Map shows ‘death trap’ Carlton, Florida, where Brian Laundrie search continues as experts say it’s like ‘living in hell’
THE Florida swampland being searched by cops hunting Brian Laundrie has been described as a "death trap" by survival experts.
Mark Burrows, who trains people to stay alive in the wild, said Gabby's missing fiance would be "living in hell" if he is hiding out in the Carlton Reserve.
That's down to the alligators, snakes, coyotes, and insects that inhabit the 25,000-acre swampland.
would also need to watch out for the terrain, Burrow said, which is "waist-deep in water in many areas" and has been described as "vast and unforgiving" by cops.
Safe drinking water would also be hard to come by as would edible plants and starting a fire would be hard on the waterlogged land.
And Burrow told : "It's dehydration that's the real danger."
WAS BRIAN EVER THERE?
He also suggested that if cops have found no evidence of Laundrie at the Reserve by now that means he probably was never there.
Authorities should have found tracks or sings he was eaten, Burrow told the paper.
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Local Francine Smetts told The New York Post: "I can't imagine one night out there and I camp."
North Port Police Department Commander Joe Fussell said: "The terrain is very difficult. About 75% of it is underwater."
'VAST AND UNFORGIVING' LAND
North Port police spokesperson Joshua Taylor noted: "Please be aware, the Carlton Reserve is a vast and unforgiving location at times. It is currently waist-deep in water in many areas.
"This is dangerous work for the search crews as they are wading through gator and snake-infested swamps and flooded hiking and biking trails."
The on Thursday.
's fiance was reported missing by last Friday. They told cops they had not seen their son since the previous Tuesday.
Since then authorities have been using drones and all-terrain swamp buggies to help in the hunt.
DRONES AND INFRARED CAMERAS
Specialist dog units, infrared cameras, divers, and agents from the FBI are also helping.
And thermal imaging is being used in the overnight hunt.
On Wednesday, an was summoned to Carlton Reserve as part of the search.
More search equipment - including an aquatic vehicle - arrived on the scene on Thursday morning, pictures show.
In the days since he vanished, a series of possible have been reported in a number of states, including elsewhere in Florida and in Alabama.
The most recent potential sighting came in Okaloosa County, Florida on Monday, when Facebook user Sam Bass shared an image of a man he spotted on one of his trail cams.
Police later confirmed the man was not Brian.
BRIAN 'SIGHTINGS'
Another potential sighting of Laundrie was reported around two blocks from his parent's home in North Port, Florida on Friday.
Online sleuths are also wondering if Laundrie could have evaded authorities and and into another country.
“Brian Laundrie most likely fled the country with his parent's help weeks ago,” wrote .
A second person , noting: "This assumes that he has a passport. If flying, there would be traceable records.
"He hasn’t left the country. Highly doubtful.”
Others .
TRIP BEGINS
The Sun has not been able to verify that Laundrie went live on his Instagram page.
A video clip that lasts a couple of seconds shows the closeup of what appears to be a body of water and shot from a green vessel with the image of an empty gallon water bottle.
Gabby and Brian left in July on a journey that took them to national parks out West.
Investigators said Laundrie had returned in the van to his parent's home in North Port, Florida, on September 1 without Gabby.
PERSON OF INTEREST
Gabby's mother said she pleaded with Laundrie for answers about where her daughter was but received no reply. She then reported Gabby missing to the police on September 11.
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They’ve identified him as a person of interest in the case.
Gabby's body was found at a Wyoming national park on Sunday. An initial autopsy found her cause of death to be a homicide.
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