FBI converges on Spread Creek in search of Gabby
JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — The search for a missing Long Island woman zeroes in on a popular forest area north of Jackson, even as her boyfriend and traveling companion has also gone missing.
Multiple law enforcement agencies including the FBI agents, Grand Teton National Park rangers, Bridger-Teton National Forest rangers, and Teton County Sheriff’s Office deputies have closed the Spread Creek area to the public as they search the drainage for any sign of Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito.
Information putting the couple in the dispersed camping section of Spread Creek led authorities to comb the area Saturday. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is asking anyone who may have been camping in the dispersed camping area of Spread Creek during the timeframe August 27-30, to contact authorities at:
- Online at http://tips.fbi.gov, or by phone to 1-800-CALL-FBI or 303-629-7171. Photos and videos may be uploaded via the FBI’s digital media tipline dedicated to this case: http://fbi.gov/petito.
The FBI Denver Office added, “While we cannot comment further as to the specifics of this investigation, we will provide updates and request additional assistance from the public when appropriate to do so.”
Grand Teton NP has been identified as the most likely place Petito was last heard from. New information continues to come in, including a TikTok video where Miranda Baker claims she and her boyfriend picked up Petito’s boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, hitchhiking at Colter Bay Colter Bay in Grand Teton NP at about 5:30pm on August 29.
“As soon as he got in the back of my Jeep, he offered us, like, $200 to take him 10 miles. That was kinda weird,” Baker said. “Then he said he had been camping multiple days alone while his ‘fiance’ was working on their social media page ‘back at the van.’”
According to Baker, Laundrie wasn’t in the car more than a half hour before he “freaked out” about the ride headed to Jackson and insisted she pull over, and he got out at 6:09pm.
After returning to his home in Florida and refusing to cooperate with the investigation into the disappearance of Petito, Laundrie himself has now gone missing. North Port Police near Sarasota, Florida launched a search for Laundrie Saturday.
“Our search of the Carlton [Reserve] is being called this evening due to darkness. Nothing found. Efforts will begin again Sunday morning,” police Tweeted.
Laundrie is now being called a person of interest by authorities. His attorney, Steven Bertoino, said, “Be advised that the whereabouts of Brian Laundrie are currently unknown.”
