Brian Laundrie: Park At Center Of Search Reopens, North Port Says

Sarasota FL

19 October, 2021

3:22 PM

Description

NORTH PORT, FL — A park at the center of the search for Brian Laundrie, a person of interest in the death of his fiancée, Gabby Petito, has reopened to the public, the city of North Port tweeted Tuesday morning. Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, which sits on 160 acres at 6968 Reistertown Road in North Port, closed Sept. 23, days after North Port police and the FBI began searching for Laundrie in the adjacent 25,000-acre Carlton Reserve. The Carlton Reserve remains closed to the public, according to the Sarasota County website. UPDATE 10/19: The Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park (6968 Reistertown Road) is now re-opened to the public. https://t.co/r4qz7C1lgv— North Port, Florida (@CityofNorthPort) October 19, 2021 Laundrie and Petito, both Long Island, New York natives living in North Port with his family, were traveling across the country visiting national parks this summer when she disappeared at the end of August. Her body was found near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming on Sept. 19. Laundrie, who returned to Florida without her Sept. 1, was reported missing Sept. 17, and authorities have been looking for him ever since. Related Stories: Laundrie: Marshals Ambush Look-Alike On Trail; Dad Sued For $40Where Is Brian Laundrie? Gabby Petito's Fiance Fled 1 Month AgoGabby Petito: North Port Memorial, Brian Laundrie SearchGabby Petito's Cause Of Death Was Strangulation: CoronerLaundrie Custody Rumors, Sarasota Sightings Denied: PoliceBrian Laundrie: Father Helps Search Thursday; Campsite Found'Sadly, Gabby Petito's Story Is A Common One:' Experts SpeakBrian Laundrie Used Gabby Petito's Credit Card, Attorney SaysGabby Petito's Mom 'Felt It In Her Heart' She Was Dead: Dr. PhilAppalachian Trail Hiker Says He Saw Laundrie Saturday: ReportSuffolk Detective Who Opened Gabby Petito's Case An 'Angel': Mom'Not Just Gabby Petito' Case Deserves Media Attention: Dad Since Sept. 18, much of the search for Laundrie in Florida has focused on the swampy, snake-and gator-infested Carlton Reserve and the nearby Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. The park is connected to the reserve by a 12-mile trail. Laundrie's parents told police that their son left their home Sept. 13 to go hiking at the Carlton Reserve. He drove the family's Ford Mustang to the area, parking it near the environmental park. Police left a notice on the car Sept. 14 asking the owner to move it. Laundrie's parents eventually picked it up and brought it home Sept. 15. Like this article? Sign up for our newsletter and get it delivered every weekday. It's free! Various methods have been used to comb the swampy reserve, including K-9 dogs, ATVs, drones, helicopters, dive teams and airboats. There have been no signs of Laundrie, at least nothing that has been publicly disclosed by police or the FBI. His father, Chris Laundrie, was also asked to assist in recent weeks, and he shared his son's favorite trails and other locations with authorities.