The neighbors of Brian Laundrie said they spotted him and his parents packing an 'attached camper' meant for long-weekend camping trips after he returned to the North Port, Florida, residence without girlfriend Gabby Petito.
Laundrie is a 'person of interest' in the homicide of Petito, whose body was found near a camp site in Wyoming where the couple had stayed during a driving trip across America.
She was last seen alive on August 24, and he returned home to Florida alone on September 1. Laundrie vanished from his parents home before Gabby's body was found, and remains missing.
Neighbors Charlene and William Guthrie said they saw the Laundries hook up what appeared to be a new camper to the back of their pickup truck on their way for a weekend trip about a week after their son's return.
When police contacted the Guthries over the disappearance of Petito, William told them about the family's trip, noting that it was unusual for Christopher and Roberta Laundrie to go off in such a small camper with their 23-year-old son.
'I saw them doing some work. And then when they prepared for their trip, I saw them loading the camper,' William told Fox News.
Charlene and William Guthrie told Fox they spotted the Laundries leaving for a camping trip just days after Brian Laundrie returned home alone without the missing Gabby Petito
Gabby Petito, 22, is pictured with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie, 23, as they made their 'van life' road trip. Petito's body was found on Sunday and Laundrie has disappeared
The Gunthries added that living next to the Laundries had become a nightmare since Petito and later Laundrie went missing with police and reporters roaming the neighborhood for nearly a month investigating the case.
The Laundrie family were initially reluctant to cooperate with the investigation regarding the missing Petito until Brian went missing last week.
Their house was searched on Monday, and Brian's parents Christopher and Roberta were questioned.
Law enforcement continue to comb the nearby alligator-infested Carlton Reserve in search of Laundrie.
Christopher Laundrie, Brian's father, pictured on September 21
Petito's stepfather James Schmidt has visited the exact spot where her body was found in Wyoming, and created a memorial to the 22-year-old New Yorker.
Schmidt, who is married to Petito's mother Nichole, traveled from New York to Wyoming last week to help with the search for the missing 'van life' traveler.
She had been reported missing on September 11, and he set out on September 14. Her body was found on September 19.
On Wednesday Schmidt made a stone cross at the site where Petito was discovered, Fox News confirmed. He left yellow and white flowers on the site, beneath the trees.
Gabby Petito's father James Schmidt has visited the exact spot where she was killed, and created a stone cross. He laid a floral tribute
James Schmidt, Gabby Petito's stepfather, traveled to Wyoming on September 14 to help the search for the 22-year-old. Four days later her body was found
