Gabby Petito Case To Be Featured On John Walsh's 'In Pursuit'

BLUE POINT, NY — The disappearance of Brian Laundrie, a person of interest in the case of Gabrielle Petito who was found slain on Sunday, will be examined on "In Pursuit with John Walsh."

The outspoken criminal investigator and television host took up crime victim advocacy after his six-year-old son, Adam, was murdered in 1981, and through his show, "America's Most Wanted," has caught over 1,400 people wanted for crimes in 45 countries.

Walsh, who empathizes with Petito's family due to his own experience, told Anderson Cooper on 360 on Monday night that there is nothing like the loss of a child for a parent.

"My prayers are with the Petito family," he said. "I've saddled up; I am going to do everything I can to help you catch this guy, to make sure he faces justice."

Back in July, Petito, a 22-year-old formerly from Blue Point, embarked on a cross-country trip, traveling in a small van on the road with Laundrie. They had been touring the national parks system and were set to end their journey around Halloween in Oregon. Her body was found in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming on Sunday.

Laundrie, who returned home in her van, has refused to speak with police about her disappearance.

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On Friday, his parents told investigators that he went to the Carlton Reserve on Sept. 14 and had not been seen since. Police have previously said that it is possible Laundrie harmed himself. After an exhaustive four-day search of the reserve that yielded no results, police divers were deployed to look for Laundrie on Wednesday morning.

FBI Special Agent-In-Charge Charles Jones said on Sunday that the bureau and its law enforcement partners "remain dedicated to ensuring anyone responsible for or complicit in Ms. Petito's death is held accountable for their actions."

"Mr. Brian Laundrie has been named a person of interest," he said. "Anyone with information concerning Mr. Laundrie's role in this matter or his current whereabouts should contact the FBI."

Laundrie, 23, has not been officially designated a suspect in the case.

But Walsh had no qualms calling Laundrie a "creep" and saying that he should be brought to justice on Cooper's show.

"We are going to put the heat on Brian on Wednesday," he said. "The whole thing is so sad, Anderson, because this family did not help at all."

He said Laundrie's family telling the police that he went to the nature preserve three days after was a red herring and bought him more days to run.

Walsh told the 360 host he was “terrified” when he viewed the police body cam footage of Petito and Laundrie. Police, who had difficulty interviewing the couple with their conflicting stories, viewed Petito as more of the aggressor and rather than charge her, instead advised them to separate for the night.

“This is classic domestic abuse, " Walsh told Cooper. "He terrorized her not to tell the cops. He was the aggressor and slapper and puncher."

Walsh noted that the information was not translated to the two the law enforcement officers who answered the call.

"And it is so sad because she might be alive today," he added.

In a previous statement by Laundrie's attorney, Steven Bertolino of East Islip, he said "many people are wondering why Mr. Laundrie would not make a statement or speak with law enforcement in the face of Ms. Petito's absence."

"In my experience, intimate partners are often the first person law enforcement focuses their attention on in cases like this and the warning that 'any statement made will be used against you' is true, regardless of whether my client had anything to do with Ms. Petito's disappearance," Bertolino said, adding, "As such, on the advice of counsel Mr. Laundrie is not speaking on this matter."

Bertolino said he has been informed by police that his client is a person of interest, but the "formality has not really changed the circumstances of Mr. Laundrie being the focus and attention of law enforcement and Mr. Laundrie will continue to remain silent on the advice of counsel."

He went on to say that neither Laundrie nor his family would be commenting any further.

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

In a Facebook post Wednesday morning, Walsh announced his show will not only feature a segment on Laundrie, but also a manhunt for fugitives and the search for missing children.

The show will air at 10 p.m. on Investigation Discovery.