Florida police investigated a possible Brian Laundrie sighting and confirmed the individual is not missing Brian Laundrie.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office’s announced on Facebook that they investigated the tip, and confirmed the individual is not Brian Laundrie.
“The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has positively identified the individual whose image was captured on a deer trail camera near Baker and shared on social media, sparking nationwide speculation that it was missing North Port Florida resident Brian Laundrie.
The OCSO has confirmed the man is an Okaloosa County resident who acknowledged he was the one walking on the deer trail carrying his backpack. Several OCSO deputies familiar with the individual noticed the resemblance to the photo of the person spotted on the deer trail, as well as the presence of a neck tattoo.
The private citizen was located and a positive identification has been made.
During its search and investigation, the OCSO found no indications that Brian Laundrie is, or was, in Okaloosa County.”
On Tuesday, the OCSO confirmed they extensively searched the area in Baker, FL and did not find anything of note.
“The OCSO did its due diligence in response to this report and is wrapping up an extensive search that took place in this area to also include nearby farmlands and a search by drone,” the Facebook post read. “No one – and nothing – of note was located. There are no known possible past or current connections between Laundrie and anyone in this area at this time to follow up on.”
“In the meantime we will remain vigilant and if anything new of significance develops we will share,” the OCSO Facebook post concluded.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Petito and Laundrie embarked on a cross-country road trip this summer, but Laundrie returned home to Florida without her.
While police were searching for Petito, Laundrie disappeared from his parents’ home in North Port, FL and remains missing. Laundrie’s parents told police he left last Tuesday to go hiking at Carlton Reserve.
The FBI Denver announced Tuesday that the Teton County Coroner confirmed that remains found in Wyoming were those of Gabrielle Venora Petito. The Coroner’s initial determination for the manner of death was homicide. The cause of death remains pending final autopsy results.
Brian Laudrie has been named a person of interest.
Anyone with information on Laundrie’s whereabouts should contact the FBI at: tips.fbi.gov, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or 303-629-7171. Upload photos and videos to: fbi.gov/petito.
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