Police: Missing Florida woman and slain couple unrelated

SALT LAKE CITY – A Utah region sheriff said Friday detectives person determined determination is nary transportation betwixt the disappearance of a Florida pistillate who went missing during a cross-country travel with her fellow and a still-unsolved slaying of 2 women who were fatally shot.

Police successful Florida had said Thursday a imaginable transportation was being explored due to the fact that the women were recovered dormant successful the aforesaid tourer municipality of Moab, Utah, wherever the missing woman, Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito, and her fellow Brian Laundrie had an affectional combat to which constabulary had been called.

But Grand County Sheriff Steven White said successful a quality merchandise the 2 cases are unrelated, without providing immoderate details.

The 2 women killed, newlyweds Kylen Schulte, 24, and Crystal Turner, 38, had told friends they feared a “creepy man” they had seen adjacent mightiness harm them earlier their bodies were recovered Aug. 18.

The quality betwixt Petito, 22, and Laundrie, 23, occurred connected Aug. 12 and was caught connected constabulary assemblage camera. Ultimately Moab constabulary decided not record immoderate charges and alternatively separated the mates for the night, with Laundrie checking into a motel and Petito remaining with the converted sleeper van.

Ad

Petito and Laundrie started their thrust crossed the U.S. successful July from New York’s Long Island, wherever some grew up. They intended to scope Oregon by Halloween, according to their societal media accounts. But Petito vanished aft her past known interaction with household successful precocious August from Grand Teton National Park successful Wyoming, authorities said.

Laundrie drove the Ford Transit van backmost to Florida connected Sept. 1 alone, constabulary said. Petito’s household filed a missing persons study past Saturday with constabulary successful Suffolk County, New York.

Police successful North Port, Florida, wherever the mates lived, accidental Laundrie is simply a “person of interest” successful her case. He has not been charged, but helium is besides not cooperating.

Petito’s parents released a missive done their lawyer connected Thursday to Laundrie’s parents, asking them to assistance investigators find Petito, contempt their instinct to support their son.

Laundrie’s attorney, Steven Bertolino, said the Laundrie household is hoping for Petito’s harmless return, but helium has asked them not to talk with investigators.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This worldly whitethorn not beryllium published, broadcast, rewritten oregon redistributed without permission.