By Elisha Fieldstadt -
NBC News
The FBI on Monday executed a search warrant at the Florida home of
Brian Laundrie
, the man considered a person of interest in the disappearance of his fiancée,
Gabby Petito.
“The #FBI is executing a court-authorized search warrant today at Laundrie's residence in North Port, FL, relevant to the investigation into Gabrielle
Gabby
Petito.
No further details can be provided as this is an active and ongoing investigation
, "the FBI in Tampa said in a tweet.
Meanwhile, the North Port Police Department said it had stopped searching for Laundrie at a 25,000-acre wildlife refuge where they had centered their little girls after her apparent disappearance, adding that it “currently has no plans to conduct a important search in the Carlton Reserve today. "
The department said investigators had "exhausted all avenues" in the county park near Sarasota.
Authorities did not say if they were looking for Laundrie elsewhere.
Laundrie was named a person of interest last week in connection with the disappearance of his fiancée
, but police stressed Friday that he is not wanted for any crime.
Authorities in North Port, where the couple lived, and the FBI also indicated that they do not know where Laundrie is.
The remains of Gabby Petito were found in a forest in Wyoming.The Moab Police Department via AP
Petito's family referred to Laundrie
via family attorney: "Brian is not missing, he's hiding. Gabby is missing."
According to Charles Jones, a supervising agent for the FBI's Denver office, remains believed to be Petito's were found Sunday in a camping area in the Bridger-Teton National Forest near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.
The remains were "consistent" with Petito, 22
, he said.
A forensic investigation will confirm the discovery at the scattered Spread Creek camping area, he said, adding that the cause of death had not been determined.
Petito was last in Grand Teton National Park late last month
, when he stopped communicating with his family, according to police.
“I don't even know what to say.
I am totally lost.
My heart is broken #justiceforgabby, ”Petito's brother posted on Instagram on Sunday.
"#GabbyPetito she touched the world," wrote her father, Joshep, on Facebook.
A photo of his daughter accompanied the post.
A statement from the family's attorney, Richard B. Stafford, asked for space to "allow them to grieve."
He also thanked the FBI, the North Port Police Department, the Grand Teton Search and Rescue team and the Long Island Police, where the family lives.
“Her tireless work and determination helped bring Gabby home to her parents.
The family and I will be forever grateful to them, ”Stafford said.
A statement from
the Laundrie family's
attorney
on Sunday called Petito's apparent death "heartbreaking."
"The Laundrie family prays for Gabby and her family," the statement read.
Petito and Laundrie began a tour of the country's national parks in July, documenting their trip on YouTube and Instagram with the hashtag #VanLife.
Laundrie returned home to North Port, south of Tampa, in the couple's van on Sept. 1, 10 days before Petito's family reported him missing, according to police.
On August 12, police in Moab, Utah, responded to a complaint of a physical altercation between the two.
Body camera video released Thursday shows Petito wiping tears as he tells the officer who came that he was struggling with his mental health, and shows Laundrie being questioned about the scratches on his face.
Authorities in North Port confirmed Friday that police interviewed a woman who said in a video posted on the social network TikTok that on August 29, she and her boyfriend picked up a man on the freeway, and that it later happened. realized it was Laundrie.
Laundrie offered her and her boyfriend $ 200 for a trip away from Grand Teton National Park, but then abruptly got out of the car
, the woman alleged in her account, which authorities said they have not verified.
Petito's mother, Nicole Schmidt, said the last time she heard from her daughter was on August 24.
Petito's last message read: "There is no service in Yosemite."
It is not clear if Petito sent that text message.
