Florida woman reported missing after fiancé returns from trip without her; authorities say he's a person of interest

SARASOTA, Fla. — Authorities are searching for a missing Florida woman who set out on a cross-country trip, and have identified her fiancé as a person of interest after he returned from the trip without her.

Agencies from several states and the FBI are searching for 22-year-old Gabrielle "Gabby" Petito after she was reported missing Saturday by her family in New York.

The case has gained widespread attention, with media coverage from as far as the United Kingdom, as viewers of Petito's YouTube channel speculate on her partner's involvement in her disappearance.

During a news conference Wednesday, North Port Police officials said that Petito's fiancé, 23-year-old Brian Laundrie, is now a person of interest in the case.

Law enforcement believes Laundrie drove Petito's van from an unknown location back to North Port, Florida, on Sept. 1 — 10 days before her family reported her missing.

'Holding out hope': Police, family search for woman who was on cross-country trip with boyfriend

Petito's white van has since been recovered by police at a residence in North Port the couple shared with Laundrie's parents.

“The fact that her vehicle is back here in North Port with potentially the last person who may have been with her and isn't speaking with us is concerning,” said Josh Taylor, Noth Port Police communications manager.

According to police in Utah, the couple was stopped last month after a physical altercation was reported in which Petito had slapped Laundrie. According to the responding officer, neither wanted to file charges and agreed to spend the night separately.

After processing the van Tuesday, Taylor said there were “some materials” of possible interest, but no other details about the contents were released.

Laundrie was home at the time the van was seized but refused to speak with authorities about Petito's disappearance. Instead, he hired a lawyer. The family has said nothing regarding Petito's whereabouts and only communicated through the attorney.

Steve Bertolino, Laundrie's attorney, released a statement Tuesday.

“This is understandably an extremely difficult time for both the Petito family and the Laundrie family. It is our understanding that a search has been organized for Miss Petito in or near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming."

The statement added: "On behalf of the Laundrie family, it is our hope that the search for Miss Petito is successful and that Miss Petito is reunited with her family. On the advice of counsel, the Laundrie family is remaining in the background at this juncture and will have no further comment.”

Petito's father, Joe Petito, appeared in a national interview Wednesday morning on Fox's “America's Newsroom” responding to the statement.

“That wasn't a statement,” he said. “I'm sorry. That's not a statement.”

“Forget Brian, Brian's home safe,” Petito said. "His parents, yeah it's hard for them. Bulls---. You know what? My daughter is not here. Our daughter is not here. We don't even know what state she's in.”

Petito is described as a white female, about 5 feet, 5 inches tall, and 110 pounds. She has blonde hair, blue eyes, and several tattoos, including one on her finger and one on her forearm that reads “Let it be.”

Petito documented her cross-country travels on her YouTube account called ‘Nomadic Statik.’ The last video was posted three weeks ago and includes clips of Petito and her boyfriend seemingly enjoying their trips.

Her Instagram account was taken down Wednesday morning, then put back up online. Authorities said they didn't take it down and don't know who did.

According to Petito's family, they were last in contact with her during the final week of August. Prior to that, they believed she was in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

Jim Schmidt, Petito's step-father, also appeared on Fox and confirmed that he and other family members are in Wyoming searching for Petito.

“We're here to help law enforcement do what they do best,” Schmidt said. “And that is to find Gabby.”

The FBI has set up a national hotline to receive tips at 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324). It is the primary line for all information on Petito.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Gabby Petito case: Fiance person of interest in woman's disappearance