Brian Laundrie Update: More Serious Charges 'Likely' Against Gabby Petito's Fiancé If Found Alive

As the search for Gabby Petito's fiancé Brian Laundrie intensifies, the Florida Attorney General for Palm Beach County, David Aronberg, has said more serious charges are "extremely likely" against the 23-year-old if he is found alive.

Aronberg said “prosecutors have a higher burden of proving cases beyond a reasonable doubt," according to KNews, which quoted News Nation Now.

He added more serious charges will be placed against Laundrie in connection to the death of Petito. A federal arrest warrant was issued against Laundrie on Sept. 22 on fraud-related charges. He is the only one named as the person of interest in Petito's disappearance. However, he has not been charged in her death.

Meanwhile, reports have surfaced the 23-year-old was spotted near North Carolina's Appalachian Trail over the weekend. Hiker Dennis Davis – an engineer from Florida – claimed he has most likely spoken to Laundrie on a road near the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina, near the Tennessee border.

Reality star Duane Chapman – also known as Dog the Bounty Hunter – is also working to verify the tips about his location.

"There is no doubt in my mind I spoke to Brian Laundrie - none whatsoever," Davis was quoted as saying. "Dog the Bounty Hunter's daughter sent me an audio file of Brian's voice and the voice was the same I heard."

Meanwhile, Lyssa Chapman, the daughter of Dog the Bounty Hunter, told the New York Post she has been in contact with Davis.

“I do believe Dennis. I am convinced he’s convinced,” she said. “We’re doing everything we can to verify Dennis’ tip but there isn’t much to go off other than the location. But we’re working that tip for sure.”

Dog the Bounty Hunter has been actively searching for Laundrie in Florida. He was also knee-deep in water, taking to the swamps and getting dirty to get any clues that could lead to the capture of the fugitive, TMZ reported Sunday.

The search for Laundrie entered a new week as the investigation into the homicide of Petito continued. Petito’s remains were found in a national forest in Wyoming on Sept. 19. The case garnered national attention, with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies working to locate Laundrie who disappeared from his home on Sept. 17.

He had returned to Florida without Petito on Sept. 1, following the couple's months-long road trip across the country.

Dog the Bounty Hunter had also recently received a tip that placed Laundrie's sister Cassie in Fort De Soto Park, on Sept. 6, contradicting her previous statement in which she said she had not spoken to her brother since he returned home from his trip.

Meanwhile, the Gabby Petito Foundation to help parents locate missing children officially went live Sunday evening. "The Gabby Petito Foundation is up and running!" a Twitter account under the foundation's name tweeted Sunday. "We have a lot of work to do, website is just starting out so be patient with us, we will get there. Thank you for all the support and love! ‘She touched the world.'"