Dog the Bounty Hunter reveals how he’d track down Brian Laundrie and says ‘suicide is likely’ as feds hunt fiancé down
DOG the Bounty Hunter has revealed how he would track down missing Brian Laundrie – but said “suicide is likely” as feds continue to hunt Gabby Petito’s fiancé.
The TV bail bondsman said investigators should start with family and friends before looking into his connection to the Florida reserve police are currently searching.
Dog – real name Duane Chapman – told Newsweek: “We need to run his record. We need to see what his background is, as far as domestic violence or anything else.”
Chapman said Laudrie “isn’t an experienced runner or criminal” and it’s possible “he’s right there in his hometown.”
But he added: “Suicide is a very likely possibility.”
SNIFFER DOGS AT THE SCENE
An underwater recovery team has reportedly been called to the Carlton Nature Reserve in the hunt for Brian.
Sniffer dogs are also at the scene, “currently assisting @northportpd in the search for” Laundrie.
He remains missing after returning to his home in North Port, Florida on September 1 without his partner Gabby.
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A preliminary autopsy report on Tuesday identified Gabby’s body after it was found at a Wyoming national park on Sunday. Her death was reported as a homicide.
America’s Most Wanted’ host John Walsh has said he is “settling up to catch” Brian.
Read our Gabby Petito live blog for the very latest news and updates…
He added: “I don’t know how he got out of the house with the FBI and local cops watching him day and night.”
Laundrie’s neighbor Gary Coble told WFLA: “Turn yourself in. They’re hunting. They’ll find you.”
INTERNET SLEUTHS
Police, FBI agents, and K9s started searching the 24,000-acre nature reserve for Brian during the weekend without success.
However, on Wednesday divers with an underwater recovery team were called to the reserve, Sarasota Sheriff’s Office told a local reporter.
It comes as internet sleuths are peddling a wild conspiracy that Laundrie may be hiding on a boat to evade police.
The theory, which is gaining traction on Twitter, appears to be born out from an unfounded claim that Laundrie went live on Instagram for a matter of seconds on Monday.
The FBI has said it is now looking to speak with anyone who may have seen Gabby at Spread Creek – where her body was found – between the dates of August 27 and 30.
FINAL TEXT
Gabby was last seen spotted leaving a hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah on August 24.
She sent a final text to her mom on August 30, claiming: “No service in Yosemite.” But her family have cast doubt on whether that message had actually been sent by Gabby.
Laundrie and Gabby were roughly two months into a four-month adventure when Laundrie returned to his Florida home with their van on September 1.
The transit was found parked outside Laundrie’s parents’ home, where he and Petito had lived for the past two years.
Following his return to Florida, Laundrie was later reported missing by his family after allegedly telling them that he was going to take a hike in the Mabry Carlton Reserve.
Laundrie’s parents said that they drove his car home from a Florida wildlife reserve after he “failed to return from a hike” – days before they reported him missing.
‘CRIME SCENE’
On Monday, cops searched the home of Laundrie and bundled his parents into a police van after declaring the area a “crime scene.”
The FBI announced a “search warrant” twice before they removed Chris and Roberta Laundrie from the home. The parents were placed in a van on their lawn.
Police also towed away Laundrie’s silver Mustang from his parents’ home.
It’s believed that Laundrie may have driven the Mustang when he allegedly went for a hike in a 25,000 acre nature reserve in the Sarasota area on Tuesday, the last time his family says they saw him.
AUTOPSY REPORT
Laundrie’s parents reportedly told police they realized Brian hadn’t come back from his hike “on Wednesday or Thursday,” and that’s when they went to pick up the Mustang and drove it back to their home.
When asked by local reporter Brian Entin if Laundrie’s parents could be leading them in the wrong direction, police said they are “working to corroborate their story.”
“They did not say ‘we believe the parents or we know for sure that Brian was hiking in this reserve’,” shared Entin.
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