Cadaver Dog Joins Search For Brian Laundrie In Florida Reserve To Assist FBI & North Port Police Department
A cadaver dog has reportedly been added to the search for Brian Laundrie.
The FBI and local search and rescue teams have been searching in a Florida reserve for the 23-year-old. According to News 4, this is the same area Laundrie said he was going for a hike on the day he vanished.
The Pasco County Sheriff's Office said K9 Diesel was requested by the FBI and the local North Port police department, News 4 reported. A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office told the outlet that the agency is the only one with a human remains search dog. She said that this is not the first time the office has been asked for help throughout this investigation.
"We have sent the HRD K9s a few times and patrol K9s (who are also trained to track those who are missing) a few times," the spokesperson told WFLA. "For more insight, we’re one of the only law enforcement agencies in Florida that have HRD K9s in house, so we’re often requested to assist in that aspect across the state."
K9 Diesel is said to be a Labrador Retriever certified in human remains detection.
Laundrie embarked on a road trip with his girlfriend Gabby Petitio in early July. He returned home without her on September 1. Ten days later, the influencer was reported missing and her remains were discovered in the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming on September 19.
Earlier this week, Teton County Coroner Brent Blue announced at a press conference that Petito's autopsy revealed that she died after being manually strangled to death at the hands of another person.
- Laundrie Family Attorney Says He Doesn't Know What Brian Laundrie Told His Parents When He Left Home But He Was 'Out Of Sorts'
- Federal Officials Confirm Human Remains Discovered Near Florida Reserve Belong To Brian Laundrie
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Laundrie is a person of interest in the 22-year-old's case. A warrant was issued for his arrest pertaining to the unauthorized use of a debit card.
"Gabby Petito’s death at such a young age is a tragedy. While Brian Laundrie is currently charged with the unauthorized use of a debit card belonging to Gabby, Brian is only considered a person of interest in relation to Gabby Petito’s demise," the Laundrie family attorney Steven Bertonlino announced on Tuesday. "At this time, Brian is still missing and when he is located we will address the fraud charge pending against him."
Laundrie was reported missing on September 17. His parents said he went for a hike in the Carlton Reserve area on September 14. However, Bertonlino later said that he went missing on September 13.
On October 6, authorities said they "found fresh traces of a campsite" in the reserve, CNN reported.
