Friends of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie say their relationship was 'toxic'

Friends of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie say their relationship was 'toxic'
Friends of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie say their relationship was 'toxic'

Friends of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie have opened up about the ill-fated van-life couple's relationship, describing it as turbulent, often 'toxic' and filled with 'drama' from the time they first met as teenagers. 

Petito, a 22-year-old Long Island native, was killed while on a cross-country trip with Laundrie. Her body was discovered at a campsite near Grand Teton, Wyoming, on Sunday and was positively identified on Tuesday, with the manner of death being ruled a homicide.

Speaking to People Magazine, Laundrie's friend Ben Matula said the man's relationship with Petito had always been volatile.

'One minute, they'd be all over each other, the next minute, he'd be like, "We're fighting,"' Matula told the outlet. 'They always had some drama.'

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Friends of Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito (pictured together) say their relationship was often 'toxic' and filled with 'drama'

Friends of Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito (pictured together) say their relationship was often 'toxic' and filled with 'drama'  

Search teams fan out at Carlton Reserve park near North Port, Florida wilderness park to search for Brian Laundrie on Wednesday

Search teams fan out at Carlton Reserve park near North Port, Florida wilderness park to search for Brian Laundrie on Wednesday

The large-scale search for the missing person of interest is entering its fifth day on Thursday

The large-scale search for the missing person of interest is entering its fifth day on Thursday

Officials believe Laundrie had fled into the 24,000-acre preserve teeming with alligators and snakes after telling his parents he was going on a hike

Officials believe Laundrie had fled into the 24,000-acre preserve teeming with alligators and snakes after telling his parents he was going on a hike 

The pair had been travelling on a cross-country trip together since July 2, when they left New York. Petito was reported missing on September 11

The pair had been travelling on a cross-country trip together since July 2, when they left New York. Petito was reported missing on September 11

Laundrie, 23, has been named a 'person of interest' but not a suspect in his girlfriend's death. Law enforcement officials in Florida, where the boyfriend lives, have spent the past four days looking for him in an alligator-infested wilderness park, where investigators say he had fled after returning home without Petito earlier this month.

The search for the missing man was set to resume on Thursday morning for a fifth day.

Matula said Laundrie's relationship with Petito, which began when they were high school students in Blue Point, New York, always had a dark undercurrent.

'There was always something below the surface where things weren't 100 per cent wonderful,' he said. 

Alyssa Chen, 23, Petito's friend, echoed Matula's assessment of the young couple's relationship.

Petito, 22, is seen with Laundrie in a post dated July 29, 2021. His post is captioned: 'Barefoot hiking.' He has been named a person of interest in her homicide

Petito, 22, is seen with Laundrie in a post dated July 29, 2021. His post is captioned: 'Barefoot hiking.' He has been named a person of interest in her homicide 

Alyssa Chen (not pictured), Petito's friend, said her relationship with Laundrie 'had very low lows and very high highs'

The pair grew up together in Long Island

Alyssa Chen (not pictured), Petito's friend, said her relationship with Laundrie 'had very low lows and very high highs.' The pair grew up together in Long Island 

'They had times they were toxic and times where everything seemed a lot more healthy,' Chen told People. 'They had very low lows and very high highs. But they really seemed to love each other. 

'When things were good, you'd be like, 'Why can't I have a relationship like that?" When they were bad, you'd be like "Oh my God, just break up and spare yourself from the drama and everyone else from having to hear about it."'

Petito and Laundrie grew up together in Long Island but moved in recent years to North Port, where his parents live. Their home, about 35 miles south of Sarasota, was searched by investigators earlier this week and a Ford Mustang driven by Laundrie’s mother was towed from the driveway. 

Authorities believe Laundrie drove that car to the 24,000-acre Carlton Reserve before disappearing. 

His family reported him missing on September 17, three days after he told his parents he was going on a hike.  

Laundrie's family lawyer issued a five-word statement when Gabby's body was found, saying: 'May she rest in peace.' 

The couple got into a physical altercation on August 12 in Moab, Utah, that led to a police stop for a possible domestic violence case (Petito is seen in bodycam video)

The couple got into a physical altercation on August 12 in Moab, Utah, that led to a police stop for a possible domestic violence case (Petito is seen in bodycam video) 

Police decided to separate the feuding couple for the night but no charges were filed and no serious injuries were reported

Police decided to separate the feuding couple for the night but no charges were filed and no serious injuries were reported

Petito's last known sighting was believed to have been on August 27 at the Merry Piglets restaurant in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Petito's last known sighting was believed to have been on August 27 at the Merry Piglets restaurant in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Diners described Laundrie as acting aggressively while arguing with staff about his bill

Diners described Laundrie as acting aggressively while arguing with staff about his bill

The Laundrie house was searched on Monday by the FBI for evidence, and Brian's parents Christopher and Roberta were questioned. 

The ongoing outdoors search for Brian includes thousands of acres of forbidding, swampy subtropical

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