Van-lifers fear for safety after Gabby Petito’s death and reveal where they think Brian Laundrie is hiding
THE van-life community is ready to fight for Gabby Petito no matter how long it takes and “millions” are “ready to be her voice" in the battle for justice.
Hannah and Cody Lane, members of the tight-knit community, have used their popular social media platform to
They have also revealed fears for their own safety in the wake of Gabby's horrific death.
Hannah has been open about her thoughts on, whose was recorded September 17.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, she revealed that she thinks Brian is out on the Appalachian Trail and he has experience "living off the grid"; from a prior two-month visit there.
She added: "We need to focus on his specific identifiers and markers. Not just him being a bald guy with a beard.
"He has a folded ear that's triangular and a tattoo on his finger."
Hannah, who has been conversing with other van-life travelers throughout the the , has no doubt that if officials focus on the trail location and his specific physical attributes, he could be found within the week.
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“He’s hiding, he thinks he’s gotten away with it and his lawyer thinks the longer he’s out there, the more the media will die down but there are millions of us ready to be voice and won’t allow that to happen.”
The duo has been traveling cross-country for the past two years in their 1987 tour bus and this case has created some anxiety in their travels, including sleepless nights.
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“I have talked so much openly about and the things that he has done that now I’m paranoid that he’s going to come to my bus.
“It is just so scary because you never know who you are near. You could be parked next to someone and the next thing you know you are on the news.”
'Lost his temper and snapped'
After doing research on Brian and learning about his mental health background, Hannah believes was a result of domestic violence.
She thinks Brian “lost his temper and snapped” then proceeded to “panic and leave” after harming her.
Hannah finds the behavior of Brian's parents and his sister Cassie to be eerie. She thinks the family is being told what to do by lawyers to "throw the media off."
"I think the sister speaking out to the media was very strategic.
“Also, if his parents genuinely thought their son was missing and endangered, they would be out searching.”
“I think his parents are willing to take the blame for whatever they’re charged with because they know it will be a shorter sentence than he would have.
'I was in Jackson Hole when she was in Jackson Hole'
Hannah and Cody first learned of when they were out in the desert shooting a television show.
“I was in Jackson Hole when she was in Jackson Hole,” Hannah said. “We didn't see each other.
“We looked through our pictures and went out to look when we heard she ”
The pair decided to use their social media platforms which features over 300,000 followers on TikTok to “blow the story up” because they knew how dangerous the terrain, conditions and Grizzly bears are in Wyoming.
'Brian was just along for the ride'
Hannah described the van-life to be nomadic and revealed that it is not for everyone. Most, such as herself, go into the journey wanting to downsize and see the world.
“It sounds like Gabby went into it to build her blog and Brian was just along for the ride,” she said.
She described the nomadic life as a committed adventure that gets crowded, expensive, and stressful.
“If you’re fighting before you get into a less than a 100-square foot van, then you’ll really be fighting when you’re shoved in a tiny little spot together.”
According to NamUS (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System), more than 600,000 persons go missing in the United States every year.
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In 2017, there were 3,453 reported search and rescue missions and 182 deaths in American National Parks
“I hope this case sheds light on all the other missing persons around the US and cases that haven’t gotten solved because they don't have this kind of media attention.”
Gabby Petito timeline
Gabby Petito, 22, was last seen on August 24, leaving a hotel in Utah. Here is a timeline of Gabby Petito's disappearance:
- June 2021 - set off on a cross-country trip across the US.
- July 4 - posts photos of herself barefoot in Gove County, Kansas.
- July 8 - Gabby posts photos of herself at the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.
- July 18 - Gabby and post photos of themselves at Utah's Zion National Park.
- August 12 - in September showing an encounter Brian and Gabby had with police in Utah. Police confirmed that no significant injuries were reported.
- August 19 - on their YouTube channel chronicling their trip.
- August 24 - Gabby is spotted leaving a hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah.
- August 25 - Gabby Facetimes her mom, Nichole Schmidt, for the final time. In a later police report, Schmidt said her conversations with her daughter revealed "" between her and Brian.
- August 25 - Gabby also posts her last Instagram. No location is given.
- August 27 - Gabby is . Witnesses claim they saw Brian in an explosive argument with staff at a restaurant in Jackson Hole, leaving Gabby in tears.
- August 27 - Four hours later, travel bloggers driving through Grand Teton National Park drive past the couple's van "abandoned" on a dirt road.
- September 1 - Brian returns home to without Gabby.
- September 11 - report her missing to Suffolk County police.
- September 14 - Brian's family issues a statement saying he has retained an attorney and will not be cooperating with investigators.
- September 14 - Brian is by his family. He reportedly told them he was going hiking in Cartlon Reserve but failed to return.
- September 15 - Florida's North Port police announce in the case. He is not charged with any crime.
- September 16 - Utah police release of the police encounter with Brian and Gabby.
- September 17 - say they have not seen their son in a couple of days and report him missing.
- September 18 - Police announc. Police announce they have not found anything.
- September 19 - Authorities in Wyoming say . The FBI announces the body was believed to be Gabby's but a full forensic identification needs to be completed first to confirm.
- September 20 - Police execute a search warrant on Laundrie's home, seizing and a hard drive that may contain "evidence relevant to proving that a felony has been committed."
- September 21 - Officials announce they will be on the remains found in Wyoming to confirm whether or not they belong to Gabby. Police also resumed their search for Laundrie, this time on the Venice side of Carlton Reserve.
- September 21 - The FBI announced the body found in Wyoming was identified as Gabby's. The cause of death was not yet revealed.
- September 21 - The Teton County Coroner's office said was still pending but the initial manner of death is homicide.
- September 22 - Police continue to scour for a trace of Laundrie but yield no leads. A specialist dive team is called in to assist with the hunt.
- September 23 - Officials announced a for Brian was issued.
- September 26 - Gabby'swas held on Long Island, New York.
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