Six signs Brian Laundrie is still ALIVE from discarded energy drinks to Spotify playlists & why buzzards offer key clue
ALLEGED sightings at campsites, a discarded Monster energy drink can, and “changes” to Spotify playlists are among a series of signs that suggest Gabby Petito's fiancé Brian Laundrie is still alive.
Ranchers think that buzzards could offer a key clue regarding the 23-year-old’s whereabouts, who was reported missing on September 17.
Laundrie allegedly told his parents Chris and Roberta that he was going for a hike in the alligator and snake-infested Carlton Reserve in Sarasota.
Panthers and black bears are also known to prowl through the reserve.
FBI detectives, cops, and bloodhounds waded through the swampy marshlands and navigated the tricky terrain using swamp buggies as they tried to find Laundrie.
Officers used drones and infrared technology while dive teams scoured the salty marshlands in the 25,000-acre park.
Former LA County Sheriff’s deputy Mike Hadsell, who is said to be familiar with the reserve, estimated that cops are spending $200,000 a day as they search the park.
Speculation continues to grow that Laundrie may not be hiding in the reserve as he has not been spotted.
Experienced rancher Alan McEwen told Fox News: “Anything dead you find in the woods, you’re gonna look up, you’re gonna see buzzards flying like crazy."
“No buzzards, no body is my theory. And I haven’t seen any buzzards flying.”
Read our Brian Laundrie live blog for the very latest news and updates…
Experts have suggested that Laundrie, a self-proclaimed "nature enthusiast", might be on the Appalachian Trail.
One of Gabby's pals Rose Davis told People: “Laundrie is out in the wilderness, I promise you. He lived in the Appalachians by himself for months.”
There have been several alleged sightings of Laundrie since he was reported missing.
A flight attendant claimed she may have spotted the fugitive at a hotel in Canada.
While a tourist said Laundrie seemed “mad at the world” during an alleged encounter at a bar in Montana.
Hunter Mannies, 44, told the New York Post that the man was drinking alone, angry and confrontational.
'MAD AT THE WORLD'
Laundrie may have been pictured in a couple’s selfie at a campsite in Fort De Soto Park on September 6.
Marci Newsom, of Fort Myers, alleges that her family camped next to the Laundries’.
A man can be seen walking through the fields in the background of a family selfie. It's not known if Laundrie is in the photograph.
The individual appears to be wearing black shorts but is not wearing a t-shirt. It's not known when the selfie was taken.
Newsom told NBC2: “We checked in on Labor Day. Apparently, they were in the campground when we were they and they checked in right next to us."
She claimed that she saw a red truck with a camper attached to it.
She and her husband Kenny alleged it was similar to the vehicle that has been parked outside Laundrie's parents' home in North Port.
Reporter Daniela Hurtado acquired documentation from Pinellas County Parks that shows Mrs Laundrie checked into the campground on September 6 and left on September 8.
The papers, however, do not reveal who – if anyone – was accompanying her during the visit.
The lead that the Laundries' visited the campground was given to Dog the Bounty Hunter who joined the search efforts last week.
SEARCH CONTINUES
Dog – real name Duane Chapman – added: "Allegedly, what we’re hearing, is two people left on the 8th. Three people came in on the 6th, and two people left on the 8th. I think he’s been here for sure."
The Laundrie family attorney Steve Bertolino disputed the dates that Brian and his parents left but said that they were at the site.
Brian visited the campsite with his fiancée Gabby in February.
The vlogger uploaded a picture of Brian smiling as he stands behind bars at the park's historical fort.
While searching the Fort de Soto park for potential clues, Dog and his team scoured an area deep in the woods of Shell Island.
He appeared to find a Monster Energy Ultra Gold at the site.
The can showed no signs of rust or faded colors suggesting it had recently been discarded, according to Fox News. The find has not been confirmed to be Laundrie's.
Dog claimed that he's close to finding Laundrie alive and pledged to find the fugitive by his 24th birthday in November.
ARMCHAIR DETECTIVES
It’s not just Dog the Bounty Hunter who is on the case to find Laundrie as internet sleuths have tried to help the FBI in their probe.
Online detectives claimed that they had proof Laundrie was still online as they alleged he was still updating a number of social media platforms.
They claimed he created a Spotify playlist titled "Selfconsomption" shortly after Gabby vanished.
Online sleuths alleged that its name was changed to 'Nomadic Statik' – which is the name of the travel YouTube channel which Brian and Gabby created.
Another claim is that Gabby's fiancé has been unfollowing accounts on Instagram as the number of people he is following has decreased.
However, this could be explained by other accounts blocking him or private accounts unfollowing him.
Online detectives also claimed that Laundrie has a burner phone because of alleged changes to his Spotify and Instagram accounts.
Bertolino said the fugitive left home without his wallet or cellphone on the day that he disappeared.
FBI detectives are also investigating reports of a burner phone bought on the day that Laundrie went missing.
A source told TMZ that Brian purchased a phone at the AT&T store on September 14 with an "older woman."
In a statement to The Sun, the store said: "We're not confirming or denying anything, and we're not making any statements, thank you, and have a great day."
Sleuths peddled an unfounded wild conspiracy that Laundrie may be hiding on a boat to evade police.
A clip that circulated on Twitter appeared to show a body of water and the side of a green vessel before abruptly cutting out.
Viewers of the clip attempted to claim that Laundrie "accidentally" went live on Instagram before realizing and hastily cutting off the feed. The wild theory appears to be false.
'WHERE'S BRIAN?'
The search for Laundrie continues to intensify – weeks after he returned to Florida.
The 23-year-old returned to the state alone on September 1 without Gabby – who he had been traveling with on a cross-country road trip.
They toured the American midwest in their white Ford transit van, visiting canyon ranges in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.
Cops declared Laundrie a “person of interest” but didn’t name him a suspect in the case.
But, FBI agents issued an arrest warrant after he was accused of swiping a Capital One debit card.
Former US Marshal Lenny DePaul believes Laundrie is “sleeping with one eye open” as he is being hunted.
He told the New York Post: “I personally think he could be anywhere. It doesn’t matter. He’s gonna mess up. He’s going to make a mistake.”
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