Brian Laundrie 'spotted' near Venice Park, Sarasota Police reports suspected sighting
The search for Gabby Petito's boyfriend Brian Laundrie resumed on Tuesday, September 21. North Port police along with the FBI started the manhunt yet again aided with ATVs and drones in the Carlton Reserve after the coroner's office confirmed it was Gabby Petito's body which was found near a campsite in Wyoming. While an official from the police department confirmed "nothing has been found as of 1 pm ET" Twitter users believe the search yielded a positive result and Laundrie was spotted late on Tuesday evening.
Laundrie vanished from his parents' Florida home on September 14, three days after Petito's mother Nichole Schmidt filed a missing report. Before Petito's body was found, Laundrie was named "person of interest" in her disappearance. An extensive search for him began, and while investigating authorities weren't able to find him, insights from armchair sleuths as well as information shared through four people who had a personal encounter with Laundrie and Petito led cops towards Petito's remains. People on the Internet also reported sightings of Laundrie in Baker, Florida, and Alabama.
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Has Brian Laundrie been spotted near Venice Park?
While this news hasn't been corroborated by any police sources, people on Reddit and Twitter have reported hearing about Laundrie's suspected sighting over the Sarasota County Sheriff, Venice, and North Port Police Department Scanner. Here is the link for the broadcast, and Laundrie's mention begins at the 19:50 mark.
Another Reddit user posted a transcript of the broadcast. "Transcript: 19:50 5309 unit that just dispatched to that 13 person road right by the blue…Caller is advising that possibly civilian, Possibly FUG Brian Laundrie. 21:00 Full beard carrying a large green hiking backpack possibly near the apartments on the north side of the preserve," the user posted. According to a couple of Twitter users the update has now been switched to a private channel to stop media and the public from listening to it till the police deal with Laundrie's arrest.
Sarasota Sherriff's Twitter account posted an update around 11 pm on September 21 confirming they don't have Laundrie in their custody. "Despite rumors on social media this evening, #BrianLaundrie is NOT IN THE CUSTODY of our agency at this time. We can confirm we have received reports of “suspected sightings” however, none have been accurate," the tweet read.
Despite rumors on social media this evening, #BrianLaundrie is NOT IN THE CUSTODY of our agency at this time. We can confirm we have received reports of “suspected sightings” however, none have been accurate. pic.twitter.com/MrW4bKwuc2
— SarasotaSheriff (@SarasotaSheriff) September 22, 2021