“To my knowledge, they did purchase a new phone and it’s the same phone that Brian left home and which the FBI is in possession of,” Bertolino toldNewsNationNow.
It is unclear exactly when the phone was purchased, but it was sometime after Laundrie, 23, returned home without Petito, 22.
Petito, a Long Island, N.Y., native, was found dead on Sept. 19 in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, and officials have since determinedher death was a homicide.
Brian Laundrie.Instagram
Petito was last seen in late August, while on a cross-country road trip with Laundrie.
Laundrie returnedto North Port, Fla., on Sept. 1,without Petito. He has been the subject of a massive manhunt across a swampy Florida reserve, where it is believed he went hiking.
This week, Bertolino also confirmed thatthe Laundrie family had gone on a camping tripto Fort De Soto Park in Tierra Verde, Fla., on Sept. 6 and Sept. 7.
“They all left the park,” Bertolino said.
Bertolino did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.
Visitor logs from the park confirm Roberta Laundrie, Brian’s mother, checked in to a waterfront campsite there for two days.
Bertolino has said that his clients have no idea where their son is.
Laundrie, who is a fugitive following the issuance last week of a warrant for his arrest, has not been seen since leaving his parents' home for a hike more than two weeks ago.
The warrant accuses Laundrie of unauthorized use of a debit card. He was named a person of interest in Petito’s case, but has not been named a suspect in connection with her death.
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Laundrie and his parents refused to meet with detectives handling the case.
At this point, investigators have yet to say how Petito was killed, but believe she died sometime between Aug. 27 and Aug. 30.
Police believe the relationship between Petito and Laundriebecame more strained during their tragic road trip, according to a newly unsealed search warrant connected to the case.
Petito’s best friend, Rose Davis,tells PEOPLEthe couple’s relationship was “toxic,” and that Laundrie’s jealousy led to numerous fights.
On Sept. 15,PEOPLE spoke with Petito’s father, Joseph Petito, who said his daughter was “amazing.”
“She’s so artistic. She’s an amazing artist. She loves to draw,” he said. “She has a great eye with decorating … She’s that flower child type of personality. The old soul, you know?”
“If Woodstock was still going on, she’d still be there, man,” Joseph added. “She’s a hippie from the ’60s, all right? She’s a Beatles fan, round glasses … a free spirit.”
If you have information on this case, call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).
source: people.com
