Holly MatkinNorth Port, FL – More details are emerging about an argument between Brian Laundrie and female staff members at a Wyoming restaurant shortly before Gabby Petito’s disappearance, as well as an apparent camping trip the Laundrie family took the day Petito’s family reported her missing.
Laundrie refused to speak with police or Petito’s family about where he last saw her before he supposedly vanished while hiking in a Florida nature reserve on Sept. 14.
The couple had been touring U.S. national parks in Petito’s converted camper van since early July.
A Louisiana couple told FOX News Wednesday that they crossed paths with Petito, 22, and Laundrie, 23, at a restaurant in Jackson Hole, Wyoming back on Aug. 27 – just two days after Petito’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, said she last spoke with her.
Nina Celie Angelo and her boyfriend, Matthew England, were eating lunch at Merry Piglets between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Aug. 27, when they allegedly spotted a man arguing with a female member of the restaurant’s wait staff, FOX News reported.
Angelo said she did not hear the content of the exchange, but said Laundrie appeared “aggressive” and that he walked in and out of the restaurant about four times during the confrontation.
He argued with at least three women – a waitress, the manager, and a hostess – during the ordeal, according to Angelo.
She said Petito came into the restaurant at one point and apologized for Laundrie’s behavior.
England said Petito appeared to be “visibly upset” over what occurred, FOX News reported.
Less than five hours later, another couple happened to record a shot of Petito’s parked van as they were passing through a campsite north of Jackson Hole, FOX News reported.
Merry Piglets made an Instagram post on Wednesday confirming Petito and Laundrie had been at the restaurant.
“Yes, we can confirm Gabby and Brian were in Merry Piglets,” the post read. “We have already notified the FBI and they are aware. We are letting them do their jobs and we are respecting Gabby’s family and have nothing further to comment.”
Back in Florida, the Laundrie family’s neighbors have spoken out about a strange camping trip Christopher and Roberta Laundrie took with their 23-year-old son the day her family reported her as missing.
According to Charlene and William Guthrie, the family set off in a new, small camper attached to their truck on Sept. 11 for what the Guthries figured was a weekend getaway, FOX News reported.
They said Petito had been living at the Laundrie home prior to the couple’s cross-country trip in Petito’s converted camper van, and said they had no idea Brian Laundrie had returned home without her on Sept. 1.
The Guthries said when police later came around asking neighbors questions in relation to a missing persons case, they told them about the camping excursion, FOX News reported.
William Guthrie noted he thought it was odd that the entire family would be camping in such a small camper.
The current location of the camper is unclear.
Concerns about eerie images Laundrie saved on Pinterest weeks prior to Petito’s disappearance have also been raised in recent days.
One image included cartoon drawings of ghosts, clowns, and a gravestone bearing the words “MY BABY.”
“Let her go, let her go, GOD BLESS HER, wherever she may be,” was written near the gravestone, as well as the words, “She’ll never find a sweet man like me.”
Another image was titled “The Opposite of Lost.”
“Don’t try to find me,” the image read. “I have finally escaped my ‘master’s’ wicked clutches. To the others I say: join me. Bite the hand that feeds you. Vive La Liberte – Pierre.”
The account featured numerous other quotes.
“It’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything,” one read.
“It hurt itself in its confusion,” another post said.
Petito’s body was discovered in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming on Sept. 19.
Her death has been ruled a homicide.
Petito’s exact cause of death has not been released.
Laundrie has been missing since Sept. 14, after he allegedly went hiking in the Carlton Reserve in Sarasota County and never returned.
His parents brought his car home from the nature reserve two days later, but didn’t contact police about his supposed disappearance until Sept. 17.
The North Port Police Department (NPPD) has named Laundrie as a “person of interest” in Petito’s murder.
Police have been searching for Laundrie in the 25,000-acre reserve for the past week.
On Wednesday, investigators hauled in pumps and divers began searching the water for any sign of Laundrie or his belongings, WAGA reported.
Investigators swarmed the Laundrie home on Monday and declared the residence to be a crime scene prior to searching the property.
