Gabby Petito’s dad mocked Brian Laundrie with nickname

Gabby Petito’s dad says he had a mocking nickname for his daughter’s boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, who is now a “person of interest’’ in her disappearance-turned-suspected death case.

Joseph Petito revealed that he’d refer to Brian as “Brianne,” according an episode of “Dr. Phil” that aired Monday.

“I’ve never actually liked any of Gabby’s boyfriends. I’ve never actually called any of them by their real name, ever,” said the dad, who lives on Long Island.

“I always tried to use the female versions of the boyfriends’ names, just to intimidate them a little bit,” he said.

“They laughed,” Joseph Petito said. “Although as the years progressed, I think [Gabby] prepared them for when they met me.’’

Laundrie, 23, and Gabby, 22, embarked on a cross-country trek in her white 2012 Ford Transit van in early July, only to have him surface alone at his parents’ Florida home Sept. 1 — in the vehicle and without her. He then went missing last week, with the FBI searching his parents’ home Monday and authorities resuming their hunt for him Tuesday.

Gabby’s parents have said... (Read more)

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