As the search
grows more desperate for Blue Point native Gabby Petito, her fiancé is
remaining silent - despite pleas from her family to tell them her last known location.
"The family
is devastated. Every day that this goes on, they get more and more
desperate," says Richard Stafford, Petito/Schmidt family attorney.
The plea comes nearly a week after her mother reported her missing.
Meanwhile, fiancé Brian Laundrie, the last known person to see her, has not shared what he knows
of her whereabouts to authorities.
“Two people went on a trip. One person returned.
And that person isn't providing us any information,” says North Port Florida Police Chief Todd
Garrison.
It was near Arches
National Park in Utah that police say an incident took place. On Aug. 12, Moab
Police Department were called to investigate a domestic problem involving Petito
and Laundrie.
No charges were filed, and officers determined it was a mental health
issue. But the video showed strain in the pair's
relationship.
Less than two weeks later on Aug. 25, Gabby's mom Nichole Schmidt
FaceTimed with her daughter from Wyoming.
Police say that
was the last time Petito's mother saw and she believes heard from
her. Petito's mom does not believe text messages sent after
that date came from her daughter.
North Port Police in Florida say Laundrie returned home on Sept. 1 with Petito's
van, but not Petito.
Detectives there are now calling him a person of interest in her missing
persons case.
Joe Petito, Gabby’s dad,
made a plea to the public during a news conference in Florida Thursday.
"The only thing that
matters is bringing Gabby home," said Petito. "I'm asking for
help from everyone here. I'm asking for help from everyone from home. I'm
asking for help from the parents of Brian. I'm asking for help from the family
members and friends of the Laundrie family as well. There's a tip line that you
can call anonymously. Whatever you can do to make sure my daughter comes home,
I'm asking for that help."
Multiple agencies in multiple states are pursuing every lead, including
a possible link to a double homicide, in hopes it leads to Petito.
Those two people found dead were last seen in Moab on Aug. 13, near
where the incident involving Petito and Laundrie occurred.