NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — The boyfriend of a missing Long Island woman has broken his silence on the case, hiring a lawyer and declining to comment further.
Brian Laundrie, who is believed to have been with his girlfriend, 22-year-old Gabrielle Petito, when she went missing on a cross-country van trip, issued a statement through a lawyer Tuesday.
"This is an extremely difficult time for both the Petito family and the Laundrie family. I understand that a search has been organized for Miss Petito in or near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming," Laundrie said through his lawyer.
"On behalf of the Laundrie family it is our hope that the search for Miss Petito is successful and that Miss Petito is re-united with her family," he went on. "On the advice of counsel the Laundrie family is remaining in the background at this juncture and will have no further comment."
Petito, of Blue Point, and Laundrie had been traveling in a 2012 white Ford Transit in Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park when she abruptly stopped communicating with friends and family in late August.
The van has been recovered and Laundrie is not reported missing. The New York Post published photos of Petito's parents outside of their home in North Port, Florida, reporting that the entire family has declined to speak with local police.
Petito and Laundrie had left for the trip in July from Long Island, with Oregon as their planned destination.
A spokesperson for Petito's parents, Nichole Schmidt and Joseph Petito, issued a statement urging Laundrie to come forward with information.
"Brian is refusing to tell Gabby's family where he last saw her, Brian is also refusing to explain why he left Gabby all alone and drove her van to Florida. These are critical questions that require immediate answers," the spokesperson said.
"The Schmidt and Petito family beg the Laundrie family to not 'remain in the background' but to help find who Brian referred to as the love of his life," the spokesperson added.
Family and friends have raised more than $25,000 on GoFundMe to support the search for Petito, which involves multiple law enforcement agencies.
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