Gabby Petito's Family Demands That Laundrie Lawyer Remove Photos

BLUE POINT, NY — The family of Gabrielle Petito, who was found slain on Sunday, is demanding that the attorney of missing fiancé Brian Laundrie remove photos of her from the webpages associated with his law firm, a family spokesman said.

In a letter Wednesday to East Islip attorney Steven Bertolino, family friend and attorney Rick Stafford asks that he take down Petito’s picture from the Yelp page featuring his business. Laundrie disappeared after he was named as a person of interest in Petito's case and is being sought by authorities.

On Bertolino's Yelp profile, there was a photo of Petito that the family tried to remove but was informed that "only the business owner can add or remove pictures," the letter states. The photo has since been removed.

A disclaimer at the top of the unclaimed page states Yelp staffers are monitoring it due to media reports.

Stafford's letter goes on to request that Bertolino "cease and desist" posting pictures of Gabby Petito to "any and all" of his "social media pages, web pages or advertisements in an effort to gain business."

"I am sure this will be taken care of by 2 p.m. or I will take further action on behalf of Gabby’s family," wrote Stafford, whose law practice is in Bohemia.

The New York Post is reporting that Bertolino received a barrage of negative reviews based on his role in counseling Laundrie. "Just as disgusting as Brian and the Laundrie family," writes one reviewer.

"You wanted to be famous. You are. You helped a murderer with his defense," writes another.

When contacted for comment about Stafford’s letter, a woman at Bertolino's law office said, "Mr. Bertolino's not in right now," and abruptly hung up on a reporter.

Bertolino did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

In a previous statement, Bertolino maintained Laundrie and his family would not be making public statements and would remain in the "background" but noted the family hoped that "the search for Miss Petito is successful and that Miss Petito is reunited with her family."

Laundrie, who returned home without Petito, was seen last by his parents on Sept. 14. Police in Florida have deployed divers to search the snake- and alligator-infested preserve where he left a car.

The ground search for Laundrie was halted Wednesday "for the evening," after nothing was found, but a similar operation will resume on Thursday, North Port police said.

Jacqueline Sweet contributed additional reporting to this story.