Reality television star Duane Chapman has joined in on the hunt for Brian Laundrie.
Chapman, the star of Dog the Bounty Hunter, has experience in finding missing people, having hunted for wanted criminals for years on his reality television show.
The FBI and local law enforcement have been searching for Laundrie ever since he was reported missing. He went missing shortly after being named a person of interest in the Gabby Petito case.
Petito and Laundrie were on a cross-country road trip together when Laundrie returned home alone. Petito’s body was discovered shortly after.
Laundrie refused to cooperate with law enforcement before disappearing.
“We have received an avalanche of tips on the whereabouts of Brian Laundrie,” Chapman told E! News in a statement. “We appreciate the public’s assistance and have received a number of leads that are consistent. There is a remarkable amount of information being shared from neighbors, friends and people who may have very recently seen Brian.”
Chapman stressed that his goal was to find Laundrie alive and to end the search “peacefully.” He encourages anyone with information on Laundrie’s whereabouts to contact 833-TELLDOG.
Chapman also shared some personal insight into the case. “A lot of times they say he’s out of state when he’s right there in his hometown, you know,” he told Newsweek. “You got to start with his friends, family members, find out where [have] they gone? When’s the last time they saw him? What kind of vehicle is he in? There’s all kinds of ways to track that vehicle. I mean, now the investigation is really kicked into high gear.”
Laundrie’s parents did not report him missing until a few days after his disappearance. Petito’s family released a statement saying that they believe “Brian is not missing, he is hiding.”
