SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. — Police have ended Sunday's search efforts for Brian Laundrie in a Florida wildlife reserve due to weather.
Search efforts began Saturday morning and continued throughout the day until dark, then resumed Sunday morning.
The search for Brian Laundrie continues Sunday morning in the Carlton Reserve. A team of more than 50 looking for anything of note after his parents say this is where he went. We continue to corroborate all info in the search for him and Gabby. 1-800-CALL-FBI. pic.twitter.com/20nt70mezz
— North Port Police (@NorthPortPolice) September 19, 2021
Laundrie is the boyfriend of Gabby Petito, who went missing at some point while the couple was traveling together on a cross-country road trip, including stops in both northern and southern Utah.
Law enforcement is focusing the search for Laundrie on a 200-acre radius of Carlton Reserve, which is near Laundrie's hometown of North Port. FBI and North Port Police began looking for Laundrie Friday evening after his family reported they hadn't seen him since Tuesday.
Multiple agencies are assisting with the search, including 50 officers. using drones, four-wheelers, and K-9s.
While Laundrie is considered a "person of interest" in Petito's disappearance, the NPPD emphasized that their search is not part of a criminal investigation, but rather another missing person case.
Saturday afternoon during the search, NPPD debunked a rumor that was apparently being shared online.
"There are currently false reports of a body being located where we are searching. Completely fake," NPPD tweeted.
On Sunday, NPPD gave an update that Laundrie's parents had picked up a Ford Mustang, which is connected to Laundrie, from the reserve at some point before Friday.
The search for Petito is centered in Wyoming, in and near Grand Teton National Park.
Also on Saturday, the FBI Denver office that is overseeing the search asked for tips from anyone who saw the couple or their van while camping at the same time and same area.
