The parents of Brian Laundrie, the Florida man sought in connection with the death of his beau, Long Island native Gabby Petito, do not know where he is and didn’t help him flee the FBI, their lawyer said on Monday.
“Chris and Roberta Laundrie do not know where Brian is,” attorney Steven Bertolino said in a statement. “They are concerned about Brian and hope the FBI can locate him.”
“The speculation by the public and some in the press that the parents assisted Brian in leaving the family home or in avoiding arrest on a warrant that was issued after Brian had already been missing for several days is just wrong,” he said.
Laundrie’s parents have been lambasted on social media and accused of helping their son escape and concealing his whereabouts.
On Monday, flower deliveries began arriving at the Laundrie home in honor of Petito, with a makeshift memorial for the slain Blue Point native outside the home, Fox13 reporter Kim Kuizone posted on Twitter.
Christopher and Roberta Laundrie were spotted leaving their North Port, Florida home. momandpaparazzi.com / SplashNews
Attorney Steven Bertolino said Brian Laundrie’s parents, Chris and Roberta Laundrie, do not know where he is. momandpaparazzi.com / SplashNews
Brian Laundrie’s parents have been accused of helping their son escape and concealing his whereabouts. Maciel / BACKGRIDPolice urged demonstrators to place the flowers at an official memorial near City Hall and said the floral display will be cleared out by city workers at the end of the day, TMZ said in a report.
Brian Laundrie, 23, disappeared from his family’s North Port home earlier this month after being identified as a person of interest in Petito’s disappearance and death.
The pair were on a cross-country trip when Petito, 22, vanished and Laundrie returned home alone on Sept. 1 — before disappearing less than two weeks later.
Gabby Petito’s body was found Sept. 19 at a Wyoming campground. Instagram
Brian Laundrie disappeared from his family’s Florida home earlier this month. InstagramPetito’s body was found Sept. 19 at a Wyoming campground, with her death ruled a homicide by Teton County Coroner Brent Blue.
Laundrie has not been charged in her death but was named in a federal indictment in Wyoming on fraud charges for allegedly using a debit card between Aug. 30 and Sept. 1, shortly after Petito was last seen alive.
Meanwhile, a massive search for Laundrie has been underway at the 25,000-acre Carlton Reserve near the home for more than a week.
Also on Monday, the Petito family attorney, Richard Stafford, scheduled a press conference on the case for Tuesday at 1 p.m. at his Long Island law office.
Petito was remembered at a memorial service in Holbrook on Sunday in her hometown, where hundreds of mourners paid their respects.
