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Brian Laundrie: FBI issues arrest warrant for Gabby Petito's boyfriend after her death

Brian Laundrie has been charged with one count of use of unauthorized access devices and also over his activities following Petito's death

WYOMING: Following Brian Laundrie's indictment on federal charges over his girlfriend Gabby Petito's death, the FBI has now obtained an arrest warrant for him, authorities confirmed on Thursday, September 23. Court papers say that Laundrie has been charged with one count of use of unauthorized access devices -- a Capital One debit card. “On Wednesday, September 22, 2021, the US District Court of Wyoming issued a federal arrest warrant for Brian Christopher Laundrie,” a statement from the FBI Denver Division said. They later also shared the arrest warrant on Twitter.

According to the warrant, Laundrie used the card “on or about August 30, 2021, through and including on or about September 1, 2021” in Wyoming and elsewhere and “obtained things of value aggregating to $1,000 or more.”His girlfriend, Long Island's Gabby Petito, 22, was last seen alive at a Wyoming restaurant on Aug 27. A missing person report filed with Suffolk County police on September 11, obtained by New York Post, said that Petito had a Capital One debit card and checking account. The federal warrant, however, does not specify whose Capital One debit card Laundrie allegedly used.

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The FBI has requested people to come forward and reveal any information they might have about Laundrie's whereabouts. “It is my understanding that the arrest warrant for Brian Laundrie is related to activities occurring after the death of Gabby Petito and not related to her actual demise,” said Laundrie family attorney Steven Bertolino. “The FBI is focusing on locating Brian and when that occurs the specifics of the charges covered under the indictment will be addressed in the proper forum,” FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider said.  FBI Denver also added: "While this arrest 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. We urge individuals with knowledge of Mr. Laundrie's role in this matter or his current whereabouts to contact the FBI."

Laundrie came back home on September 1 from a cross-country trip with his girlfriend, without Petito accompanying him. She was reported missing on September 11. Amid a nationwide search for the missing girl, Laundrie too went missing. Petito's body was then discovered on Sept 19 and police confirmed that her death was a homicide.

Hours after Petito's body was discovered, police swarmed Laundrie's home which was declared a "crime scene" on September 20. Police started searching a vast 24,000 acre Florida nature for Petito's missing boyfriend. The search for Laundrie continues as the North Port police updated on Twitter: "The ground search in the Carlton has been halted for the day. Nothing found. We will be back at it Friday." The FBI also confirmed that it has carried out a search of the area where Petito's body was found and that the forensic examination has now concluded.