Brian Laundrie Update: Dad Asked To Join Search For Son; Police Find Campsite

Christopher Laundrie, the father of 23-year-old fugitive Brian Laundrie, has been asked by authorities to help in the search for his son at Florida's Carlton Reserve, Brian's family attorney said Wednesday.

"[Christopher] was asked to assist law enforcement in their search for Brian at the preserve today," attorney Steve Bertolino was quoted as saying in a statement by WINK News.

Brian went missing on Sept. 13 — two days after his 22-year-old fiancé, Gabrielle "Gabby" Petito, was reported missing by her parents. The Long Island native was later found dead at a national park in Wyoming on Sept. 19.

Authorities in Florida continue to search for Laundrie, the sole person of interest in this case, at the Carlton Reserve, which is a 24,565-acre park in Sarasota County that closed on Sept 21.

Brian's parents, Christopher and Roberta, claimed he went to the reserve with a bookbag and without his phone.

"Since the preserve has been closed to the public, Chris has not been able to look for Brian in the only place Chris and Roberta believe Brian may be," Bertolino said.

"Unfortunately, North Port police had to postpone Chris’ involvement, but Chris and Roberta are hopeful there will be another opportunity to assist," he added.

However, the North Port Police Department (NPPD) denied ever asking for Christopher's assistance in the search for his son.

"The FBI is the lead. The NPPD, would not be making these decisions and actions," the police department said in a statement.

"The FBI would have to answer if that was true," the statement continued.

Authorities reportedly found remnants of a campsite in the Carlton Reserve that appeared to have been recently used despite the park being closed to visitors.

The NPPD claimed it was difficult to survive in the reserve because of the dangerous animals and limited access to safe drinking water.

Aside from the Florida park, authorities have also received reports of Brian being sighted near North Carolina's Appalachian Trail, which is the world's longest footpath that is understood to be familiar to the fugitive. Brian was reportedly sighted multiple times in Wyoming, as well.

Brian is currently wanted on fraud-related charges and a federal warrant was issued against him on Sept. 22. He has not been charged in connection to Petito's death.

Several parties have offered monetary rewards for any information that can lead to Brian or his arrest, the highest reported so far being the $180,000 pool Petito's family and friends were able to raise.