It has been determined that human remains discovered in a Florida nature preserve belong to Brian Laundrie, a suspect in the death of Gabby Petito, who was travelling across the country with him.
According to the FBI, the remains, a backpack, and notebook believed to belong to Laundrie were discovered in a Florida wilderness park on Wednesday. Earlier searches had turned up water under the area where they were found.
We confirmed it through the comparison of dental records that the remains belonged to Laundrie, according to a news release from the FBI’s Denver office. According to a statement released by his parents’ lawyer, Steve Bertolino, they were informed that their son’s remains were found.
“We have no further comment at this time and we ask that you respect the Laundrie’s privacy at this time,” says the statement issued by the Laundry.
According to the FBI statement, there was no indication of the cause of death. It was unclear whether they had submerged the remains in the water for a prolonged period.
Upon the discovery of Laundrie’s remains, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies launched an extensive search that began shortly after he disappeared on September 14, two weeks after returning alone to his parent’s home in North Port, Florida.
Although Petito’s slaying has not yet been solved, they have not concluded its investigation. As far as law enforcement officials are concerned, only Laundrie has been identified as a person of interest.
When Petito’s family reported her missing on September 11, they launched a worldwide search, focusing primarily on the Carlton Reserve wilderness park close to the Laundrie residence. Alligators, coyotes, bobcats, snakes, and other creatures live in this densely wooded, swampy area.
Originally from Long Island, New York, the couple met as teenagers and moved to Florida’s Gulf Coast to be with his parents.
Their first online following came about as they traveled in a converted Ford Transit van in videos filled with happy scenes that may have concealed deeper issues. Several social media users became obsessed with Petito’s disappearance after he disappeared.
During the intense media coverage surrounding Petito’s case, there has been renewed interest in missing Indigenous women and other people of colour cases. In addition to being white, Petito was 22 years old.
During a visit to Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park, the couple found her body on September 19. The coroner at that location concluded that she died by strangulation and that her body had been there for three to four weeks before it was discovered.
Despite a physical altercation, they did not charge the couple with domestic violence in Moab, Utah, on August 12. To determine whether they followed policy, the police department in that city is conducting an internal review.
Laundrie returned home alone on September 1 in the van the couple had taken on their trip. The authorities have impounded the vehicle. As a result of telling his parents he was going hiking in the Carlton Reserve, he was reported missing.
