ON THE HUNT
Dog the Bounty Hunter vows to find Gabby Petito’s boyfriend Brian Laundrie as ‘hottest lead’ points to Appalachian Trail
DOG the Bounty Hunter has vowed to find Gabby Petito's fiancé Brian Laundrie as the "hottest lead" points to the Appalachian Trail where he previously camped.
The TV star, real name Duane Chapmam, has joined the hunt for 23-year-old Laundrie as he told Petito's family he "wants to help bring justice for her death".
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Cops have been searching for Laundrie for the last seven days after the 22-year-old travel blogger's death during their cross-country road trip.
He remains missing after returning to his home in North Port, Florida, on September 1 without Petito.
at the Spread Creek Dispersed Campground in the Bridger-Teton National Forrest last Sunday in Wyoming - more than a week after she was reported missing.
She was last seen alive on August 24, and investigators appear to believe she was killed sometime between August 27 and 30.
And Fox News revealed that is now trying to locate Laundrie.
He arrived at Laundrie's parents' home on Saturday and knocked on the door - but he was met with silence.
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Dog said he received a "lot of requests" to get stuck into the case, and he's getting phone calls to his anonymous tip line every two or three minutes.
And a lot of the information he's received points to the Appalachian Trail.
"If there’s anywhere out there that looks the hottest, that could be the area," Dog said.
"I think he’s young enough, not an experienced criminal, but what is his greatest experience? Outdoorsman - that’s what he does the best.
"I don’t think he can shoplift, live on the run, live in cheap hotels. On a one-to-10 he’s probably a six, compared to the outdoorsmen and some of the guys I’ve captured."
, a private investigator, also described Laundrie as an "elite hiker, outdoorsman" and said he is likely on the run in the woods and "may be headed for the Appalachian Trail".
STINT IN THE WILD
And Laundrie's social media posts revealed he was that could help him survive for months.
He shared images of ways to pack a backpack and camping hacks to his Pinterest page in the months before he disappeared.
Pictures shared to Laundrie's Pinterest show he had looked in to the best ways to pack a backpack to "store essentials, rain gear and water".
Other images show rock climbing gear and home electrical wiring.
Petito's best friend said Laundrie had the ability to survive in the wild for months.
Rose Davis, told the : "I know he lived in the Appalachians for what I believe was three months, and he did it by himself, so I know he's skilled at it."
Dog wanted to help with the case after he and his new wife Francie Frane "experienced extreme loss themselves," his team said in a statement.
"I know what the victims feel like," he told .
"The dad can still reach out to me, through social media," he added.
"Let’s get the kid captured alive. Alive."
Dog asked for "anyone with information on Laundrie's whereabouts to call me at 833-TELLDOG" and added that "all information will be kept confidential".
Just a few days ago, the TV bail bondsman suggested how he would track down Laundrie.
He advised investigators to start with the missing man's family and friends before looking into his connection to the Florida reserve.
HUNTED BY THE FBI
Laundrie is now being hunted by the FBI after an was issued for the 23-year-old.
He is accused of swiping a Capital One debit card and running up a $1,000 balance from August 31 until September 1.
Laundrie's parents reported their son missing on September 17, and say they last saw him three days earlier.
They say he left their home to go hiking, taking with him his backpack.
Search and rescue efforts started last weekend after FBI crews, cops and K9s were deployed to the alligator and snake-infested reserve.
The Carlton Reserve is a 25,000-acre national park and is home to venomous rattlesnakes, alligators, coyotes, and bobcats.
Survival expert Mark Burrow, said Laundrie is likely "living in hell" if he's in the Florida wilderness, reports.
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He warned that starting a fire would be "impossible" due to the heavy rains that have hit the nature reserve in recent days.
And, drinking water is likely to be full of tannins after the downpours. They are commonly found in the roots and bark of trees but high concentrations can be harmful to humans.
APPALACHIAN TRAIL
The Appalachian Trail is a hiking trail which extends between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine.
The trail is about 2,200 miles (3,500 km) long - although the exact length changes over time as parts are rerouted or modified.
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy describes the Appalachian Trail as the longest hiking-only trail in the world.
More than 2 million people are said to take a hike on the trail every year.
The trail itself was completed in 1937 after more than a decade of work, and it is maintained by 31 trail clubs and multiple partnerships.
Most of the trail is in forest or wild lands, although some portions go through towns, roads and farms.
It passes through 14 states - Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
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