Neighbors of Brian Laundrie join the call to end his silence in search for Gabby Petito
NORTH PORT, Fla. - A North Port woman has now been missing for more than three weeks after a cross-country trip with her fiancé, a person of interest, who is still refusing to speak to authorities after he returned home in Sarasota County without her.
Investigators have yet to compel Brian Laundrie or his parents to talk to them about Gabby Petito’s disappearance, but the calls for them to do so are growing even louder and some neighbors have decided they won’t keep quiet so long as the Laundries stay silent.
The chants, "Where is Gabby? Where is Gabby?" echoed in the Laundries’ North Port neighborhood Thursday night with handmade signs.
Neighbors hold 'Bring Gabby Home!' sign
A stop sign on the family’s street has also been altered. It asks the big question: Where is she?
MORE: Gabby Petito showed behavior of victim in Utah bodycam video, domestic violence counselor says
Gabby’s father arrived in North Port on Thursday to plead with the community, and those watching the press conference from around the country, to keep looking for his daughter.
He also begged Brian and his parents to talk to investigators. Some of their neighbors said they’ll make sure there’ll be no peace until they help in the search for Gabby. It’s unclear whether the Laundrie family have been inside the home the past few days.
"What I need from everybody here is help," said Joe Petito, "because the goal is still not met. And that goal is to bring Gabby home safe."
READ: Gabby Petito case: Timeline of 22-year-old woman's disappearance
The case has many wondering if Laundrie could be connected to a double homicide that happened while he and Gabby were in Moab, Utah.
That’s where a concerned witness called police on August 12 after seeing the couple in a loud and physical fight.
The sheriff there has released a letter saying they're looking into whether Brian and Gabby are in any way connected to two women who were last seen the night of August 13 at a bar, and later found shot to death in their car.
One of the women worked in the same organic grocery store the couple told police they’d visited earlier that day, the same place where Brian and Gabby got into their argument
Right now, there's nothing public to suggest they’re linked, authorities said, but aren’t ruling anything out.
PDF: North Port Police Department's missing persons report for Gabby Petito
MORE COVERAGE:
- Gabby Petito case: Timeline of 22-year-old woman's disappearance
- Utah sheriff ‘actively' investigating possible connection between Gabby Petito disappearance and double murder
- Gabby Petito's family, North Port police chief express frustration with Brian Laundrie's silence
- Missing woman's haunting songs on Spotify account may provide answers
- Gabby Petito showed behavior of victim in Utah bodycam video, domestic violence counselor says