Lawyer confirms Brian Laundrie was at Florida campground with parents
Brian Laundrie went on a camping trip in Florida with his parents following Gabby Petito’s disappearance, his lawyer confirmed Tuesday, while insisting that all three Laundries returned home.
The statement from attorney Steven Bertolino contradicts recent claims by reality TV star Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman that Brian went on the run after his parents left Fort De Soto Park in Pinellas County without him.
“The family camped from 09-06 to 09-07 and they all left the park,” Bertolino said.
Chapman, who joined the manhunt for Laundrie over the weekend, said he confirmed that the Laundries were at the park camping on two occasions after Brian returned home from a cross-country trip without Petito.
Chapman said the three were at the park on Sept. 1-3 and Sept. 6-8, and claimed Chris and Roberta Laundrie left the campground by themselves, apparently leaving their son behind.
On Monday, Bertolino responded to mounting speculation that the parents helped their son flee in the wake of Petito’s disappearance and death.
“Chris and Roberta Laundrie do not know where Brian is,” Bertolino said in a statement. “They are concerned about Brian and hope the FBI can locate him.”
Authorities have been searching for Brian miles away at the 25,000-acre Carlton Reserve near the family home in North Port for nearly two weeks.
Petito, 22, a Long Island native, disappeared late last month during the trip, and her remains were found in a Wyoming campground on Sept. 11.
A Wyoming coroner declared her death a homicide three days later, but authorities have not revealed the cause of death or the full results of the autopsy.
Her body is still at the Teton County coroner’s office.
Meanwhile, Chapman plans to open a home base in Central Florida for the manhunt.
