Cops Called To Laundrie Home Twice Day Before Gabby Petito Reported Missing
By Jason Hall
October 1, 2021
Police were called the the home of Brian Laundrie's family twice on the day before his fiancée Gabby Petito was reported missing by her parents.
North Port Police Department records obtained by ABC News confirm local officers responded to two "public service" calls for the Laundrie home on September 10, both of which were marked as "problem settled."
The department's records also show officers responded to the Laundrie home three times on September 11 when Petito -- whose remains were found on September 19 in Wyoming and confirmed to be the missing 22-year-old days later -- was reported missing by her parents, who live on Long Island, New York.
The first two calls on September 11 wrre considered follow-up calls and marked as "problem settled" and "no police action needed," respectively. The third was marked as an "agency assist" and included a report submitted after the department's response, according to records.
ABC News reports the records have been partially redacted and show no additional details of the calls of service, though confirm that none were considered 911 calls.
Last week, an arrest warrant was issued for Laundrie after a grand jury indicited him for his "use of unauthorized devices" during the events following the death of Petito.
The indictment obtained by CNN accuses Laundrie, 23, of using a debit card and PIN number for accounts that didn't belong to him between August 30 to September 1 in order to make purchases totaling more than $1,000.
A source close to Laundrie's family told CNN the 23-year-old left his own wallet and cell phone behind when he was last seen leaving his parents' Florida home 10 days ago after he initially returned to the area from a cross-country road trip without Petito, who was reported missing on September 11.
The source added that Laundrie's parents were concerned he might harm himself at the time he left their home.
An attorney for Laundrie's family emphasized that the arrest warrant isn't related specifically to Petito's death, rather incidents committed by Laundrie afterward.
"It is my understanding that the arrest warrant for Brian Laundrie is related to activities occurring after the death of Gabby Petito and not related to her actual demise," Steve Bertolino said in a statement. "The FBI is focusing on locating Brian and when that occurs the specifics of the charges covered under the indictment will be addressed in the proper forum."
"While this warrant allows law enforcement to arrest Mr. Laundrie, the FBI and our partners across the country continue to investigate the facts and circumstances of Ms. Petito's homicide," added FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider. "We urge individuals with knowledge of Mr. Laundrie's role in this matter or his current whereabouts to contact the FBI."
On September 24, local and federal authorities continued to search for Laundrie in the Carlton Reserve, a nature preserve estimated to be around 25,000 acres, in North Port near his family home after pausing September 23 due to darkness.