BLUE POINT, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — The search continued Tuesday for a missing women originally from Long Island. The 22-year-old disappeared while on a cross country van trip with her boyfriend. He returned home, but she didn’t.
As CBS2’s Carolyn Gusoff reported Tuesday, the search for Gabby Petito is now a multi-state effort — from Suffolk County, where she departed, to Florida, where she lives, and Wyoming, where the free spirit was last heard from while hiking in Grand Teton National Park.
“I probably haven’t slept since Friday, haven’t eaten since Saturday,” said her father, Joseph Petito.
Poring over what he calls heart-wrenching tips on social media, he said he’s praying she will be found alive and well.
“If you’re hiking a trail and you see her you can say that, ‘Gabby … Gabby, here is my phone. You need to call your folks right now,'” Joseph Petito said.
Gabby Petito (Photo: Instagram)
Gabby Petito embarked on her van trip with boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, and was documenting what appeared to be their happy adventure. He returned to their house in North Port, Florida, as did the van, but without her.
“There has been no contact, so there is no story,” Joseph Petitio said, reiterating when asked by Gusoff that his family has not spoken to Laundrie.
The missing woman’s mother said Monday she last heard from her more than two weeks ago.
“The first few days I believed she was in a place with no cell service. It was day eight or nine I really became concerned,” Nichole Schmidt said.
Police in Florida said the van has been secured for preservation of evidence if any crime was committed and are calling Laundrie a person of interest, as would any missing person’s last known contact.
“You had someone who was in constant communication with their family with on a regular basis. Then, all of sudden, nothing. Then, all of a sudden, the person she was travelling with is back here and unwilling to talk to us. All of that is very, very concerning,” said Josh Taylor, public information officer for the North Port Police Department.
Police said the inability to speak with Laundrie is hampering the investigation. They have only been given the name of Laundrie’s attorney to ask their questions through. That attorney, Steven Bertolino, is on Long Island. He would not respond to questions about Gabby Petito’s whereabouts.
“On behalf of the Laundrie family, I hope that Miss Petito is located and she’s reunited with her family,” he said in a statement.
Police said they are very concerned for the young woman’s well being. The family is asking for the public to focus on finding her.
Suffolk County police and the FBI are also involved in the investigation. A National Parks Service spokesman said, “We are coordinating with multiple law enforcement agencies as part of the investigation into Gabrielle Petito’s whereabouts. As the investigation is ongoing, we do not have any further information to provide at this time.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS
from CBS New York https://ift.tt/2Izr88c
