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TAMPA (WFLA) – An attorney for Gabby Petito’s family released a brief statement to the media Tuesday as her family awaits results from an autopsy conducted Tuesday on a body found in a Wyoming park over the weekend.
“I want to personally thank the press and news media for giving the Petito and Schmidt family time to grieve,” lawyer Richard Stafford said, referring to Petito’s mom, dad, stepfather and stepmother. “We will be making a statement when Gabby is home. I will contact you to arrange a time and location.”
The FBI confirmed Tuesday afternoon that the remains found in Grand Teton National Park Sunday are Petito’s.
The biggest question remains: where is Brian Laundrie?
North Port police launched a renewed search for him in the 25,000-acre Carlton Preserve on Tuesday, a day after they said they were suspending the effort because they believed they had exhausted all avenues. They started searching early in the day. As of 1 p.m., nothing had been found.
“The terrain is very difficult,” North Port Police Department Commander Joe Fussell, who is leading the search, said. “About 75% of it is underwater. Other areas that are dry we’re trying to clear. We’re expecting to get wet by the end of the day and check the entire area for Brian Laundrie.”
Laundrie, who has been named a person of interest in his fiancé Gabby Petito’s disappearance, was reported missing to police on Friday, Sept. 17. According to police, his parents reported last seeing him last Tuesday, Sept. 14, in hiking gear.
It remains unclear when authorities expect to get results, including cause and manner of death as well as identification, from the medical examiner on the Wyoming body
