Gabby Petito's mother said on Thursday she believes Brian Laundrie "knows everything" about her daughter's disappearance and death.
Petito's mother, Nicole Schmidt, spoke recently with Fox News' Laura Ingle about Laundrie's disappearance as police continue to search for him in Florida's Carlton Reserve.
"I always say he's the key. He's the key to the puzzle," Schmidt said. "We believe he knows everything."
Petito's stepfather, Jim Schmidt, made similar remarks during the interview, saying that Laundrie is the family's "missing piece to the puzzle to find out what happened."
"What happened out there? Until they find him, we won't know," he added.
Laundrie, who was last seen by his parents on September 13, has been the focus of the investigation surrounding Petito's disappearance and death. Petito, 22, first went missing while on a road trip with Laundrie, her fiancé, and was found dead on September 19 in a national park in Wyoming. Her manner of death was ruled a homicide, but final autopsy results have yet to be released.
Ten days before she was reported missing by her parents, Laundrie, 23, returned to his parents' home in North Port, Florida, in the white 2012 Ford Transit van the couple were traveling in while on a cross-country trip.
A federal arrest warrant has been issued for Laundrie, accusing him of credit card fraud. Law enforcement officers have been searching the Carlton Reserve since his parents told police they believe he went there on a hike after leaving their home on September 13.
Laundrie has not been accused of any crime connected to Petito's death, but in announcing the federal arrest warrant, the FBI in Denver said, "The FBI and our partners across the country continue to investigate the facts and circumstances of Ms. Petito's homicide."
During the interview with Ingle, Petito's father said he believes Laundrie is alive. Petito's family also pleaded with Laundrie to turn himself in during the interview.
"Just turn yourself in. That's all I wanted," Nicole Schmidt said. "It's just getting more and more frustrating as days go on. I don't know what's taking so long."
Jim Schmidt also addressed Laundrie, saying, "Just go to the local police department, wherever you are. Whatever the circumstances are, whatever happened. Just go there, do the right thing."
Laundrie's father, Chris, joined the search in the Carlton Reserve on Thursday.
In a statement on Thursday, the Laundrie family's attorney, Steven Bertolino, said that Chris "accompanied members of law enforcement into the Reserve to show them the trails and places Chris and Brian have hiked and which Brian was known to frequent."
Bertolino added, "There were no discoveries, but the effort was helpful to all."
Contacted by Newsweek, Bertolino declined to make any further comment.
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