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Gabby Petito funeral arrangements announced; search for Brian Laundrie continues

HOLBROOK, N.Y. — A public funeral service for Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito has been scheduled for Sunday in Holbrook, New York, her father confirmed via Twitter on Friday.

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Petito, 22, was reported missing Sept. 11 by her mother after her fiance, Brian Laundrie, returned to Florida from the couple’s cross-country trek without her. Petito’s remains were discovered near a Grand Teton National Park campsite on Sept. 19, and Laundrie is now the subject of a nationwide manhunt after her death was deemed a homicide and the details of their on-road separation remain a mystery.

According to WWSB, the public service honoring Petito’s life will be held at the Moloney Funeral Home from noon to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Petito’s family requested that donations be made to the future Gabby Petito Foundation.

A federal judge in Wyoming issued a warrant for Laundrie’s arrest Wednesday, after he allegedly made unauthorized debit card withdrawals of more than $1,000 during the period in which Petito went missing. To date, Laundrie has only been charged with a debit card fraud charge.

>> Related: Gabby Petito: Federal warrant issued for Brian Laundrie’s arrest

According to WTVT, reality star Duane “Dog” Chapman of “Dog the Bounty Hunter” fame has joined the search efforts for Laundrie and knocked on the fugitive’s parents’ door Saturday afternoon but received no acknowledgment.

Meanwhile, officers from the North Port Police Department, Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation searched the 25,000-acre Carlton Reserve for the seventh day on Saturday, the last place his parents told authorities he was going before he vanished.

“We are working as hard to find him now as we did on day one,” Cmdr. Joe Fussell with the North Port Police Department told WTVT. “That is really what is carrying us through … the drive to try to find Brian and try to put closure to this investigation.”

According to WNBC, a candlelight vigil for Petito was held Friday night in her hometown of Blue Point, New York.

In addition, teal ribbons, left by Petito family friend Jennifer McNamara, now line the Blue Point street where Gabby Petito was raised, the TV station reported.

“I want people to look at the ribbon and remember Gabby. Think of her eyes and how beautiful, vibrant and sparkling she was,” McNamara told WNBC.

Click here to make a donation to the future Gabby Petito Foundation.

McNamara founded the Johnny Mac Foundation after her husband, FDNY firefighter John McNamara, died of 9/11-related cancer. Meanwhile, Petito’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, is a longtime volunteer and current Johnny Mac board member, and the organization has agreed to manage the outpouring of public support in Petito’s honor until the foundation bearing her name is finalized, WNBC reported.