NORTH PORT, Fla. — The FBI executed a search warrant Monday at the Laundrie family residence in North Port. The warrant was considered relevant to the Gabby Petito investigation.
The agency said just before 6:30 p.m. Monday that the search of the home had "concluded" but its post on Twitter didn't state if authorities would return. The tweet said: "The #FBI search at the Laundrie residence in North Port has concluded. No further details since this is an ongoing investigation. We continue to ask for the public’s assistance in the #GabbyPetito investigation. 1-800-CALL FBI or http://tips.fbi.gov"
What You Need To Know
- Gabby Petito, 22, and Brian Laundrie, 23, left in July for a cross-country trek in a converted van
- Laundrie returned in the van alone to Florida on Sept. 1
- Petito, who was last seen on Aug. 30 in Wyoming, was reported missing by her family on Sept. 11
- Laundrie, a "person of interest" in her disappearance, has also gone missing and was last seen by his family on Sept. 14
- ABOVE: Watch Jorja Roman's Monday evening report
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While officials in Wyoming have confirmed the discovery of a body that matches the description of Petito, the woman who has been missing since Sept. 11, Florida authorities are still searching for her missing boyfriend Brian Laundrie
A silver Mustang was towed from the Laundrie home Monday. That’s the vehicle Brian drove to Carlton Reserve last week. North Port Police told Spectrum Bay News 9's Jorja Roman that his parents later picked it up and brought it back here.
FBI agents were seen Monday afternoon loading items into the back of a van. North Point police had said earlier in the day they would not do a Monday search of Carlton Reserve.
Published reports Monday afternoon said the family's NY-based attorney would make a statement Tuesday at 1 p.m. However, on Monday night the attorney, citing talks with the FBI, announced that the news conference would not be held.
For residents in the area, they are adjusting to the nation’s eyes being focused on the neighborhood.
Thom Dean moved to North Port several years ago from Atlanta. He said Monday night that traffic was slow but that it has often been busy in recent days.
"You're just trying to have a little quiet life here,” he said. “Well, it’s just been a little noisier here, that’s all. I just wish they would get it all taken care of so that people can move on.”
The 23-year-old Laundrie who was last seen by his family on Sept. 14.
Both he and Petito left in July for a cross-country trek in a converted van to visit national parks in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. However, Laundrie returned alone with the van to his Florida home on Sept. 1.
The 22-year-old Petito was last seen in the area of the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming on Aug. 30, and she was reported missing by her family on Sept. 11.
On Sunday, FBI spokesman Charles Jones discussed the discovery of a body that matches the description of Petito in Grand Teton National Park during a press conference.
While the FBI has not officially confirmed yet if the body is of Petito, her father tweeted out, “#GABBYPETITO she touched the world.”
💔#GABBYPETITO she touched the world. pic.twitter.com/DukH7UCTPo
— joseph petito (@josephpetito) September 19, 2021
Authorities have called Laundrie a person of interest in Petito’s disappearance. Laundries’ parents say he left their house in North Port, Fla., on Tuesday, Sept. 14, in hiking gear and has not been seen since.
Authorities say there is a possibility that Laundrie may have hurt himself in the reserve.
However, North Port's Information Officer Josh Taylor stated in an email sent to the media at 7:54 a.m. Monday that the North Port Police Department "currently has no plans to conduct a major search of the Carlton Reserve today."
As this is all going on, coroners are working to confirm that the body found in Wyoming on Sunday is Petito’s.
It was hard news to hear for the entire community in North Port, who have been rallying around her.
Dozens of people came together to honor Petito as more candles, ribbons and prayers in front of the city hall community tree. However, this time, a lot more tears.
“Just let them know that they are in our thoughts and prayers. We’re praying for them to get through and at least they have closure,” said Lisa Correll of Petito’s family.