2021

Mr Laundrie’s dad Chris was initially asked to help with the search today and show police what trails Brian liked to walk, however following the discovery of the campsite, he was asked to step back.

Ms Petito quit her job and packed her life into a campervan for a cross-country adventure in July with her boyfriend, documenting their journey in a stream of idyllic-seeming Instagram posts.

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 US police return to nature reserve where Brian Laundrie ‘vanished’