While law enforcement remained quiet throughout Wednesday’s search for Brian Laundrie, attorneys representing the families engaged in a fiery exchange.
What You Need To Know
- FBI confirmed Gabby Petito was the victim of a homicide
- 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
- Laundrie, a "person of interest" in her disappearance, has also gone missing and was last seen by his family on Sept. 14
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- Gabby Petito’s father: 'The goal is to bring Gabby home safe. Anything else comes second to this.'
- Where is Gabby Petito? Boyfriend called 'person of interest' in North Port missing woman case
- Body camera footage shows Gabby Petito argued with boyfriend before vanishing
- Boyfriend's whereabouts still a mystery as body is found in the search for Gabby Petito
- Search for person of interest in Gabby Petito disappearance called off due to darkness
- Gabby Petito’s father: 'The goal is to bring Gabby home safe. Anything else comes second to this.'
- Where is Gabby Petito? Boyfriend called 'person of interest' in North Port missing woman case
- Body camera footage shows Gabby Petito argued with boyfriend before vanishing
After Gabby Petito’s photo surfaced on a Yelp page for Brian Laundrie’s attorney, her family sent a sharp message to the Laundries.
In the letter, attorney Richard Stafford addressed the Landrie family and said: “The Petito and Schmidt family are demanding that you remove Gabby Petito’s picture from your Yelp page. The family tried to remove their daughter’s picture from your page and were informed that only the business owner can add or remove pictures. Furthermore, the Petito and Schmidt family demand that you cease and desist posting pictures of Gabby Petito to any and all of your social media pages, web pages or advertisements in an effort to gain business. I am sure this will be taken care of by 2 p.m. or I will take further action on behalf of Gabby’s family."
The photo was removed within an hour of when the letter was given.
Yelp later flagged the page and disabled it temporarily.
Steven Bettolino, attorney for the Laundrie family, responded with this statement:
“This is sad. I have never used social media or any other electronic platform for advertising other than maintaining a website. I do not control the internet sites, nor the hacks and public that have been overrunning the internet with fake comments and posts. Yesterday Yelp had shut down its page for my firm due to inordinate and unconfirmed posts. I would certainly agree with Mr. Stafford that any such post he is referring to should be removed but advise him that I have no control over that Yelp site.”
This happened one day after officials confirmed the body found in Teton National Forest is Gabby Petito. Officials in Florida have spent the past several days searching the Carlton Reserve in Sarasota County for any sign of Brian.