NEW YORK (WCBS 880) – The father of Brian Laundrie agreed to join the search for his missing son Wednesday. Meanwhile, an interview with Dr. Phil revealed more details in the Petito family's perseverance after losing their daughter and what they want to come from the Laundrie search.
Here's the latest:
9 p.m., Oct. 6: GABBY PETITO'S DAD WANTS LAUNDRIE FOUND ALIVE
Gabby Petito's loved ones openly expressed what they want to see as a result of the search for Brian Laundrie.
Joseph Petito told Dr. Phil in a pre-taped interview, "I just hope he's found ... like alive. I want to see him in a jail cell for the rest of his life. Where he’s an outdoorsman, being in that concrete cell and he can’t go see those trees and smell the fresh air like that."
Gabby's mom Nichole Schmidt followed by saying, "I want to look him in the eyes."
Jim Schmidt, Gabby Petito’s stepdad, told Dr. Phil that he had placed a stone cross to commemorate his stepdaughter at the exact location where her remains were found in Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest.
“It was the exact spot that they found her. So, I laid the cross directly over where her torso was and I was told the direction which her head was laying — and that’s where I placed two flowers on the ground,” Schmidt said.
Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt said they “bawled” when Jim sent them a photo of the tribute.
Jim Schmidt also described the area where Petito's body was found.
"There was the remnants of a fire ring there ... there was a clearing where I would assume, knowing I have a similar tent, where I would place my tent, and that opening would face out overlooking the mountain range. Her body was found, I guess it would be, in front of a tent," he said.
"Not many people cross all the way over there to go over there," Schmidt added.
8 p.m., Oct. 6: BRIAN LAUNDRIE'S FATHER ASKED TO JOIN SEARCH
Chris Laundrie, Brian's father, will be part of the search for his missing son, the family's lawyer said Wednesday.
In a statement, attorney Steve Bertolino said, "Chris Laundrie was asked to assist law enforcement in their search for Brian at the preserve today. Since the preserve has been closed to the public Chris has not been able to look for Brian in the only place Chris and Roberta believe Brian may be. Unfortunately North Port police had to postpone Chris’ involvement but Chris and Roberta are hopeful there will be another opportunity to assist."
The attorney told Newsday, "Mr. Laundrie has consented and we are waiting for the call from the North Port Police Department to make that happen."
According to the attorney, Chris Laundrie is "excited" to join the search, and said that Brian's dad searched the reserve Sept. 13 after he didn't return from a hike.
5:45 p.m., Oct. 6: FLORIDA SHERIFF’S OFFICE JOINS SEARCH FOR BRIAN LAUNDRIE
A Florida sheriff’s office is reportedly aiding authorities in their weeks-long search for Brian Laundrie in the expansive Carlton Reserve.
The Sarasota Sheriff’s Office has begun helping the North Port Police Department in looking for Laundrie in the swampy, 25,000-acre grounds of southwest Florida, CNN reported.
Laundrie’s parents told authorities they believe he headed to the reserve before he was officially reported missing on Sept. 17.
Unfounded Laundrie sightings have been reported across the country — from Florida to the Appalachian Trail near the Tennessee and North Carolina border.
3:10 p.m., Oct. 6: LAUNDRIE NEIGHBORS REPORTEDLY CHARGING MEDIA TO CAMP OUT ON PROPERTY
The neighbors of the Laundrie family in Florida know how to make a quick buck.
The North Port homeowners are reportedly charging media thousands of dollars a week to camp out on their property.
After police barred news outlets from parking on the street, neighbors have charged outlets like Fox News and ABC News upwards of $3,5000 dollars to operate from their yards and driveways — with some enterprising neighbors renting out wifi, tents and bathroom access, the New York Post and TMZ reported.
The national media frenzy that has descended on the Laundrie home has proven stressful for those in the area. A recent video posted by Brian Entin of NewsNation Now shows one neighbor screaming at a Laundrie protester for walking on his property.
“You ain’t no f— sleuth! You can sit here all you want with your megaphone. I don’t care, but you come on my property again, I’m going to f— beat your a—,” the neighbor can be heard yelling.
8:30 a.m., OCT. 6: GABBY PETITO FOUNDATION TO HOLD 1ST FUNDRAISER ON LONG ISLAND
The Gabby Petito Foundation’s first official fundraiser will be held in Suffolk County next weekend, her family said.
The foundation, which was set up by Petito’s parents to provide resources and guidance to other families of missing children, will hold the fundraiser in Patchogue on Sunday, Oct. 17.
The event, “A Benefit for the Gabby Petito Foundation,” will take place at 89 North Music Venue from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The fundraiser will feature live music, food, a cash bar, 50/50 raffle and silent auction. Admission is a $20 donation.
The Gabby Petito Foundation will be a registered 501(c)(3) organization, according to the foundation’s website.
Its mission is to “address the needs of organizations who support locating missing persons and to provide aid to organizations who assist victims of domestic violence situations, through education, awareness, and prevention strategies.”
3:25 p.m., OCT. 5: PETITO FAMILY WARNS OF SCAMMERS SOLICITING DONATIONS TO FAKE FOUNDATIONS, FUNDRAISERS
Gabby Petito’s family is warning of online scammers soliciting donations in their daughter's name.
Joe Petito had initially set up a Gabby Petito Foundation to provide resources and guidance to other families with missing children — but the family has had issues with the foundation’s official Twitter account due to fraudulent copycats, according to Petito’s mother, Nichole Schmidt.
“So our Gabby Petito Foundation [Twitter] page has been restricted, this is most likely due to all the fake pages that have been made already,” Schmidt tweeted Sunday. “Please be aware of that and we will get this resolved. Thank you all!”
Bronx News12 reported Tuesday that fake accounts impersonating Petito family members were used to message people on social media asking for donations.
“People are at the hardest time of their lives right now, and on top of everything else that they’re dealing with, they have to deal with people scamming,” Jennifer McNamara, a family friend, told the station. “It’s horrifying.”
2 p.m., OCT. 5: BRIAN LAUNDRIE FLEW BACK TO FLORIDA AFTER FIGHT WITH GABBY IN UTAH, FAMILY LAWYER CONFIRMS
Brian Laundrie flew home to Florida on Aug. 17, five days after he and fiancée Gabby Petito got into a fight in Utah that led to a police response captured on bodycam videos.
Laundrie family attorney Steven Bertolino told Newsday that the 23-year-old flew on a commercial flight from Salt Lake City to Tampa on Aug. 17. He then returned to Salt Lake City on Aug. 23 “to rejoin Gabby.”
“To my knowledge, Brian and Gabby paid for the flights as they were sharing expenses,” Bertolino told Newsday via text. “Brian flew home to obtain some items and empty and close the storage unit to save money as they contemplated extending the road trip.”
Laundrie—who is the only person of interest in Gabby’s death and also wanted on a federal bank card fraud charge—returned to Florida in the couple’s Ford Transit van on Sept. 1. The van was seized on Sept. 11, the same day that Petito was reported missing in New York. Days later, on Sept. 14, Laundrie disappeared and remains unaccounted for. Petito's remains were found in Wyoming on Sept. 19.
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