After failing to appear in a Pearl River County Circuit court for an embezzlement charge a bench warrant has been issued for Leo Lucas Laurent.

A bench warrant has been issued for Laurent on the embezzlement charge on Dec. 20, by Circuit Court Judge Prentiss Harrell. At press time that warrant had not been served.

Barbara Hunt, a friend of the Laurent family, said she knew where Laurent was and gave that information to the bail bonding company after it called to ask where he was. Hunt was called since her name was also on the bond. She said she had co-signed the bond at Brandi Laurent’s request.

Brandi Laurent was Leo Laurent’s wife who was found in a shallow grave on Nov. 7. She was reported missing on Aug. 3, by her husband after the couple had a marital spat.

Hunt said she gave the bonding company the convenience store number of Leo Laurent’s workplace in Pamana City, Fla., and his work schedule.

“(His) last known location was Panama City, Express Lane number 12,” Hunt said.

After relaying that information to the bonding company, it in turn called law enforcement in Pamana City and requested he be detained.

Maj. David Humphreys with the Panama City Beach Police Department said that when the department attempted to pick up Laurent, he could not be found.

“He’s on the loose and we are searching for him,” Humphreys said.

Humphreys said he recalled a recent unsuccessful effort by Laurent to rent a condo in that area under another name. Instances of using false names are common when people are on the run, Humphreys said.