Gabby Petito’s boyfriend Brian Laundrie did not take his wallet or cell phone with him when he left his home in North Port, Florida, on September 14, a source who knows the family has said.
The unidentified source reportedly told CNN’s Chris Cuomo that they are close to the family and that Laundrie’s parents were concerned for his welfare after he left the personal items behind, three days after Petito was reported missing. As CrimeOnline previously reported, Laundrie’s parents did not tell police that he did not return from a hike at Carlton Reserve until three days after they last saw him. On Friday, investigators are continuing an ongoing search of the 25,000-acre nature reserve.
North Port Police Public Information Officer Josh Taylor declined to comment on the new information.
“I can not give any statement to a timeline at this time. That investigation is being conducted by the FBI,” Taylor told CNN.
On Tuesday, a medical examiner positively identified the human remains found Sunday in Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming as Petito, 22. The preliminary manner of death is homicide, and the medical examiner has not yet released the cause of death.
On Thursday, the FBI issued a warrant for Laundrie’s arrest on suspicion of using unauthorized devices. An indictment obtained by CNN alleges that Laundrie accessed pin numbers for accounts that don’t belong to him to make financial transactions of over $1,000 between August 30 and September 1. The FBI has not said whether Laundrie accessed Petito’s accounts.
CrimeOnline will continue to provide updates as the story develops.
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