On the sixth day of the search for Brian Laundrie, the FBI announced that a federal arrest warrant had been issued in connection with Gabby Petito’s death.
“While this warrant allows law enforcement to arrest Mr Laundrie, the FBI and our partners across the country continue to investigate the facts and circumstances of Ms Petito’s homicide,” said Special Agent in charge Michael Schneider.
“We urge individuals with knowledge of Mr Laundrie’s role in this matter or his current whereabouts to contact the FBI.”
Meanwhile, a second woman has come forward to say she gave Mr Laundrie a ride on August 29 in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park, two days after Ms Petito was last seen.
Earlier A local law firm announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to Mr Laundrie’s location. Coworkers claimed Mr Laundrie was an expert in outdoor survival, but there is little evidence to back up those claims.
The Teton County Medical Examiner has yet to release Gabby Petito’s remains to her family. The family’s lawyer said that once Ms Petito’s body is returned to New York, they will plan her funeral.
It is unclear why authorities believe Laundrie, a “person of interest” in the case, is still inside the 24,000-acre Carlton Reserve near North Port, Florida, more than a week after telling family members he was going hiking alone. This reserve has over 80 miles (128 km) of hiking trails but is mostly swampy.
On Wednesday, a witness described a heated exchange between Laundrie and a waitress at a restaurant in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, around the time Ms Petito texted her mother.
If confirmed, it would be Ms Petito’s last known sighting.
