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Brian Laundrie’s Mom Called 911 After ‘Dog The Bounty Hunter’ Showed Up At Her House While Searching For Her Son
Duane Chapman, known for the reality television show "Dog the Bounty Hunter," said he went to the home because he wanted to tell Brian Laundrie's family that his goal is to find the missing 23-year-old alive.
The mother of Brian Laundrie, a person of interest in Gabby Petito's disappearance who has been missing for two weeks, called 911 Saturday after “Dog the Bounty Hunter” showed up at their Florida home while searching him.
The 911 call was confirmed in audio obtained by Fox News.
“The female, Roberta…called in on 911,” a dispatcher said, adding there had been a “situation with a male.”
Duane “Dog” Chapman, who has risen to fame as a popular reality television bounty hunter, arrived at the family’s home on Saturday afternoon, hoping to speak with Laundrie’s parents about their son.
Chapman told the news outlet that before he had arrived at the property, he had spoken with police.
“It’s a shame they wouldn’t speak with us,” Chapman said of the Laundrie family. “The police said we were welcome to knock on the door so we did. I wanted to tell the Laundries that our goal is to find Brian and bring him in alive.”
Brian was reported missing by his parents on Sept. 17, three days after they said he went hiking in Florida’s Carlton Reserve and never returned home.
His silver Florida Mustang—which he had allegedly driven to the park—was later picked up that same day by a family member and driven back to his Florida home, local station WBBH-TV reports.
The car was later towed away by investigators, who scoured the 25,000-acre nature preserve for any sign of Laundrie.
His parents have insisted through their attorney that they do not know where Brian could be hiding.
“Chris and Roberta Laundrie don’t know where Brian is,” attorney Steve Bertolino said in a statement to People. “They are concerned about Brian and hope the FBI can locate him.”
Bertolino also dismissed rumors that the couple may have helped their son go on the run.
“The speculation by the public and some in the press that the parents assisted Brian in leaving the family home or in avoiding arrest on a warrant that was issued after Brian had already been missing for several days is just wrong,” he said.
Chapman, 68, decided to join the search to find the missing 23-year-old after learning of the case and strode up to the family’s home on Saturday afternoon, before loudly banging on the front door.
“I need to speak to the father,” he told The Daily Mail as he knocked. “I need to ask him where his son is. Is he in there?”
The couple never came to the door, but Chapman has said he already has “several” leads about where Brian may be.
“We’ve got a lot of leads. I can’t tell you more but we are getting leads every 10 minutes,” he told the publication.
North Port Police spokesman Josh Taylor confirmed the Laundrie family had called 911 to report the reality star’s visit and told Fox News they handled the call like they would any other.
“We’ve been called to the house numerous times for all sort of issues: media, protestors, celebrity searchers,” he said. “It’s not something normal. If the family calls and is concerned, we will respond like we would for anyone.”
Taylor declined to comment to Oxygen.com now that the FBI has taken over the investigation.
A spokesperson for the FBI declined to comment to Oxygen.com about Chapman’s involvement in the case or any other issues, citing the ongoing investigation.
Chapman’s representative said the reality star is “volunteering” his services, alongside his new wife Francie Frane, because he wanted to be able to help Petito’s grieving family.
“Dog and Francie have experienced extreme loss themselves,” his representative said. “Their hearts go out to Gabby’s family and want to help bring justice for her death.”
Petito, 22, was found dead earlier this month in the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.
Petito and Brian had been on a cross country trip to visit national parks across the country before she disappeared late last month. The couple had been chronicling their journey online, including in an 8-minute YouTube video titled “Beginning Our Van Life Journey” which showed the couple doing cartwheels on the beach and kissing.
Chapman has given himself a six-week deadline to find Laundrie and isn’t restricting his search to the Carlton Reserve where his family said he had disappeared.
Chapman also plans to consider other possibilities like the Appalachian Mountains, after Petito’s best friend Rose Davis said Brian had extensive survival experience in the area.
“I know he lived in the Appalachians for what I believe was three months, and he did it by himself, so I know he’s skilled at it,” Davis told The Daily Mail.
Chapman has insisted his goal is to find Brian alive and said he’s still hopeful the Laundrie family will decide to aid in his search.
“I will find him,” he vowed.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
"The Murder of Gabby Petito: Truth, Lies and Social Media" will air on Oxygen on Monday, January 24 at 9/8c. It's also available to stream on Peacock now.
