A federal arrest warrant has been issued for Gabby Petito’s fiancé, Brian Laundrie, according to an indictment filed on Thursday, September 23, by the Denver Field Office of the FBI.
On Sunday, September 19, the FBI confirmed in a news conference that the body found in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Wyoming, over the weekend has been confirmed to be that of Gabby Petito.
FBI says human remains were located in a campsite in Teton County. The body was said to be "consistent with the description" of the missing 22-year-old travel blogger.
The authorities had been awaiting full forensic identification of the body and, on September 21, it was confirmed that the remains belonged to Petito.
Laundrie, Petito's 23-year-old fiancé - who returned home without her after they went on a cross-country road trip - is a person of interest in the case, the FBI has said.
Now Laundrie is accused of swiping Gabby’s Capital One debit card and running up a $1,000 balance from August 31 through September 1, according to the indictment.
This comes on the same day that a law firm offered $20,000 reward to a tipster who helps find the missing fiancé.
The purchases made using the debit card appear to violate a federal statute (use of unauthorized access devices), and Laundrie has now been indicted by a federal grand jury.
The news release from the FBI says Laundrie’s spending activities happened following Gabby’s death that was officially determined to be a homicide.
"While this warrant allows law enforcement to arrest Mr. Laundrie, the FBI and our partners across the country continue to investigate the facts and circumstances of Ms. Petito's homicide," FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider stated in a release accompanying the indictment.
"We urge individuals with knowledge of Mr. Laundrie's role in this matter or his current whereabouts to contact the FBI. No piece of information is too small or inconsequential to support our efforts in this investigation."
Laundrie's attorney responded to the indictment and stressed that it's not directly related to Petito's "actual demise" and instead focuses on activities that occurred after she died.
"It is my understanding that the arrest warrant for Brian Laundrie is related to activities occurring after the death of Gabby Petito and not related to her actual demise," Steve Bertolino told Daily Mail.
"The FBI is focusing on locating Brian and when that occurs the specifics of the charges covered under the indictment will be addressed in the proper forum."
