Man on okaloosa deer trail was not brian laundrie, police confirm

OKALOOSA COUNTY, FL – It is being called a case of mistaken identity after an exhaustive search for Brian Laundrie took place earlier this week in Okaloosa County. The search was sparked by a picture of a man resembling Laundrie walking along a deer trail with a backpack.

Police searched the area but came up empty. Yesterday, police said they have positively identified the man on the trail and it was not Laundrie.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has positively identified the individual whose image was captured on a deer trail camera near Baker and shared on social media, sparking nationwide speculation that it was missing North Port Florida resident Brian Laundrie.

The OCSO has confirmed the man is an Okaloosa County resident who acknowledged he was the one walking on the deer trail carrying his backpack. Several OCSO deputies familiar with the individual noticed the resemblance to the photo of the person spotted on the deer trail, as well as the presence of a neck tattoo. The private citizen was located and positive identification has been made. During its search and investigation, the OCSO found no indications that Brian Laundrie is, or was, in Okaloosa County.

Today, the search continues for Laundrie who has been missing for over a week and is a ‘person of interest’ in the death of Long Island van life Youtuber Gabby Petito.

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