Gabby Petito: Police Issue Arrest Warrant For Brian Laundrie Over Post-Disappearance Debit Card Fraud

Authorities filed federal grand jury indictment filed in the U.S. District Court in Wyoming on Wednesday for Brian Laundrie in connection with the disappearance and death of Gabby Petito. Laundrie, who has not been seen since September 14, has been charged with unauthorized use of a debit card for making withdrawals or charges worth more than $1,000 after Petito went missing, The Washington Post reports. At this time, the owner of the debit card has not been made public.

  1. Police are continuing to search for Laundrie. He has been named a person of interest in Petito’s death, but thus far, a five-day search for Laundrie has been unsuccessful. They combed through Carlton Reserve park near his family’s home in North Port, Florida for signs of his presence but found none.
  2. The specifics of the charges against him won’t be properly detailed until he’s found. While Laundrie’s lawyer insists that the arrest warrant is in connection only with the debit card fraud rather than the death of Petito, the specifics have not yet been made public. “The FBI is focused on locating Brian and when that occurs the specifics of the charges covered under the indictment will be addressed in the proper forum,” Steven Bertolino said in a text message to The Associated Press.
  3. Petito’s death has officially been ruled a homicide. After The 22-year-old’s remains were found along the border of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming last Sunday, an autopsy was performed and Teton County Coroner Brent Blue ruled the death a homicide. However, further details of exactly how she died have not been detailed.
  4. A reward has even been offered if he’s found. As per Fox News, a North Port law firm said it will offer up $20,000 to “the first person to supply information leading directly to the exact whereabouts” of Laundrie. The Boohoff Law Firm said in a statement: “A reward will be paid once the investigating law enforcement agency supplies Boohoff Law written verification that a tip helped lead to locating Brian Laundrie.” The reward cannot be split.
Jennifer Still is a writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience. The managing editor of Bolde, she has bylines in Vanity Fair, Business Insider, The New York Times, Glamour, Bon Appetit, and many more. You can follow her on Twitter @jenniferlstill
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