# Van lifer goes missing on cross country trip with fiancee **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 13, 2021, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604 "2021-09-13T13:48:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 28
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/542 "2021-09-23T17:52:07Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Right…like I said, what the fuck are they doing galivanting around the country? Have you never heard of the concept of this thing called a “road trip”? Google it. It’s a type of vacation. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/543 "2021-09-23T17:55:15Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > ETA: And sort of a macabre theoretical. If she gave him permission to drive the car and he kills her, well, she had no opportunity to revoke the permission, so he is still in the clear. You act as if giving someone permission to drive your car is open ended and devoid of your intended use. I would be surprised if the court sees it this way. Is there a relevant case that backs that up? In other words, abandoning her in the middle of nowhere or killing her and taking the car would be an implied revocation. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/544 "2021-09-23T18:10:35Z")
> [@Oredigger77](#): > > From the couple of minutes of looking around I did last night it seems she was making ~$15k per year from her YouTube channel. I confess I’m surprised at the amount. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/545 "2021-09-23T18:34:50Z")
From what I understand of social media income, some of it comes from ads that the social media company links in (like youtube ads) and some of it comes from product sponsorship and placement. In some cases the placement is explicit and looks exactly like an ad, such as holding a sponsor’s drink with the caption “Acme Soda is so refreshing after a long hike!” Companies also pay to have their products just in the background. They may have cans of Acme soda just lying around the van that show up in videos and posts. The viability of making a living depends on how many followers they have and how engaged their followers are with their posts. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/546 "2021-09-23T18:42:59Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > The viability of making a living depends on how many followers they have and how engaged their followers are with their posts. It can be quite lucrative, but it is a highly erratic living for most. You’re dependent on consistently holding people’s attention, which for many can be pretty tough to do over time. It’s constant (hopefully) little bursts of revenue from successful videos, especially if they go viral. But rarely anything like a truly steady income - only the YouTube giants achieve something approaching that. ---
**Author:** ![Esprise\_Me](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprise_me/32/2947_2.png) [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/547 "2021-09-23T18:46:47Z")
A few have speculated about the role her OCD may have played, but: > In the footage, Gabby Petito cried as she told the officer she and Laundrie had been arguing over her excessive cleaning of the van. She told the officer she has OCD — obsessive compulsive disorder. > > On “Dr. Phil,” her father said that was not literally true. She just likes to keep her living area orderly and was using slang, he said. > **[Coroner IDs remains, says Gabby Petito was homicide victim](https://www.kfyrtv.com/2021/09/21/gabby-petitos-boyfriend-sought-florida-nature-preserve/)** > > Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie had set out in July in a converted van to visit national parks in the West. They got into a fight along the way, and Laundrie was alone when he returned in the van to his parents’ home Sept. 1, police said. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/548 "2021-09-23T18:51:52Z")
My take is that he’s probably a slob and she was manipulated by him into thinking that there’s something wrong with _her_ because she didn’t want to live in a stinky pigsty. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/549 "2021-09-23T22:46:29Z")
There’s now an arrest warrant out for Laundrie for use of unauthorized devices: > **[Brian Laundrie left home without phone or wallet and his parents were...](https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/23/us/gabby-petito-brian-laundrie-update-thursday/index.html)** > > A source close to the family of Brian Laundrie told CNN's Chris Cuomo on Thursday that Gabby Petito's fiancé, who is now the subject of a federal warrant, left his parents' Florida home last Tuesday without his cell phone and wallet. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/550 "2021-09-23T22:55:35Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > My take is that he’s probably a slob and she was manipulated by him into thinking that there’s something wrong with _her_ because she didn’t want to live in a stinky pigsty I didn’t see anything from the police video of the van that suggested it was converted into anything other than a dumpster. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/551 "2021-09-23T22:58:59Z")
Now people could be charged for hiding Laundrie or helping him evade arrest. I’ve read that hiding a person of interest might not be a crime. This new development might be helpful. A old college buddy may decide letting Laundrie use their fishing cabin is too risky. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/552 "2021-09-23T23:16:06Z")
Put him in the cell next to Al Capone III. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/553 "2021-09-23T23:19:18Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > If he didn’t want to be found the best thing to do is say “I’m going camping in the swamp.” and promptly head to New York City. His hometown, Bayport/Blue Point on Long Island (where he and Gabby both went to high school) is 50 miles from NYC. I’ve heard talk radio speculation here on Long Island that he left Florida and may be hiding out with relatives or friends in this area, but there didn’t seem to be any concrete evidence behind it. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/554 "2021-09-24T02:52:01Z")
The parents can still be charged with providing false statements to federal investigators if they deliberately misled special agents working the case - doesn’t matter whether he was a person of interest or charged with a crime. Knowingly providing a false statement that is material to a criminal investigation is an automatic felony. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/555 "2021-09-24T02:59:23Z")
This thread is like a Ouija Board on acid. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/556 "2021-09-24T04:12:50Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > The parents can still be charged with providing false statements to federal investigators if they deliberately misled special agents working the case - doesn’t matter whether he was a person of interest or charged with a crime. Haven’t they been really tight lipped? Probably for this very reason. ---
**Author:** ![Esprise\_Me](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprise_me/32/2947_2.png) [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/557 "2021-09-24T04:19:57Z")
Yes, although they did tell the police they believed he went into the swamp. If it could be proven they knew he was elsewhere (say, because they took him to a relative’s home to hide out), then that would be bad for them. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/558 "2021-09-24T04:22:18Z")
If they said that he went to location A but the bureau can establish they knew he was at location B, they’re fucked. I mention this because there are now reports (which could be just rumors, understood) that neighbors saw the family leave together in a camper/van vehicle. If this is true - and it might not be - then they know he’s probably not at the bottom of a swamp, but hiding out somewhere. If they’re obstructing justice, they’re fucked. They’re going to get prison time, absolutely. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/559 "2021-09-24T04:35:25Z")
> [@Esprise\_Me](#): > > Yes, although they did tell the police they believed he went into the swamp. If it could be proven they knew he was elsewhere (say, because they took him to a relative’s home to hide out), then that would be bad for them. [His parents retrieved his car from the reserve](https://www.insider.com/police-note-found-brian-laundrie-car-after-disappearance-gabby-petito-2021-9) and it had a police note on it to remove it. so there’s a police time stamp and a location. there’s a good chance there’s a camera trail of his car. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/560 "2021-09-24T04:39:40Z")
Someone has apparently enhanced the video of the van showing the door allegedly closing: > > **[Video Shows Gabby Petito's Van Door Closing 3 Days After Last Sighting](https://www.newsweek.com/gabby-petito-van-video-shows-back-door-closing-car-filming-approaches-1630795)** > > The videographer who spotted the movement said the discovery sent a "harrowing chill down my spine." ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2021, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/561 "2021-09-24T04:57:54Z")
Maybe he attacked Gabby and she was in the van recovering? Letting the swelling and bruises go down. She avoids being seen. She gets worse and dies. That could easily happen without professional medical care. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604.md?page=27) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604.md?page=29)