Gabby Petito's Family Calls Out Brian Laundrie's Parents For Not Helping Locate Fugitive Son, Believes Justice Will Be Served In Daughter's Death
Sept. 28 2021, Published 3:18 p.m. ET
Gabby Petito's family is not relying on Brian Laundrie's parents to assist in locating their fugitive son for one reason — Christopher and Roberta didn't help in the search for their late daughter when she was missing.
Gabby's stepfather, Jim Schmidt, spoke out on Tuesday during a press conference. Standing strong with her emotional family behind him, he told reporters they have yet to collect Gabby's remains from the coroner's office in Wyoming.
“When they are ready to release her, we will be bringing her home,” he said. Vowing they won't stop fighting until justice is served, Schmidt told reporters, “We don’t stop remembering Gabby and keeping her name out there and fighting for other people out there like her."
"She is always with us every day, she is giving us signs," he added. "It’s difficult, you know, we have been talking – where do you go from here, how do you go back to normal? Whatever normal may be from here on out."
The Petito family attorney Richard Stafford said they have full confidence that the FBI will solve Gabby's homicide investigation. "The FBI has classified her death a homicide," he said. They are the premier agency in the country. They are investigating her death and we believe through their investigation we will have justice for Gabby."
When it comes to the search for Brian, who disappeared more than one week ago and days after Gabby's parents reported her missing, their lawyer said the family isn't holding their breath for the Laundries to step in and help.
“For the Laundrie’s silence – the Laundries did not help us find Gabby, they sure as not are going to help find Brian," Stafford said, before turning the focus to Brian.
"For Brian, we are asking you to turn yourself into the FBI or the nearest law enforcement agency," the lawyer pleaded.
He concluded by saying Gabby's parents are "100 percent happy with the FBI," adding, "they have been with us every single step of the way."
As RadarOnline.com reported, the FBI issued an arrest warrant for Brian for using an "unauthorized Capital One Bank card between August 30 and September 1, pulling out more than $1,000." The last time Gabby was reportedly seen alive was August 27 in a Wyoming diner. Eyewitnesses claim an "incident" occurred between the 22-year-old vlogger and Brian inside the eatery.
The couple was on a cross-country trip to Wyoming when Brian returned to his parents' home in Florida without her. Gabby's family — who lives in New York — reported her missing 10 days later on September 11.
Her body was found in Bridger-Teton National Forest on September 19.
Brian's parents announced he was missing on September 17, claiming he went for a solo hike in the Carlton Reserve.
FBI has been on a manhunt for the 23-year-old ever since with Dog The Bounty Hunter joining the search and introducing new theories on where Brian might be hiding.
Brian's parents have maintained that they do not know where their son is.