Brian Laundrie search: 5 clues that led cops to discover human remains, notebook, & backpack after Gabby Petito’s death
COPS received tip-offs and clues that led to the discovery of Brian Laundrie's notebook and backpack near unidentified human remains on Wednesday.
Gabby Petitio's fiancé has been missing for more than a month after telling his parents he was going for a hike in the Carlton Reserve on September 13 and never returning.
Local law enforcement and the FBI carried out a weeks-long search of the reserve and the adjacent Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park that involved helicopters and K-9 units.
On Tuesday, the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park was reopened to the public yet was quickly closed again by Wednesday as Chris and Roberta Laundrie revealed they were going to the area to look for their 23-year-old son.
The fugitive's parents left the park visibly upset after they found a white bag and a dark object that it reportedly belonged to Laundrie in the brambles as they searched through an area he liked to hike.
The FBI later confirmed that human remains were found near a backpack and notebook that belong to Laundrie.
Experts said the remains could still take several more days to identify.
Yet the attorney for the Laundries said on Wednesday night that it is highly likely they belong to Brian.
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The park remains closed to the public as the investigation continues.
Despite numerous claimed sightings of Laundrie around the country, authorities made the shocking discovery on Wednesday after vital clues revealed she may have been closer to home.
Read our Brian Laundrie live blog for the very latest news and updates...
TIP FROM PARENTS
Chris and Roberta Laundrie told cops on September 17 that their son was missing after going for a hike in the Carlton Reserve.
They initially claimed he left on September 14 but were criticized for later changing the timeline and stating that the last day they saw him was a day earlier.
They also claimed that the Mustang he used to get there was still parked at the reserve but they drove it home when he did not return.
Chris Laundrie had also joined the search for several hours to help identify places where his son could be hidden.
FAVORITE TRAIL
The items of interest linked to Laundrie that was discovered on Wednesday were found along a trail that his parents included among his favorites in the area.
They had reportedly advised law enforcement to search along trails that Brian was known to frequent.
In a statement when Chris first joined the search earlier in October, attorney Steve Bertolino said: “Chris Laundrie is assisting Law Enforcement today in the search for Brian.
"Chris was asked to point out any favorite trails or spots that Brian may have used in the preserve.
"Although Chris and Roberta Laundrie provided this information verbally three weeks ago it is now thought that on-site assistance may be better," he added.
"The preserve has been closed to the public and the Laundries as well but the parents have been cooperating since the search began.”
'FRESH CAMPSITE'
Investigators discovered a "fresh campsite" at Carlton Reserve earlier this month as they searched for Laundrie.
Former Miami-Dade homicide detective Pat Diaz speculated that Chris was perhaps asked to help identify Brian's belongings found at the campsite.
Diaz said he doesn't believe investigators would have asked a suspect's family to help with a search.
";They may have found stuff in the reserve for the father to identify," he told on October 7.
"Not a body, but belongings."
CAR PARKED
It also emerged earlier this month that Laundrie's abandoned Ford Mustang was found at 6968 Reisterstown Road in the Myakkahatchee Environmental Park.
Previous reports said the Laundries claimed they drove up to the 25,000-acre Carlton Reserve, spotted Brian's car, and drove it home after finding a note on the windshield left by police asking for it to be removed from the area.
However, the car was actually found in the park.
The two are connected by a 12-mile trail.
Cops had previously towed Brian's car from his parents' home in North Port after they executed a search warrant on September 20.
It was not revealed if anything was found.
AMATEUR SEARCHES
After the report about Brian's car emerged, protesters and some locals continued to scout the area, believing that they could help find the fugitive.
A local private investigator believed that Laundrie was still in the area as he left his wallet and phone behind and so would not have had identification to take a bus to another state or to get on a plane.
Bill Warner branded Laundrie a "mastermind" for leaving behind his wallet, ID, driver's license, and credit cards, claiming the 23-year-old appeared "well aware of law enforcement tracking techniques."
Laundrie is wanted by the FBI because he allegedly took Gabby Petito's debit card and spent $1,000 to return to Florida without her on September 1.
She was last seen alive in Wyoming on August 27 as she apologized to staff in a restaurant for Laundrie's anger.
Her remains were found on September 19.
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The coroner revealed last week she was strangled to death.
“He used her credit card to get home and then ran from the police.”