Gabby Petito with Brian Laundrie, her fiance Courtesy Schmidt and Petito family
Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie, friends of the couple, said they seemed happy.
Two of Petito's friends claimed that they haven't met Laundrie during the two years Petito has been dating.
Petito, 22 years old, was reported missing in March after he went on a cross-country journey with Laundrie.
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Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie have been praised by their friends and acquaintances in recent days, as the national search continues for the missing 22 year-old woman.
After a cross-country trip with Laundrie in a converted van, Petito was reported missing earlier this month.
Nicole Kalanich, a former colleague of Petito and Laundrie, said to Insider that she was shocked by the news of the disappearance.
Kalanich claimed that she first met the couple while they were both working at a Publix grocery shop in North Port, Florida. Although they never had any time apart, Kalanich said she kept in touch via FaceTime and text with Petito and Laundrie after their separation.
Kalanich stated that they didn't speak about their trip across the nation.
She described Petito's and Laundrie as "happy, cheerful."
Kalanich said to Insider, "They never complained." They were two goals for me."
Fox News reported that Sean Leahy was the father of Laundrie's classmate. He described Laundrie "quiet" as well as "a good kid growing-up," Fox News reported.
Sean's son also knew them in high school.
"All this stuff coming out, it's like surprised because every single time I ever hung with Brian or had classes with Brian he was a really kind kid, a really funny child," he said to Fox News.
Gabby was the only person I met. She was there maybe one to three times. He said that she, each time I met her was very kind."
Steven Evans and Nikki Passannante, Petito's two friends, said to Ashleigh Banfield that they had never met their boyfriend but that the couple appeared happy.
Continue the story
Evans stated that Evans never met him. "When they got engaged, they asked me to photograph their wedding. But, since then, I haven't heard much about him, and wasn't aware of his appearance up until now."
Passannante said, "I never had the chance to meet him." "They moved to Florida early in their relationship, and they're now in Long Island. Unfortunately, we never got to know much. They seem to be in love based on what she posts and what she says.
Banfield asked Passannante whether Petito could have forged her own path. Passannante shrugged.
Evans said, "I wish that that could be possible, I do, but she's not a personality that would just go on her own like that."
He said, "She's independent but not like that." She wouldn't be able to go off the grid without contacting her family. She would call her family every day, sometimes just a few times per day. This is very unusual.
Petito disappeared in August, a month after the couple were filmed together on Moab City Police Department's bodycam footage. According to police reports, Petito confessed to having OCD and anxiety. The couple were separated that night.
Petito spoke last to Nicole Schmidt via FaceTime on August 24, and she posted her last Instagram post on August 25. Police said that Laundrie returned home on September 1 alone with the van. Petito was reported missing in New York by her family until September 11.
Florida police claim they don't suspect Petito of committing a crime in Petito’s disappearance. However, Laundrie was identified as a person-of-interest Wednesday.
Laundrie will not be brought in by the police to be questioned at this time, even though the Police Chief stated that he believes Laundrie has all the answers.
Insider has the original article.
