GABBY PETITO UPDATES: Police send divers into Florida reserve as search for Brian Laundrie continues

Laundrie
Police are searching Florida's Carlton Reserve for Brian Laundrie. Photo credit Moan Police Department via AP/North Port Police Department

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Law enforcement officials sent divers into a Florida reserve on Wednesday as the search for Long Island native Gabby Petito’s fiancé Brian Laundrie continued.

“To confirm, yes, members of our Sheriff’s Underwater Recovery Force have responded to Carlton Reserve. This in addition to our Emergency Response Team, Air-1 and patrol," the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office tweeted Wednesday afternoon. “We continue to respond to requests for mutual aid from neighboring law enforcement agencies and federal partners."

Authorities on Tuesday confirmed remains recovered in Wyoming on Sunday belonged to Petito. The coroner ruled Petito's death a homicide, while the cause of death remains pending.

Petito, 22, went missing in late August while on a cross-country van trip with Laundrie, 23, who returned to his parents’ home in Florida and declined to speak with police. Laundrie, a person of interest in the case, went missing last week and is still being sought by the FBI and other agencies.

Here’s the latest:

11:45 a.m., Sept. 22: BILLBOARD TRIBUTE TO GABBY PETITO GOES UP IN HER NY HOMETOWN

A billboard tribute to Gabby Petito has been put up on the border of Blue Point and Bayport in Suffolk County. Petito is originally from Blue Point, although she had most recently lived at the Florida home of fiancé Brian Laundrie’s parents.

The billboard tribute features a photo of Petito standing in front of an angel wings mural with the words “Gabby Petito – Forever in our hearts…”

Hundreds of teal-colored ribbons have been placed throughout Blue Point to honor the 22-year-old, whose remains were recovered at a dispersed camping area in Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest on Sunday.

Billboard
A billboard tribute to Gabby Petito was put up on the border of Blue Point and Bayport in Suffolk County. Photo credit Sophia Hall

10:30 a.m., Sept. 22: GABBY PETITO’S UNCLE SAYS FAMILY TO RELEASE STATEMENT WHEN HER BODY RETURNS TO NY

Gabby Petito’s uncle, Steve Petito, told Fox News that the Petito/Schmidt family will issue a statement when her body is back in New York.

His comments echo a statement from Petito/Schmidt family attorney Richard Stafford, who said Tuesday: “We will be making a statement when Gabby is home. I will contact you to arrange a time and location.”

Petito’s body is still with the Teton County Coroner’s Office amid ongoing forensic testing, coroner Dr. Brent Blue told Fox News.

Blue said test results from microscopic and toxicology examinations are expected in the coming days or weeks.

The FBI has not yet permitted her body to be returned to her family, the coroner said.

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10:15 a.m., Sept. 22: GABBY PETITO’S UNCLE CALLS LAW FIRM REPPING LAUNDRIES ‘DISGUSTING’

Gabby Petito’s uncle, Steve Petito, responded Wednesday to a statement Laundrie family attorney Steven Bertolino released Tuesday after remains found in Wyoming were confirmed to be his 22-year-old niece.

Bertolino told WCBS 880 and other outlets, “May Gabby Rest in Peace.”

Steve Petito took to Instagram, posting an image that included a statement responding to the lawyer’s comment.

“As far as the law is concerned this law firm may be immune due to attorney/client privilege,” Steve Petito said. “But in the eyes of the public you are as guilty and complicit with this massive cover-up and stalling tactic. We don’t require nor want your empathy. By you trying to show compassion here at this moment is beyond disgusting.”

Authorities have not accused the Laundries or their lawyer of a cover-up or any other crime.

9:45 a.m., Sept. 22: POLICE RESUME SEARCH AT FLORIDA RESERVE

Law enforcement agencies have resumed their search for Brian Laundrie at the 25,000-acre Carlton Reserve in Florida’s Sarasota County.

"Agencies back out in the Carlton Wednesday morning. Search continues," North Port Police tweeted, along with images of search teams, including K-9 units.

A nonprofit group, the Friends of the Carlton Reserve, told Fox News that they have eight to ten trail cameras in the park to "monitor wildlife."

"The locations of the cameras are kept secure and are not used for security purposes," the group said. It wouldn't say if any images captured by the cameras have been given to police.

7:45 a.m., Sept. 22: POLICE SAY BRIAN LAUNDRIE 'IS NOT IN CUSTODY' DESPITE RUMORS

Despite rumors overnight, the Sarasota Police Department in Florida said Brian Laundrie "is not in the custody of our agency at this time."

The department said it received "numerous inquiries" overnight and Wednesday morning as rumors that Laundrie had been found spread online.

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office also confirmed it had "received reports of 'suspected sightings'" but that "none have been accurate."

"The audio transmission that someone captured and is sharing all over Twitter is just that, an audio transmission," the sheriff's office said. "Several callers have reported seeing him. This is not a new development. We can promise that if our agency captures him, we will notify the public accordingly."

Law enforcement agencies have been searching the swampy Carlton Reserve in Sarasota County for Laundrie since Saturday after his parents reported him missing Friday, three days after he was said to have traveled to the reserve.

North Port Police said they've also "received a significant amount of requests ... regarding the possible capture of Brian Laundrie."

"These reports are unfortunately false," police said. "Please rest assured that when Brian is found, we will be more than happy to let everyone know."

7:00 a.m., Sept. 22: POLICE TO RETURN TO FLORIDA RESERVE IN SEARCH FOR BRIAN LAUNDRIE

North Port Police said they and their law enforcement partners plan to return to the 25,000-acre Carlton Reserve in Florida’s Sarasota County on Wednesday as the search for Brian Laundrie continues.

“Search of the Carlton & nearby lands concluded for the evening. Nothing of note,” police said in a Tuesday evening update. “The current plan is to return Wednesday with a similar operation.”

The search has involved dozens of officers, drones, bloodhounds and other tools. Laundrie's parents told authorities they believe he had traveled to the area last Tuesday before they reported him missing on Friday.

5:00 p.m., Sept. 21: FBI CONCLUDES SEARCH OF WYOMING CAMPSITE, ASKS PUBLIC FOR INFORMATION

After confirming remains found at the Spread Creek campsite near Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park were those of Gabby Petito, the FBI said it had ended its forensic search of the area.

The agency again asked for assistance from anyone who was in the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area between Aug. 27 and Aug. 30 and who might have had contact with Petito or her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, or have spotted their vehicle.

Meanwhile on Long Island, hundreds of teal-colored ribbons were placed throughout Petito's hometown of Blue Point to honor her.

Featured Image Photo Credit: Moan Police Department via AP/North Port Police Department