Gabby Petito spent birthday on Appalachian Trail where Brian Laundrie may be 'hiding'
New reports have now emerged that claim Gabby Petito was on the Appalachian Trail with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie to celebrate her birthday. The Appalachian Trail is the region, where search experts hunting for the 23-year-old man believe that he’s hiding. Gabby had shared two pictures on her Instagram on March 27, nine days after her birthday, that showed the duo hanging out on the trail in Georgia.
The caption of the photos read, “Went hiking for my bday #22.” The first snap was of the 22-year-old woman, whose remains were found on September 19 inside a national park in Wyoming after she embarked on a cross-country trip with Brian in July, which showed her making her way through the trail. The second photo showed Brian lazing around in a hammock by Gabby's art supplies.
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This new report comes after Gabby’s best friend, Rose Davis, said that she believed Brian was hiding on the Appalachian Trail which stretches over 2,000 miles from Georgia to Maine because he had previously lived alone into the wilderness. Davis told DailyMail.com, “I know he lived in the Appalachians for what I believe was three months, and he did it by himself, so I know he's skilled at it. He and Gabby both told me stories about it. And you could see the enthusiasm in his voice when he would talk about his adventures by himself like that trip into the Appalachians.”
Dog the Bounty Hunter has also claimed that the “hottest lead” points to the Appalachian Trail where Brain had gone earlier. The TV personality, whose real name is Duane Chapman, has joined forces looking for Brian as he told the victim’s family that he “wants to help bring justice for her death”. The 68-year-old said, “If there’s anywhere out there that looks the hottest, that could be the area. I think he’s young enough, not an experienced criminal, but what is his greatest experience? Outdoorsman - that’s what he does the best. I don’t think he can shoplift, live on the run, live in cheap hotels. On a one-to-10 he’s probably a six, compared to the outdoorsmen and some of the guys I’ve captured.”
Besides, Bill Warner, a private investigator, also pointed out that Brian might be on the Appalachian Trail. The PI of Bill Warner Investigations, based in Florida, said: “Brian Laundrie photo from Pinterest @blaundrie1197 page, elite hiker, outdoorsman, on the run in the woods, may be headed for the Appalachian Trail.”
Gabby’s death has been declared a homicide on September 21 while the search for Brian is in full swing after he was last seen on September 14, a day before he was named a person of interest in the case. The Denver office of the FBI said in a statement, “Teton County Coroner Dr Brent Blue confirmed the remains are those of Gabrielle Venora Petito, date of birth March 19, 1999. Coroner Blue’s initial determination for the manner of death is homicide. The cause of death remains pending final autopsy results.”