Crime Brian Laundrie's Sister Says She Loves Gabby Petito as Protests Target Her Parents' Home

As protesters gather outside of Brian Laundrie's parents' home demanding to know where his missing fiancée is, one of his family members has broken their silence.

© Octavio Jones/Getty The City of North Port Chief of Police Todd Garrison speaks during a news conference for missing person Gabby Petito on September 16, 2021 in North Port, Florida. Gabby Petito went missing while on a cross country trip with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie and has not been seen or heard from since late August. Police said no criminality is suspected at this time but her fiance, Brian Laundrie, has refused to speak with law enforcement. Laundrie has be identified as a person of interest but investigators are solely focused on finding Petito.

On Thursday, Cassie Laundrie, the sister of Brian Laundrie, appeared on Good Morning America for an exclusive interview following the disappearance of 22-year-old Gabby Petito. Her statement came after the missing woman's family begged the Laundries for more information regarding her disappearance.

Gabby Petito fiancé Brian Laundrie 'is not missing, he is hiding,' attorney for her family says

The search for the now-missing fiancé of 22-year-old Gabby Petito is focused on a Florida nature reserve, where 50 officers from five local agencies and FBI agents are scouring the area, according to North Port Police spokesperson Josh Taylor. © From Gabby Petito/Instagram A photo of Gabby Petito taken from her Instagram account During a Saturday news conference, Taylor said Laundrie has an "enormous amount of pressure" on him to provide answers following Petito's own disappearance.Brian Laundrie's family told police Friday night they have not seen the 23-year-old since Tuesday.

"Obviously me and my family want Gabby to be found safe," Cassie Laundrie said. "She's like a sister and my children love her, and all I want is for her to come home safe and found and this to be just a big misunderstanding."

Hours after she appeared on the morning show, a small group of concerned community members gathered outside the home of Laundrie and his parents in North Point, Florida, according to local news channel WTSP-TV.

People could be seen driving by the home in golf carts and waving signs that said "Bring Gabby home!" "Speak up!" and "Truth always comes out."

A mother and daughter who live close to the Laundries' home, which they shared with Petito, described the neighborhood as family-friendly.

Protesters gathered at the Florida home of Brian Laundrie on Thursday evening after police said he is refusing to cooperate in the disappearance of his fiancé. Some carried signs urging him to speak, while others chanted, 'Where is Gabby?'https://t.co/ehFd0eG8gS pic.twitter.com/GZfkc5fT7V

Search for Gabby Petito boyfriend continues after body found

MOOSE, Wyo. (AP) — Authorities said a body discovered in northern Wyoming was believed to be that of a 22-year-old woman who disappeared while on a cross-country trek with a boyfriend now the subject of an intense search in a Florida nature preserve. The FBI said the body of Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito was found Sunday by law enforcement agents who spent the weekend searching camp sites on the eastern border of Grand Teton National Park. The causeThe FBI said the body of Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito was found Sunday by law enforcement agents who spent the weekend searching camp sites on the eastern border of Grand Teton National Park.

— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 17, 2021

"We are really saddened by this whole situation. We can't believe it's so close to home," the mother said to WTSP. "I think it's just a terrible thing that [Laundrie] is not speaking up and saying anything for [Petito's] family to hear."

North Point police said that Laundrie "has not made himself available to be interviewed by investigators" or "provided any helpful details" in their investigation into what happened to Petito. On Wednesday, he was named as a person of interest in the case.

The couple met while they were living on Long Island and eventually moved to North Point together where they lived with Laundrie's parents.

In July, Petito and Laundrie embarked on a cross-country road trip in a van that was later discovered at Laundrie's parents' home. The vehicle was fully processed for evidence.

According to police, Laundrie returned to Florida on Wednesday, September 1, about 10 days before Petito's family, who lives on Long Island, reported her missing. Petito was last known to have been in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, according to the Suffolk County, New York, Police Department.

Remains of Gabby Petito believed to be found; search underway for boyfriend Brian Laundrie: What we know

Authorities in at least two states were working Monday to solve the mystery of Gabby Petito, hours after the FBI announced that remains were found.Petito and boyfriend Brian Laundrie, 23, had been high school sweethearts on Long Island, New York. Laundrie's parents later moved to North Port, Florida, and Petito and Laundrie were living with them when they began their cross-country expedition.

On the same day that she was reported missing, September 11, police went to speak to Laundrie at his home but were given information for the family's attorney. In a statement, the Laundrie family said, "On the advice of counsel, the Laundrie family is remaining in the background at this juncture and will have no further comment."

As Petito's family, police and the world look for answers, the Moab City Police Department (MCPD) released new bodycam footage Thursday that was filmed after an altercation between Petito and 23-year-old Laundrie on August 12.

The video shows Petito looking visibly upset and Laundrie has marks on his face and hands which he said were a result of his fiancée hitting him. Police determined that Petito was the primary aggressor and separated the couple for the evening, however, no one was arrested.

"We believe you know the location where Brian left Gabby. We beg you to tell us," a letter from the Petito family to the Laundries said. "Gabby lived with you for over a year. She was going to be your daughter-in-law. How can you keep her location hidden? Please, if you or your family have any decency left, please tell us where Gabby is located. Tell us if we are even looking in the right place."

'Gator and Snake Infested Swamps': Inside the Search for Missing Brian Laundrie

Brian Laundrie, 23, is a person of interest in the disappearance of his fiancée, "van life" vlogger Gabby Petito, 22, whose body is believed to have been found in Wyoming Sunday, say police"Please be aware, the Carlton Reserve is a vast and unforgiving location at times," North Port Police PIO Josh Taylor said in a release Tuesday morning announcing that authorities were returning to the sprawling reserve to search for Laundrie, 23, who is a person of interest in Petito's disappearance.

Related Articles

• Who is Brian Laundrie? Everything We Know About Gabby Petito's Fiancé After Her Disappearance
• Gabby Petito's Mom Doesn't Think Missing Daughter Sent Final Text From Yosemite
• Gabby Petito Update: Police Release Bodycam Video Filmed After Couple Seen Fighting
• Gabby Petito's Family Writes to Fiancé's Parents, 'How Can You Keep Her Location Hidden?'

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