Brian Laundrie’s sister said he flew home on 17 August after bodycam fight – upending entire Petito timeline

On a door-step interview with protesters, Cassie Laundrie opened up about her brother’s disappearance

Brian Laundrie’s sister, Cassie Laundrie, has said that her brother returned home on 17 August, after Utah police pulled the couple over during a fight.

Ms Laundrie and her husband James Luycx took questions from a group of protesters outside her home, sharing the little they know on the case of the 22-year-old travel blogger Gabby Petito, who was found dead in Bridger–Teton National Forest in Wyoming.

On Monday, Ms Laundrie confirmed that her brother flew home to Florida on or before 17 August, and rejoined Ms Petito before returning home alone with her van on 1 September. She says she saw him on 1 September, reported NewsNation Now.

She claimed she learned of Petito’s disappearance when questioned by police on 11 September. Asked if she knew if her brother had killed Petito or if he was dead she said “I don’t know”.

Ms Laundrie opened up to protesters as she said their presence outside her house was upsetting her family; she spoke to them for 20 minutes and answered a series of questions.

“To us, the silence was a form of guilt, do you understand?” said protesters, who were placated during the interview.

“For us, silence was not guilt, silence was the FBI telling us not to,” said Ms Laundrie.

Referring to his brother-in-law, “the sooner he is found, the sooner this is over for all of us,” said Mr Luycx.

Ms Laundrie and her partner were also asked if her brother had ever been violent with Petito or her, to which they answered “no”.

Asked if they think Mr Laundrie could survive out in the woods on his own for a month, Ms Laundrie said: “I think anyone could survive out in the woods for a month if you grab a book and go out there and try.”

Police stopped Mr Laundrie and Ms Petito on 12 August, after reports by two witnesses of domestic violence. Police bodycam footage shows Ms Petito explaining how Mr Laundrie grabbed her by the face, she also admitted hitting him.

Ms Petito was found dead in Wyoming on 19 September. Mr Laundrie has continued to elude law enforcement and has not been seen since 14 September. A search warrant was issued for Mr Laundrie’s arrest after a grand jury in Wyoming indicted him on a single count of unlawfully using a credit card.

The protesters outside Ms Laundrie’s house, who claim they know Ms Petito’s family, said they urge Brian and Cassie Laundrie’s parents to come out “cooperate and make a statement” too.