A man who bears a striking resemblance to Gabby Petito's missing fiancé says US Marshals pulled guns on him and his partner while they were asleep in North Carolina.
Originally from New York, Severin Beckwith and his partner Anna Brettman had been hiking along the Appalachian Trail since September when they stopped for a rest at the Lodge at Fontana Village Resort, a couple of kilometres off the track.
They were asleep in their room when armed officers stormed in, the New Yorker reports.
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Mr Beckwith says the marshals aimed their guns at him and placed him in handcuffs, believing he was missing man Brian Laundrie.
"Next thing I see is a bunch of guys with riot shields with 'US Marshals' written on themand handguns pointed at my face," Mr Beckwith told The New Yorker.
Dressed just in his underwear, Mr Beckwith was guided down the hallway while his shocked partner was helped out of bed by officers.
According to The New Yorker, Mr Beckwith – who is pale with a slim build, shaved head and beard stubble, had a hunch why the US Marshals were so interested in him.
While hiking days earlier, someone else had pointed out how much Mr Beckwith looks like Brian Laundrie.
It has also been reported that Mr Laundrie is known to hike the Appalachian Track himself, with a heavy law enforcement presence in the area since he was reported missing last month.
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But Mr Beckwith said it was more than a passing resemblance that had the US Marshals so interested in him, noting they were particularly interested in the side of his head.
"I have a notch in the upper part of my inner ear just like his, which I guess was good enough motive to come in," Mr Beckwith said.
He and Ms Brettman had also booked their hotel room using a credit card linked to a New York identification – and Ms Petito was originally from New York as well.
But luckily, Mr Beckwith didn't have any hand tattoos like Mr Laundrie and he had his own identification which was clearly authentic as well.
The marshals also fingerprinted Mr Beckwith and suggested he shave his beard, which he says he did immediately, before he was released.
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