Brian Laundrie’s mom Roberta appears to wipe tear from dad’s face as ‘son’s items found at Myakkahatchee Creek Park’
BRIAN Laundrie's mother appeared to wipe away a tear from his father's face while speaking to police at a Florida nature reserve where human remains were found on Wednesday.
Laundrie, 23, has been missing for more than five weeks after allegedly telling his parents he was going hiking in the Carlton Reserve on September 13, but never returned home.
His parents, Chris and Roberta Laundrie, were at the 24,000-acre park assisting with a police search when a number of articles belonging to Laundrie were found this morning.
In video footage captured by Fox News, Roberta and Chris are seen speaking with a police officer on a hiking trail in Myakkahatchee Creek.
While much of the conversation is inaudible, the officer at one stage seems to tell them "we've found something" and advises the pair to go home.
The officer places his hand on Chris Laundrie's shoulder during the exchange. Roberta then turns to face him and wipes his cheek.
Read our Gabby Petito live blog for the very latest news and updates...
It was initially unclear what was found by officers, but the items were discovered in Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, which is adjacent to Carton Reserve, in a patch of brambles near to a trail Brian was known to use.
A short while later, unnamed sources told NBC that investigators had found "what appear to be human remains."
The identity of those remains is unclear, though the FBI confirmed in a press conference this afternoon that investigators found human remains near a backpack and notebook believed to belong to Laundrie.
"These items were found in an area that up until recently have been under water," FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge Michael McPherson said.
A spokesperson for the Sarasota County Medical Examiner's Offices confirmed they had been called to the scene but declined to elaborate further.
LAWYER SPEAKS
Family attorney Steven Bertolino said in a texted statement to The Sun: "Chris and Roberta Laundrie went to the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park this morning to search for Brian.
"The FBI and NPPD were informed last night of Brian’s parents’ intentions and they met Chris and Roberta there this morning after a brief search off a trail that Brian frequented some articles belonging to Brian were found.
"As of now law enforcement is conducting a more thorough investigation of that area," he added.
A large police presence was observed at the reserve on Wednesday, including mobile command units, patrol vehicles, K9 cadaver dogs and a helicopter hovering overhead.
Officials were also seen erecting two tents close to where the remains are believed to have been found.
Authorities only reopened to the park on Tuesday, having shuttered it amid their investigation for more than a month.
The park has now been closed once again until further notice.
CRUCIAL DEVELOPMENT
The discovery marks the first firm update in the search for Laundrie for several weeks.
Laundrie has been on the run since September 13, two days after Gabby Petito was reported missing by her mother in New York.
Her remains were discovered at a campsite in Teton County, Wyoming on September 19.
A coroner later ruled that she had been strangled to death by a "human force" and that she'd been killed between three to four weeks before she was found.
Gabby had been on a cross-country road trip with Brian touring the country's national parks at the time of her death.
Brian has not been named as a suspect but is the only named person of interest in the case.
He returned home to Florida without her on September 1 in the couple's repurposed van before disappearing himself 12 days later.
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Brian's parents initially claimed to have last seen him on September 14 but later revised that date in a statement issued through their attorney. They also didn't report him missing until September 17.
No further updates have been shared.
Gabby Petito timeline
Gabby Petito, 22, was last seen on August 24, leaving a hotel in Utah. Here is a timeline of Gabby Petito's disappearance:
- June 2021 - Gabby Petito and her fiancé Brian Laundrie set off on a cross-country trip across the US.
- July 4 - Gabby posts photos of herself barefoot in Gove County, Kansas.
- July 8 - Gabby posts photos of herself at the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.
- July 18 - Gabby and Brian post photos of themselves at Utah's Zion National Park.
- August 12 - Body camera footage was released in September showing an encounter Brian and Gabby had with police in Utah. Police confirmed that no significant injuries were reported.
- August 19 - Gabby and Brian post a video on their YouTube channel chronicling their trip.
- August 24 - Gabby is spotted leaving a hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah.
- August 25 - Gabby Facetimes her mom, Nichole Schmidt, for the final time. In a later police report, Schmidt said her conversations with her daughter revealed "more and more tension" between her and Brian.
- August 25 - Gabby also posts her last Instagram. No location is given.
- August 27 - Gabby is seen for what's believed to be the final time. Witnesses claim they saw Brian in an explosive argument with staff at a restaurant in Jackson Hole, leaving Gabby in tears.
- August 27 - Four hours later, travel bloggers driving through Grand Teton National Park drive past the couple's van "abandoned" on a dirt road.
- September 1 - Brian returns home to Florida without Gabby.
- September 11 - Gabby's parents report her missing to Suffolk County police.
- September 14 - Brian's family issues a statement saying he has retained an attorney and will not be cooperating with investigators.
- September 14 - Brian is allegedly last seen by his family. He reportedly told them he was going hiking in Cartlon Reserve but failed to return.
- September 15 - Florida's North Port police announce Brian is a person of interest in the case. He is not charged with any crime.
- September 16 - Utah police release body camera footage of the police encounter with Brian and Gabby.
- September 17 - Brian's parents say they have not seen their son in a couple of days and report him missing.
- September 18 - Police announce they were searching Carlton Reserve in Florida for Brian. Police announce they have not found anything.
- September 19 - Authorities in Wyoming say they found a body in Grand Teton National Park. The FBI announces the body was believed to be Gabby's but a full forensic identification needs to be completed first to confirm.
- September 20 - Police execute a search warrant on Laundrie's home, seizing his silver Mustang and a hard drive that may contain "evidence relevant to proving that a felony has been committed."
- September 21 - Officials announce they will be conducting an autopsy on the remains found in Wyoming to confirm whether or not they belong to Gabby. Police also resumed their search for Laundrie, this time on the Venice side of Carlton Reserve.
- September 21 - The FBI announced the body found in Wyoming was identified as Gabby's. The cause of death was not yet revealed.
- September 21 - The Teton County Coroner's office said Gabby's official cause of death was still pending but the initial manner of death is homicide.
- September 22 - Police continue to scour Carlton Reserve for a trace of Laundrie but yield no leads. A specialist dive team is called in to assist with the hunt.
- September 23 - Officials announced a federal arrest warrant for Brian was issued.
- September 26 - Gabby's funeral was held on Long Island, New York.
- October 12: Gabby's autopsy results were made public. Teton County Coroner Dr Brent Blue confirmed Gabby died by strangulation.
- October 20: Laundrie's personal items were found at the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. A medical examiner was called to the scene.
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