Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie are seen in this Instagram post.
The Florida man sought for questioning in the mysterious
disappearance of Gabby Petito broke his silence Tuesday, saying it's "an extremely difficult time" for both families.
"I understand that a search has been organized for Miss Petito in or near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming," Brian Laundrie said in a statement,
according to ABC News.
"On behalf of the Laundrie family it is our hope that the search for Miss Petito is successful and that Miss Petito is re-united with her family," said the statement, issued through an attorney.
"On the advice of counsel the Laundrie family is remaining in the background at this juncture and will have no further comment," it said.Laundrie retained a lawyer and has refused to cooperate with police since returning to his North Port home on Friday without Petito, 22, with whom he had been on a cross-country trip.Petito, originally from Long Island, left on the trip with Laundrie in July and was
last heard from late last month โ before Laundrie returned home in the van the two were traveling in.
This week Laundrie's parents also turned away cops at the home, while police were spotted leaving a pink envelope at the home Tuesday."We talked to the parents, who did not make him available," North Port city spokesman Josh Taylor told The Post.On Tuesday, his mom and dad were seen returning to the Wabasso Avenue house โ still mum about the case.
North Port cops are working with Suffolk County police on the missing person case and have about a dozen detectives working for "anything that might give us clues," the Sun North Port newspaper reported.
"Anywhere USA is what we're working on," Taylor told the outlet.
Comment: Some background on the case from
the New York Post:
A 22-year-old Long Island woman has gone missing under mysterious circumstances during a cross-country road trip with her boyfriend โ and her family is seeking the public's help in finding her.
Gabby Petito was last known to be in Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park in late August after embarking on the tour with her boyfriend โ identified on social media as Brian Laundrie โ the month before, Newsday reported.
Authorities said the vehicle the couple was traveling in, a white 2012 Ford Transit van with Florida plates, has been recovered, according to the outlet.
Laundrie, who has returned to his Florida home, has hired an attorney and has refused to cooperate with authorities, the Daily Mail reported, citing her family.
"Downsizing our life to fit into this itty bitty van was the best decision we've ever made," Laundrie wrote on Instagram on a page called "bizarre_design." "With the limited space we wanted to take advantage of every inch, while also keeping everything minimalist."
...
Petito's mother, Blue Point resident Nicole Schmidt, reported her missing to Suffolk County police late Saturday.
"Gabrielle Petito was traveling in a white, 2012 Ford Transit van with Florida license plate QFTG03 with a companion when she stopped communicating with friends and family," police said in a release.
The desperate mom told Newsday late Sunday that her daughter had FaceTimed her around Aug. 23 or 24 โ and that although she received texts from her daughter's phone until Aug. 30, she wasn't sure she was the one who had sent them.
Petito's father, Joe Petito, told Newsday that her disappearance is like "drowning with your hands tied behind you," adding, "You can't describe it. There's nothing you can do. You can't control anything."
...
On June 17, Petito arrived in New York to attend her brother's high school graduation and then left on her cross-country adventure, Schmidt said.
Last month, the couple arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah, but left amid heavy wildfire smoke, according to Fox News.
Petito was expected to visit a family friend in Portland, Oregon, around Halloween, Newsday said.
"I can't say much, but she's no longer with the van," Schmidt told Fox News. "I don't want to say anything more than that but for people looking for her, I want them to look for her now, not look for that van anymore."
...
On Aug. 25, a photo of Petito was posted on her apparent Instagram account, which links to a video on a YouTube channel featuring a woman identified as Petito and a man traveling in a converted van.
The clip, which was posted Aug. 13, shows scenes of the woman in various outdoor settings.
Petito was described by police and on a GoFundMe page as 5 feet 5, 110 pounds, blond with blue eyes.
"She has a triangle tattoo on left arm with flowers and a 'Let it be' tattoo written on her right arm. She has a Belly button piercing," the post said.
"While we are working with the FBI, multiple law enforcement agencies, and outside resources to pursue any and all leads the family will need funds and resources to travel and pay for expenses related to an investigation and search on the other side of the country, any help is appreciated," it added.
Comment: Some background on the case from the New York Post: