New Bern police check tip about Brian Laundrie sighting
New Bern police investigated a tip this week that Brian Laundrie was seen in the city.
WITN reports that New Bern Police Captain David Daniels said a tip was called in, but it did not check out.
Laundrie is a a person of interest in Gabby Petito's death.
Petito's murder garnered national attention after she disappeared while on a cross-country road trip with Laundrie, her fiance.
Rumors also circulated on social media this week that Laundrie was spotted in Boone, NC. A photo on Facebook that claimed to have been taken there was making the rounds online, saying it was a photo of Laundrie.
Officials with the Watagua County Sheriff's Office said that they were looking into these claims, but nothing has been verified.
"The information has been sent to our local agencies as is done for similar information and analysis," said Sheriff Len Hagaman
Petito's murder has taken the internet by storm, where hundreds of accounts are speculating about what happened to her. The national obsession with Petito's case has posed questions about "true crime sleuths" and if they are distracting from the investigation or assisting in it.
Dog the Bounty Hunter, a reality TV star whose real name is Duane Chapman, has also begun searching for Laundrie. Chapman recently said a tipster sent him to a park in Florida in search of Laundrie.
"Social media has been amazing," said Gabby Petito's father, Joe Petito. "I just like to thank everyone for that. I do. It is greatly appreciated. That was very helpful in bringing our daughter home. So thank you very much. I don't think we can thank everybody enough."
