Lawyer for Gabby Petito's family to Brian Laundrie: 'Turn yourself in'
A lawyer for Gabby Petito’s family said Tuesday that they have no reason to believe that the parents of Brian Laundrie will help authorities find him.
Laundrie, Petito’s 23-year-old fiancé, disappeared before her body was found.
“The Laundries did not help us find Gabby,” Richard Stafford said at a press conference in Bohemia, N.Y., with Petito’s parents. “They’re sure as not going to help us find Brian.”
Stafford briefly spoke directly to Laundrie, who has been named as a person of interest in the case.
“For Brian, we’re asking you to turn yourself in to the FBI or the nearest law enforcement agency,” Stafford said.
Steve Bertolino, the Laundrie family's attorney, released a statement Monday saying Brian's parents do not know where he is.
"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."
Laundrie’s parents reported him missing on Sept. 17, three days after he was last seen and two days before Petito’s body was discovered near Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park.
Her death was initially ruled a homicide by the FBI, which has taken the lead in the investigation.
“Justice for Gabby is justice for her homicide,” Stafford said. “We believe through their investigation we will have justice.”
A federal arrest warrant was issued for Laundrie on Thursday for unauthorized use of a device and bank accounts without permission.
Petito and Laundrie had spent months visiting national parks in their converted 2012 Ford Transit van, documenting the trip on YouTube and Instagram.
Petito’s parents reported the 22-year-old missing on Sept. 11, after Laundrie returned to his parents’ home in North Port, Fla., without her.
The case has garnered widespread national media attention — as well as criticism of news outlets for not covering similar cases involving people of color.
At Tuesday’s press conference, Petito’s family formally announced a foundation that they hope will help shine a light on other missing person cases.
“Everyone deserves the same type of awareness,” Joe Petito, Gabby's father, said. “It’s not just Gabby that deserves that.”
The Petito family also showed matching tattoos they got in honor of their slain daughter. The tattoos bear the inscription “Let It Be” and are identical to the one Gabby Petito had.
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