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NORTH PORT, Fla. — FBI agents are searching the home of Brian Laundrie Monday after securing a court-authorized warrant the morning after searchers found a body matching the description of his fiance Gabby Petito in Wyoming.
Agents arrived at the Laundrie family home in North Port, Florida, the federal agency confirmed. No additional details were released.
Police in Florida also suspended their search in a nature reserve for the 23-year-old Laundrie, who is considered a person of interest in the unsolved case after driving Petito's van home alone from a cross-country road trip.
The North Port Police Department "currently has no plans to conduct a major search" for Laundrie at the 24,000-acre Carlton Reserve in Sarasota County, Florida, the agency said in a statement. His parents reported him missing late last week and said he was in that area, police have said.
The department said it has "exhausted all avenues in searching of the grounds there." It was not immediately clear if investigators were searching elsewhere for Laundrie.
The updates come after search crews found the human remains in the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping area, the FBI said Sunday. Full forensic identification has not yet been completed nor has the cause of death been determined.
"We are saddened and heartbroken to learn that Gabby has been found deceased," Florida's North Port Police Department posted on Facebook Sunday. "Our focus from the start, along with the FBI and national partners, has been to bring her home. We will continue to work with the FBI in the search for more answers."
In a statement provided by an attorney, Petito's family thanked the FBI, as well as police and search and rescue crews for their help on the case.
"Your tireless work and determination helped bring Gabby home to her parents. The family and I will be forever grateful," the attorney said.
Petito, 22, was seen traveling through Utah and Wyoming in her van with Laundrie prior to her disappearance. Petito and Laundrie left from Blue Point, New York, in early July and were in Utah from Aug. 12 to 24 before they drove north to Grand Teton National Park, where Petito was last seen.
Laundrie returned home to Florida alone in Petito's van on Sept. 1 and Petito was then reported missing Sept. 11, after her family hadn't heard from her since late August, according to police. Laundrie has, so far, refused to say anything about Petito's whereabouts, with statements coming only from the Laundrie's attorney.
Investigators announced Laundrie's disappearance on Sept. 17 after his family attorney called the FBI and said they had not seen him since Tuesday.
The FBI continues to ask for the public's assistance in sharing information they may have about this case through the tip lines: 1-800-CALL FBI or tips.fbi.gov. Photos or videos may be submitted to fbi.gov/petito.
Contributing: Garna Mejia; Associated Press
