Is Dog the Bounty Hunter real? TV star joins the Brian Laundrie search

Reality star Dog the Bounty Hunter has joined the search for Gabby Petito’s missing fiancé, Brian Laundrie. As he takes part in the high-profile case, some online have wondered if Dog is a real-life bounty hunter.

Is Dog the Bounty Hunter real?

Yes. While he has become known as a reality star on-screen, Dog the Bounty Hunter, whose real name is Duane Lee Chapman, was a bounty hunter long before his TV debut. 

He first became known as a bounty hunter alongside his son Leland and friend Tim in 2003 for the successful capture of Andrew Luster in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, after he went missing during his 2003 trial. 

In the same year, Chapman was profiled in an episode of A&E’s Take This Job, which gave an insight into unique occupations. Following the show, he and his family appeared in their own reality series, Dog the Bounty Hunter, where they chased down actual fugitives. 

The show ran for eight seasons until 2012 when it was taken off the air. In 2013, Chapman went on to appear alongside his wife in a similar series titled Dog and Beth: On the Hunt and returned together for their 2019 series Dog’s Most Wanted. 

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Reality star joins the search for Brian Laundrie

It seems Duane Lee Chapman’s bounty hunting days are not over as the reality star has reportedly joined the search for Gabby Petito’s missing fiancé, Brian Laundrie.

The TV bounty hunter was seen knocking on the door of Laundrie’s parents yesterday (25 September 2021) afternoon. While talking to DailyMail.com at the time he vowed he “will find him” and has set himself a deadline of six weeks ahead of Laundrie’s 24th birthday. 

Laundrie has been missing since 15 September after returning home without his fiancée Gabby Petito at the start of the month (1 September).

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Petito case’s latest developments

Gabby Petito’s body was found on Sunday 19 September and was later identified on Wednesday, 22 September. An official cause of death is yet to be confirmed, however, her death has been ruled a homicide. 

Having previously been declared a “person of interest” in the disappearance of Petito, on Wednesday (22 September), Brian Laundrie was issued a federal arrest warrant by the US District Court of Wyoming.

Amber Peake

Amber is a freelance writer on The Focus who mainly covers anything celeb, music, and entertainment related. Having graduated with a BA (Hons) in Journalism from Brunel University in 2020, she has spent the last two years reporting the latest celeb news and pop culture trends across leading and national publishers. Starting her career at Express.co.uk as a showbiz reporter, Amber began contributing on The Focus in 2021. As well as her work on the site, she has also written across other GRV Media publications, including both Reality Titbit and HITC. When she's not scrolling endlessly on TikTok, you'll find Amber wrapped up in yet another DIY crafting project.