Five theories about where Brian Laundrie could be hiding as sleuths are convinced he got ‘private charter to Costa Rica’
BRIAN Laundrie sleuths have suggested many theories about where he could be but recently claimed he took "a private charter to Costa Rica."
, 22, and Laundrie were around two months into their planned four-month cross-country road trip touring national parks around the when the vlogger vanished sometime around August 27.
returned to his parent's house in his fiancee's van but Gabby wasn't with him. reported her missing on September 11, days before her boyfriend then vanished.
Today, Reddit users wondered where Laundrie could be hiding on the General Discussion thread - with some claiming he could be long gone from the country.
"At this point, I'm guessing private charter to Costa Rica or similar," one person said. "The Mustang was a plant. Who ever [sic] drove it (most likely dad) walked back home via Big Slough."
This unconfirmed claim was an apparent reference to the silver Mustang seized by the FBI on September 20, which Laundrie had reportedly driving to Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park the day he went missing.
"[Laundrie] had way too much time," the user continued. "[The] only perplexing part was the camping trip. I don't think his parents knew then and [he] was still trying to act semi-normal.
"Wasted a week but apparently [he] didn't need it."
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However, others dismissed this theory and pointed out that Laundrie's face was "all over the news" in South America, meaning he would be recognized by people there.
The Sun has reached out to the Laundrie family lawyer Steven Bertolino for comment on Monday who had no comment on the Costa Rica theory.
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"No known location for Brian," Bertolino said in an email.
The Laundries until September 17, claiming they last saw him on September 14. near a campground in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.
Bertolino had no comment as to why the Laundries reported Brian missing three days after he vanished on a hike.
Laundrie is wanted by the FBI for using an unauthorized debit card and pin code to access two bank accounts between August 30 and September 1, racking up a bill of $1,000.
Laundrie still hasn't been found as of October 4, 2021, while law enforcement agencies, online sleuths, and even aka Duane Chapman, hunt him.
Here are the top five theories about where Gabby's missing boyfriend could be in the wake of the Costa Rica claim.
HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT
exclusively told The Sun that cops are right to exhaust every possible lead amid reports of alleged sightings.
But, he thinks Laundrie would have more chance of not being caught if he was in an urbanized area, rather than the wilderness.
Canterbury told The Sun: “In my mind, he is much more likely to be able to maintain an on-the-run status and not be caught if he is trying to blend in an urban environment.
“If Laundrie has money and he can put on a mask, hat, and hoodie, he could probably walk into a rural store and not be recognized - 90 percent of the time."
He added that it would be difficult for cops to find Laundrie unless the fugitive tells someone who he is, or is recognized by a member of the public.
Canterbury predicts that if Laundrie is still in Florida, then he will stay in the state.
LURKING IN MANGROVES
Campers at the Fort De Soto Park in Florida fear he may be hiding out in the mangroves after The Sun exclusively revealed on September 6.
Mangroves refer to trees and shrubs with tangled roots above ground that thrive in coastal swamps flooded at high tide and form dense thickets.
While the claim has been dismissed by the family's attorney, campers at Fort De Soto confirmed they're fearful
"It's scary but realistic," dweller Amanda Smith, who has been staying at the campsite since Sunday, said of Laundrie's potential presence. "We actually were just looking at some of the mangroves out there and it's very thick.
On Tuesday, Dog claimed to have received a tip that Brian had never actually left Fort De Soto with his parents when they checked out of the camp on September 8.
In a statement issued through their attorney Bertolino, Chris and Roberta Laundrie denied Dog's claim that Laundrie didn't leave the park with them on September 8.
FLED TO APPALACHIAN TRAIL
for leaving behind his wallet, ID, driver's license, and credit cards, claiming the 23-year-old appeared "well aware of law enforcement tracking techniques."
While the search of the Carlton Resereve and Fort De Soto continues, Warner believes Laundrie is more likely to be on the Appalachian trail, where he had also previously visited with Gabby.
"He knows where all the little places are to camp out [on the Appalachian Trail]. It's it just makes sense," warner exclusively told The Sun. "Brian has expertise. He's an elite hiker. It's right up his alley."
"Once you're up there and you're on a trail, it's easy to hike. It's a good time to go there. It's the fall. It's not cold, it's not hot. And you have shade, you have spring water to drink.
"It's a very difficult case because he did all the right things for a guy on the run," Warner added. "He ghosted himself."
Warner is convinced that Laundrie is still on US soil, noting: "You have to have a verifiable ID from a government agency with a picture on it," as he .
MONSTER DRINK CAMPSITE
Dog and his team of K9s scoured an area deep in the woods of Shell Island last Wednesday near Fort de Soto Park in ,reported.
Dog received a tip that and his parents visited the campground on September 6.
He appeared to find the can while trying to search for the 23-year-old - who was reported missing on September 17. It's not known who left the item at the site.
The gold can appears to show no signs of rust or faded colors, , and the Monster logo and text on the front of the can are visible.
Some internet sleuths allege that they spotted the can in Brian Laundrie's mom's handbag as photos circulated on social media. It remains unknown if the item was in her bag.
He's also suggested that Laundrie could be at the park to avoid detection.
CARLTON RESERVE
claim that they last saw their missing son on September 14 when he didn't return from a hike at the 24,000-acre .
But former Deputy for the LA Sheriff's office Mike Hadsell suspects that after the lengthy search “Laundrie's probably not there" and highlighted the lack of tracks they found. They've still found nothing as of today.
Likewise, private eye Warner isn’t sold on Laundrie being able to duck the law for over a week at the reserve, while surviving the alligator and snake infested terrain.
Warner said that there is the possibility that "he's dead in the Carlton Reserve, that he went in there to kill himself.
"But that doesn't seem to be true either. Because they've searched through every inch of the Carlton Reserve for over a week and they found nothing, even when there were dogs," he added.
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The Teton County Coroner D. Brent Blue said initial findings of were that but the cause is still .
Laundrie's family lawyer commented "May Gabby rest in peace" when asked for a statement on the body identification.
Gabby Petito timeline
Gabby Petito, 22, was last seen on August 24, leaving a hotel in Utah. Here is a timeline of Gabby Petito's disappearance:
- June 2021 - set off on a cross-country trip across the US.
- July 4 - posts photos of herself barefoot in Gove County, Kansas.
- July 8 - Gabby posts photos of herself at the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.
- July 18 - Gabby and post photos of themselves at Utah's Zion National Park.
- August 12 - in September showing an encounter Brian and Gabby had with police in Utah. Police confirmed that no significant injuries were reported.
- August 19 - on their YouTube channel chronicling their trip.
- August 24 - Gabby is spotted leaving a hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah.
- August 25 - Gabby Facetimes her mom, Nichole Schmidt, for the final time. In a later police report, Schmidt said her conversations with her daughter revealed "" between her and Brian.
- August 25 - Gabby also posts her last Instagram. No location is given.
- August 27 - Gabby is . Witnesses claim they saw Brian in an explosive argument with staff at a restaurant in Jackson Hole, leaving Gabby in tears.
- August 27 - Four hours later, travel bloggers driving through Grand Teton National Park drive past the couple's van "abandoned" on a dirt road.
- September 1 - Brian returns home to without Gabby.
- September 11 - report her missing to Suffolk County police.
- September 14 - Brian's family issues a statement saying he has retained an attorney and will not be cooperating with investigators.
- September 14 - Brian is by his family. He reportedly told them he was going hiking in Cartlon Reserve but failed to return.
- September 15 - Florida's North Port police announce in the case. He is not charged with any crime.
- September 16 - Utah police release of the police encounter with Brian and Gabby.
- September 17 - say they have not seen their son in a couple of days and report him missing.
- September 18 - Police announc. Police announce they have not found anything.
- September 19 - Authorities in Wyoming say . The FBI announces the body was believed to be Gabby's but a full forensic identification needs to be completed first to confirm.
- September 20 - Police execute a search warrant on Laundrie's home, seizing and a hard drive that may contain "evidence relevant to proving that a felony has been committed."
- September 21 - Officials announce they will be on the remains found in Wyoming to confirm whether or not they belong to Gabby. Police also resumed their search for Laundrie, this time on the Venice side of Carlton Reserve.
- September 21 - The FBI announced the body found in Wyoming was identified as Gabby's. The cause of death was not yet revealed.
- September 21 - The Teton County Coroner's office said was still pending but the initial manner of death is homicide.
- September 22 - Police continue to scour for a trace of Laundrie but yield no leads. A specialist dive team is called in to assist with the hunt.
- September 23 - Officials announced a for Brian was issued.
- September 26 - Gabby'swas held on Long Island, New York.
- October 12: were made public. Teton County Coroner Dr Brent Blue confirmed Gabby died by strangulation.
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