The long-haired former reality star is just the latest to get involved in Petito’s case after she failed to return home following a cross-country trip and Laundrie abruptly vanished once Petito’s family reported her missing. (On Tues., Oct. 12, a coroner’s report officially ruled that Petito’s death was a homicide caused by strangulation.) Chapman’s entry into the fray comes as the FBI continues their own search for Laundrie—and Petito’s family continues to grieve their loss, holding a memorial on Sun., Sept. 26 to mourn her. But how did Chapman even get involved? Turns out, the man better known as “Dog the Bounty Hunter” was already in Florida as the Petito case was becoming big news; he was honeymooning with new wife, Francie, after they married on Sept. 3. (His previous wife and reality TV co-star, Beth, died of throat cancer in 2019.) Keep reading to find out all about Dog the Bounty Hunter’s search for Brian Laundrie, including why this case is personal for Dog, the deadline he’s set for catching Laundrie, and the tip he’s already gotten that could lead to Laundrie’s capture.
Who is Brian Laundrie?
Brian Laundrie is currently a “person of interest” in the disappearance of his fiancee, 22-year-old Gabby Petito. He and Petito set out for a “Van Life” journey in June that they posted about on social media. The trip went smoothly until they had an altercation on the trip in August, causing the police to show up, but no action was taken. Petito soon lost touch with family and friends, only sending cryptic texts to her mother until they stopped hearing from her completely. Laundrie, on the other hand, drove their van back to Florida. Petito was reported missing on September 11, and Laundrie was uncooperative with both her family and police. On September 14, he went missing as well. Investigators have searched his parents’ home and the Carlton Reserve, which is where his parents say he was going. On September 19, Petito’s body was found, and on September 21, her death was ruled a homicide.
Is Brian Laundrie still alive?
Laundrie’s parents insist they don’t know where he is and that they were not helping him evade police, but very few people believe them. While some people think Laundrie went into the wild to possibly commit suicide, many others (including Chapman) assume he is alive. A friend of Laundrie’s and Petito’s says that “he could be most anywhere. He knows how to survive,” noting that he’s stayed on the Appalachian trail for weeks in the past.
Why is Dog the Bounty Hunter trying to capture Brian Laundrie?
This case is somewhat personal for Chapman: He lost a daughter in a car accident who was about the same age as Petito. “Because I lost a daughter at about the same age, I know what the parents feel like,” he has said. “And you want justification, you want the guy behind bars.” While no official charges have been made against Laundrie for Petito’s death, the feds have charged Laundrie with fraud related to a debit card that is assumed to be Petito’s.
How many people has Dog the Bounty Hunter captured?
Chapman has been in the bail bondsman and bounty hunting business for about 45 years, and has captured about 10,000 fugitives.
Is Dog the Bounty Hunter going to catch Brian Laundrie?
Chapman is confident he can catch Laundrie. Chapman has even given himself a deadline: before Laundrie’s 24th birthday on November 18. “I will find him,” he told The Daily Mail. Chapman feels like he’s got a good chance of nabbing Laundrie. “He’s very young, he’s not an experienced criminal,” Chapman explained in an interview. “He can’t stay in cheap motels and… rob people like a lot of people I chase. This kid is an outdoorsman, so I think he went to where he is comfortable, to the outdoors.” Chapman got started by being captured on video knocking on the door of the Laundrie home on September 25—and Laundrie’s mom promptly called 911 on the former reality star. “It’s a shame they wouldn’t speak with us,” Chapman told FOX News later. “The police said we were welcome to knock on the door so we did. I wanted to tell the Laundries that our goal is to find Brian and bring him in alive.”
Does Dog the Bounty Hunter have any leads on Brian Laundrie?
“The search now is really on.” That’s what Chapman told his followers in a Sept. 29 Twitter video as he and his crew “launched an active and specific search in a key area based on the intelligence we are receiving and researching.” (At least one source claims that “key area” is Marco Island, near the Florida city of Naples.) Soon after, FOX News reported that Chapman had found evidence of a “fresh campsite” that he believed was where Laundrie had been just hours before. Previously, Chapman had set up a hotline at 833-TELL-DOG, where he’s said he’s gotten hundreds of tips. While at first, Chapman suspected Laundrie to be headed for the Appalachian trail, a tip led him about 75 miles from the Laundrie home to Fort De Soto Park. Chapman’s daughter Lyssa tweeted on Sept. 25 that “Dad has alerted the proper authorities. Say a prayer guys. This could be it.” The tipster said Laundrie and his parents camped in the park, and it seemed to be legitimate. According to Chapman, the trio were there twice, onSept. 1-3 and Sept. 6-8. However, on that second trip, only two people left the park. “They were registered, went through the gate,” Chapman told reporters on Sept. 27. “They’re on camera. They were here.” The next day, FOX News reported that Chapman had “contracted a private search and rescue K-9 team to search an island called Egmont Key off the coast of St. Petersburg”—his latest move to pinpoint Laundrie’s location, telling news outlets that it “could be a perfect spot for him to hide, not too many people out here.” TMZ also reported on Sept. 29 that “Dog’s still on the hunt for Brian, on a remote island with his team. However, we’re told the terrain there is rugged and is slowing the speed of the search a bit, but the plan is to continue into the night and spread out to other nearby islands if need be.” Next, here are the best true crime documentaries.
