This browser does not support the Video element.
Who is Brian Laundrie?
Brian Laundrie is known for being an outdoor enthusiast and often appeared in social media posts with Gabby Petito, but few details about his life have been made public. Now, a warrant has been issued for his arrest and law enforcement continues searching for him.
NORTH PORT, Fla. - A North Port law firm says it is offering a reward for information on the whereabouts of Brian Laundrie, who is a person of interest in the death of his fiancée Gabby Petito.
The Boohoff Law Firm is offering a $20,000 reward to "the first person to supply information leading directly to the exact whereabouts" of Laundrie.
"A reward will be paid once the investigating law enforcement agency supplies Boohoff Law written verification that a tip helped lead to locating Brian Laundrie," the law firm said in a press release, adding that the reward cannot be split.
Gabby Petito case: How to submit a tip to the FBI
Laundrie is the sole person of interest in Petito's death, which has been ruled a homicide. On Thursday afternoon, the FBI announced that the US District Court of Wyoming had issued a federal arrest warrant for Laundrie.
The announcement said the warrant was issued pursuant to a federal grand jury indictment related to Laundrie's activities following Petito's death, saying he fraudulently used a credit card.
RELATED: Arrest warrant issued for Brian Laundrie in connection with Gabby Petito case
"While this warrant allows law enforcement to arrest Mr. Laundrie, the FBI and our partners across the country continue to investigate the facts and circumstances of Ms. Petito's homicide," said Special Agent in charge Michael Schneider in a statement. "We urge individuals with knowledge of Mr. Laundrie's role in this matter or his current whereabouts to contact the FBI."
RELATED: FBI helps conduct grid search of 25,000-acre wildlife reserve for Brian Laundrie
Laundrie’s parents reported him missing last Friday, telling police he’d driven to the Carlton Reserve three days before and hadn’t come back. They also told police they’d later found his Mustang there and decided to bring it back home.
Back at their home in North Port, Brian's parents returned Thursday morning with the Ford Mustang that authorities towed away for processing this week. Roberta Laundrie was seen exiting the Mustang and headed back into a truck driven by her husband, Chris, and left the property.
RELATED: Moab to investigate police handling of Brian Laundrie, Gabby Petito altercation
So far, five days of exhaustive searching in a dense and swampy 25,000-acre park has turned up nothing.
The search includes an array of resources: scent-sniffing dogs, swamp buggies, drones, ATVs, airboats and divers – who were requested before noon Wednesday.
This browser does not support the Video element.
Brian Laundrie's car returned to parents
Meanwhile, the Laundries left their home for the first significant amount of time since reporting their son missing last Friday. They were followed by a police escort, but police would not say where the couple went.
RELATED: ‘America’s Most Wanted’ ex-host confident public will find Brian Laundrie: ‘Our hotline blew up’
At this point, it’s unclear as to what Brian’s parents have told investigators about his whereabouts or why the search has shifted to the Venice side of the reserve. Many believe Brian is using Florida's expansive wooded areas to his advantage to evade authorities.
After not speaking with investigators for days, the Laundrie family eventually told investigators Brian had left days earlier with a backpack, heading for the preserve. The family’s attorney said Brian’s parents actually went looking for him on Wednesday and found his car parked at the preserve, but they left it so he could drive home.
Anyone with information regarding Petito’s disappearance is asked to call the FBI national hotline at 1-800-225-5324 or submit tips to tips.fbi.gov.
MORE COVERAGE:
- FBI confirms Gabby Petito's remains found in Wyoming; manner of death 'homicide'
- How social media sleuths can help -- and hurt -- a case like Gabby Petito's
- Gabby Petito investigation: 911 call reveals Brian Laundrie seen hitting, 'slapping' her before disappearance
- Gabby Petito’s possible remains found near where Tampa family spotted camper van
- FBI removes loads of evidence from Laundrie family home in connection with Gabby Petito's disappearance
- Gabby Petito updates: Everything known about her disappearance
- Gabby Petito case: Timeline of 22-year-old woman's disappearance
- Police speak with TikTok user who claimed to give boyfriend Laundrie a ride
- Gabby Petito's family, North Port police chief express frustration with Brian Laundrie's silence
- Missing woman's haunting songs on Spotify account may provide answers
- Gabby Petito showed behavior of victim in Utah bodycam video, domestic violence counselor says