POLICE in Florida are actively looking into a possible sighting of Brian Laundrie after a trail camera captured footage of man resembling Gabby Petito’s fiancé.
Sharing an image of a man fitting Laundrie’s description, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office wrote on Tuesday: “We wanted to let you know we are aware of this report and are actively checking it out.”
They added: “There is no confirmation of this information. Obviously we will keep everyone in the loop if and when there is anything to report.”
That came after Facebook user Sam Bass shared the image from his trail camera late on Monday.
He wrote: “I’m not saying this is the guy but whoever was on my trail camera this morning in Baker, Fl strongly fits the description of Brian Laundrie, authorities have been contacted but people in the North West Florida area be on the look out.”
Brian was reported missing from his family home in North Port by his parents last week.
He had initially returned home to North Port in Florida without his girlfriend Gabby before disappearing himself.
Police said on Sunday a body they believe to be Gabby had been found in a Wyoming national park. Brian remains missing.
Officers said on Saturday they were investigating another image of man who “sure as heck looks” like Brian.
The photo, taken on a cellphone, shows a bald man in flip flops who resembles Brian walking about two blocks from the Laundrie home in North Port, Florida.
Read our Gabby Petito live blog for the very latest news and updates…
North Port Police Department spokesman Josh Taylor told The New York Post: “Not looking like him. Tattoo on left arm … but we are going to make sure.
“Other than that, sure as heck looks like him.”
Gabby’s parents reported her missing on September 11.
Days later – after issuing a statement on the case via his attorney – Brian was then reported missing by his parents.
The couple had been on a road trip when Gabby disappeared. She was last seen on August 24 checking out of a hotel in Utah.
While Petito’s mother, Nicole Schmidt, revealed that she heard from her daughter on August 27 and 30, she told Fox News she is not sure if it was actually her as only text messages were exchanged.
Brian returned home alone on September 1 to Florida – where the couple lived with his parents.
Police then named Brian as a person of interest in the case before his parents reported him missing.
He is said to have told them he was going for a hike.
Police are now scouring a “vast” reserve in Sarasota County as they search for him.
It comes as Gabby’s dad Joe admitted: “I’ve never actually like any of Gabby’s boyfriends…I’ve never actually called any of them by their real name.”
He said he used to call Brian “Brianne”, adding: “I always used the female versions of their names, just to intimidate them a little bit.”
Video released by the Moab police showed that an officer pulled the couple’s van over on the same day after it was seen speeding and hitting a curb near Arches National Park.
The body-camera footage showed an upset Gabby.
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