WHERE'S BRIAN?
DOG the Bounty Hunter says he wants to speak to missing Brian Laundrie's father – and insists that parents know "50 percent of the time" where their kids are.
Dog, real name Duane Chapman, told Dr Oz in an interview on Tuesday that typically, parents insist they don't know where their children are after being accused of a crime.
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"And after, they say, 'Dog, I couldn't, I knew,'" Chapman said.
He also told Dr Oz that around "50 percent of the time" parents know where their children are.
Another "35 percent of the parents help," Dog said, adding he hopes the Laundrie family will fall into that number.
Over the weekend, Brian's parents called the police on Dog as he knocked on the door of Gabby Petito's would-be in-laws. Dog is still on the hunt for Laundrie.
It comes as...
- Vigils are held across America, and protests are held outside the Laundrie home
- Gabby's parents display tattoo tributes to their beloved daughter
- Internet sleuths investigate Brian's Pinterest account for clues
- A tourist comes forward claiming he spotted Brian, acting 'mad at the world,' at a rural bar just before Gabby was last seen alive
- Law enforcement officers adjust the parameters of their search for Laundrie based on new intelligence
Dog reportedly left the premises of his own volition. But, he said, he was just trying to speak to Brian's father.
"Well, you know, I wanna talk to his dad and explain the difference between involuntary manslaughter and murder one out of Wyoming," Dog told Dr Oz.
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"In murder one, you're facing the death penalty. A manslaughter is a life sentence with the possibility of parole.
"I wanted to explain to him, 'I know exactly what you're going through right now. As a matter of fact, I personally went through it.' So, I just wanted to talk to the dad."
Read our Brian Laundrie live blog for the very latest news and updates...
Dog himself was convicted of first-degree murder in 1976.
On Tuesday, the family's attorney confirmed that Laundrie and his parents stayed at a Florida campground 75 miles from their home just days before he vanished.
The potential lead in the case was first offered by Dog on Monday, who said he'd received a tip that Brian and his parents had visited Fort De Soto Park twice in September, most recently on September 6.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said on Monday they are not investigating the area and are unaware of any confirmed sightings of Laundrie, according to local reports.
Brian's parents have come under increasing scrutiny in recent days as the search for their son continues.
Part of that scrutiny stems from the fact the pair didn't report Brian missing until three days after he allegedly told them he was going hiking in Carlton Reserve on September 14 before vanishing.
During that time, the pair said they drove to the 25,000-acre reserve looking for Brian. They claim to have found no trace of him but stumbled across his car and drove it home.
Protesters have swarmed around the family's home over the last week, chanting "justice for Gabby" and waving signs – one of which read, "We think your [sic] Guilty so prove your innocence."
When Gabby was reported missing, Brian's family refused to cooperate with a police investigation into her disappearance and immediately retained an attorney.
Brian has not been named as a suspect in her murder, however, a warrant has been issued for his arrest in relation to allegations of unauthorized use of a debit card, which is believed to have belonged to Gabby.
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Amid the mounting speculation, Chris and Roberta Laundrie released a statement through their attorney on Monday, denying helping their son to evade police.
Laundrie attorney Steven Bertolino said: "They are concerned about Brian and hope the FBI can locate him."
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Reality star Chapman says that he has received more than 1,000 leads in the search for Brian.
He continues to solicit tips on his social media, and through his hotline, 833-TELL-DOG.
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