Gabby Petito's stepfather describes how he helped authorities identify her remains

The stepfather of Gabrielle Petito, the 22-year-old Blue Point native whose body was found in a Wyoming national forest last month, has described helping officials identify the young woman’s remains through her clothing, in a new national television interview.

"They described a piece of clothing to me that matched one of her favorite sweatshirts, that we knew was hers," said Petito’s stepfather, Jim Schmidt, in a brief clip for the "Dr. Phil" show released Monday.

Richard Stafford, the attorney for Petito’s family, added: "It was from a local shop, so that we knew it was hers."

Petito’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, and her father, Joe Petito, along with Petito’s stepparents — all wearing teal ribbons in honor of their daughter — sat down for the interview Friday, the network said. The interview is set to air in two parts Tuesday and Wednesday on CBS New York, the network said.

Jim Schmidt had traveled to Wyoming to help search for Petito, a 2017 graduate of Bayport-Blue Point High School, who was reported missing in mid-September after embarking on a cross-country road trip with her then-fiance Brian Laundrie in July.

Petito’s body was found at Bridger-Teton National Forest on Sept. 19. Authorities initially said the remains matched Petito’s description. Her remains were positively identified during an autopsy two days later, the FBI said.

Laundrie, who the FBI has identified as a "person of interest" in Petito’s homicide, returned home alone to Florida in Petito’s van and refused to talk to police, who were searching for the then-missing young woman.

Laundrie has since disappeared and federal authorities are searching for the North Port, Florida, man, who is wanted on an arrest warrant for alleged credit card fraud committed after Petito’s homicide. Authorities have not released her cause of death.

Joe Petito and his wife, Tara Petito, both said they believe Laundrie is in hiding, in another clip on the show’s website.

"He’s a coward," said Joe Petito.

The family also urged Laundrie to surrender to authorities.

"You’re only making it worse for us, and for himself and for his family," said Jim Schmidt. "Let us have some closure. Let us come to an end to this tragic period and just move on and be able to remember Gabby for all the wonderful memories we had with her and not looking at a TV screen every day wondering if he’s gonna be found. Turn yourself in."

When asked if Laundrie had the survival skills to "live off the land," Nichole Schmidt said: "He bragged about that, like he was good at that stuff."

Laundrie’s attorney Steven Bertolino declined to comment Monday.

Petito’s family has also announced its first fundraiser to benefit the newly created Gabrielle Petito Foundation.

The fundraiser is scheduled to take place from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Oct. 17 at the 89 North Music Venue in Patchogue, according to the foundation website.

Nichole Schmidt joined Twitter over the weekend and tweeted about the ongoing pursuit of Laundrie.

"Mama bear is getting angry! Turn yourself in!" Schmidt wrote, adding that Petito’s father agreed and "#justiceforgabby #americasdaughter."

By Nicole Fuller

nicole.fuller@newsday.com@NicoleFuller

Nicole Fuller is Newsday's senior criminal justice reporter. She began working at Newsday in 2012 and previously covered local government.