Laundrie: Cops 'Not Wasting Our Time' With Search

NORTH PORT, FL — After wrapping up a sixth unsuccessful day of searching the 25,000-acre Carlton Reserve for Brian Laundrie, North Port Police defended an estimated million-dollar effort many are starting to question.

“We’re not wasting our time out here,” North Port Police Commander Joe Fussell told FOX 13 News. “We are doing our due diligence to find Brian in an area that our intelligence has led us [believe] that he could possibly be in. It’s upon us to make sure that we search this area as best as we can – as massive as it is – with the resources that we have to try and find Brian.”

Those resources include not just a no-fly zone, 75 personnel from 16 different agencies searching the area, which include underwater dive teams, K-9 units, drones, and heavy machinery spending days trying to systematically scour every square inch of the swampy, alligator-infested terrain. Outside of the preserve, agencies are conducting an extensive electronic search, analyzing everything from license plate readers to cell phone app data.

“There are many many more resources we’re deploying in here other than the search efforts we’re seeing here today. We have investigative means, we have other technology agencies that are issuing search warrants for data whether it be social media or some other investigative means,” Fussell said.

"There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes electronic work happening now,” retired law enforcement officer and law enforcement consultant Edmund Hartnett told FOX13 News. “I’m sure they’re checking every electronic device and related device, be that phone tablets, personal computers, license plate readers, closed-circuit TV cameras. I think it’s moving quickly, judging by my past experience, I think this will have a resolution fairly soon."

Still, this may be complicated by the fact that Laundrie reportedly left his parents’ North Port home without either his wallet or his cell phone, according to family lawyer Steve Bertolino. Although a friend of the Laundrie family told the Daily Mail the same thing, it is unknown exactly which technologies authorities currently have access to.

Laundrie’s indictment, announced Thursday, was based on his using a debit card to take out more than $1,000 from ATMs. Attorney Anthony Rickman told FOX 13 News that this could help authorities.

“When you use a card, use an ATM, there’s a camera associated with it. We will see his image when he is using that card. That’s going to help authorities,” Rickman said.

Authorities have not given detailed answers about why they are searching the reserve, other than it is reportedly where the Laundries told them they last saw their son. Retired FBI Agent Stuart Kaplan told FOX 13 News that authorities may be scouring the preserve so thoroughly searching for evidence that will lead them to Laundrie, rather than Laundrie himself.

Questions have also arisen about the mounting cost of the search operation, which some estimate is reaching $1 million. The president of local search team Peace River K-9 Rescue and Search Team Michael Hadsell estimated that between swamp buggies, drones, helicopters, ATVs, airboats, dive teams, gas for the machines, overtime pay, and more, the operation is costing taxpayers up to $150,000 a day, or a grand total of $1 million for the week of searching.

“I just hope they have a really good reason for being out there,” Hadsell told NBC2 News. “All of these people in one of the most hazardous places in Florida.”

North Port Police PIO Josh Taylor told reports that the search will continue into the weekend “We understand the need for answers,” he told FOX News. “At the right time, we will be able to share everything. This weekend we will not be providing sound and video unless there is something of major note.”

Taylor added that the wider North Port community has been supportive of the police, and each of their meals was donated by local citizens and businesses.

Police called to Laundrie home for false alarm; parents concerned for their son’s wellbeing

At around the time North Port Police wrapped up their Friday search, they received a report of gunshots at the Laundries’ North Port home. 12 police cars arrived at the Laundrie home at around 6:45 PM EST, but left shortly after, according to FOX News. FOX affiliate reporter Evan Axelbank tweeted that reporters in the area speculated it was a fake call.

Chris and Roberta Laundrie traveled to Orlando Thursday to see their lawyer Steve Bertolino. They were reportedly trailed by undercover FBI agents the entire way, who never let them out of their sight.

Bertolino told Insider that the couple has been interviewed by the FBI about Brian’s whereabouts. He also said that the couple is worried that their son may try to hurt himself.

“Christopher and Roberta are very concerned about their son, who has been named a person of interest in connection to the disappearance and death of 22-year-old Petito,” he said.

North Port Will Honor Gabby Petito Saturday

For the past week, North Port has been swarming with news trucks and FBI cars. But for a brief, shining moment on Saturday night, the city will be filled with candles and butterflies.

The community, known best to the world as the home of Brian Laundrie's family, is planning a candle vigil and butterfly release to honor Laundrie's dead fiancée, Gabby Petito. On Saturday at 7:15 p.m. in front of North Port City Hall, the community will light candles and release monarch butterflies, which have become associated with Petito due to photos of herself in front of a butterfly mural in Ogden, Utah. They were the last thing Petito ever posted on her Instagram.

"I just want the family to know our community loved Gabby, even if we didn't all know her," Lisa Correll, who organized the "Butterfly Wings to Heaven for Gabby" event, told the North Port Sun.
The event will center around a tree near City Hall that has become an impromptu memorial for Petito, full of candles, photos, cards, and flowers.

"It hits your gut," one visitor from Sarasota told NBC 2 News. "Especially being a parent myself, I cannot imagine what they are going through."

Anyone with information about Laundrie or Petito is asked to call 800-CALL-FBI, or 800-225-5324.

Related:

• Brian Laundrie Indicted, Sought By FBI On Arrest Warrant
• Gabby Petito Was An Artist 'Who Loved Living Life'
• GoFundMe Will Continue Helping Gabby Petito's Family: Organizer
• Grassroots Effort To Light The Night For Gabby Petito