FUGITIVE FOUND
Brian Laundrie news – Human remains found in hunt for fugitive identified as Gabby Petito’s fiancé after dental match
BRIAN Laundrie has been confirmed dead after the FBI identified the partial skull found yesterday as belonging to the 23-year-old fugitive using his dental records
Detectives arrived at the Laundrie family home on Thursday evening to tell his parents that the skeletal remains found yesterday were their son.
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"There are two young people that have now lost their lives," Laundrie attorney Steven Bertolino said during an interview with following the grim discovery.
"These are parents that are suffering.
"Now, I understand that whatever happened or whatever didn't happen... This is tragic for two families.
"And anybody with a child, and anybody with a sense of humanity can understand the frustration that both families feel on that point."
The FBI also confirmed the identification in a statement.
"On October 21, 2021, a comparison of dental records confirmed that the human remains found at the T. Mabry Carlton, Jr. Memorial Reserve and Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park are those of Brian Laundrie," it read.
"The FBI is grateful for the tremendous investigative support from our partners."
Gabby Petito's family said they would not be commenting on Laundrie's death.
He was the only person of interest in the murder of the 22-year-old vlogger, who was found strangled to death in Wyoming last month.
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“Gabby’s family is not doing interviews or making a statement at this time," her family said through an attorney.
"They are grieving the loss of their beautiful daughter. Gabby’s family will make a statement at the appropriate time and when they are emotionally ready."
Laundrie's cause of death has not been revealed.
Further details on the condition the remains were found in have also not been released after it emerged on Thursday that it was part of a skull found during the search the previous day.
The human remains were found near a notebook and backpack belonging to Laundrie on Wednesday as his parents searched the Carlton Reserve.
Laundrie had told his parents that he was going for a hike at the reserve on September 13 - which was the last time they saw him.
Bertolino shared the distraught state of mind Brian was in before he left for the last time.
"I can tell you Brian was very upset when he left," the attorney explained in the NBC interview.
"Chris conveyed to me several times he wished he wouldn't have let him go, but he couldn't stop him."
He suggested the parents have been suffering since that September 13 day.
"Brian is a grown man, a young man; 22-years-old," he added.
"He wanted to walk out the door. He's entitled to walk out that door. (Brian is actually 23-years-old.)
He noted that both parents are hurting after learning on Thursday that one of their two children "has just been confirmed as dead."
The remains of both Gabby and Brian were identified exactly one month apart.
Gabby's were confirmed to be hers by, according to the FBI.
And on Thursday, Brian's remains were officially identified.
The fugitive has been on the run since his fiancé was found strangled to death in on September 19.
The FBI issued a warrant for his arrest on September 24 for misuse of a bank card that Gabby's family confirmed belonged to her.
PERSON OF INTEREST
Federal agents confirmed remains were found during a press conference on Wednesday, where they also characterized the death of Gabby as "murder" for the first time.
“As you’re aware, the FBI and the North Port Police Department and our state and local law enforcement partners have been searching the area of the Carlton Reserve for Brian Laundrie, a person of interest in the murder of Gabby Petito,” FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge Michael McPherson told reporters.
Chris and Roberta Laundrie were at the scene when the remains and personal items were found, their attorney Steven Bertolino said, after they told the lawyer they wanted to join the search.
"Chris didn't want to pick the bag up because he wanted law enforcement to see it," Bertolino said, adding: "This was caught on camera."
Bertolino explained that it was Chris who found Brian's white plastic dry bag in full view of a news reporter who was about 20 feet off the trail, while police uncovered his backpack and human remains.
"Chris couldn't find the law enforcement because they were then out of sight, because Chris had been in the woods, so he didn't want to leave the bag there with the news reporter standing nearby, so he picked it up."
Once he found the item, Bertolino insists that Chris informed authorities.
"They looked at the contents of the bag," the lawyer explained.
"At that time, law enforcement officers showed him a picture on the phone of a backpack that law enforcement had located also nearby, and also some distance off the trail."
On Thursday night, Bertolino made the startling revelation that authorities were considering bringing charges against the Chris and Roberta Laundrie.
"Conversations were had several weeks ago with the FBI with respect to certain charges," Bertolino said.
But after discussions between him and the feds, he believes they backed off.
"When questions and when communications were had between myself and the FBI I think it was realized that charges were not appropriate."
Bertolino assured that no deal was made to grant immunity for either Chris or Roberta Laundrie and suggested the parents "have been cooperating with law enforcement, both locally and federally, since day one."
PARENTS AT SCENE
The Laundries were then asked to leave the park as investigators continued combing the area.
"At that point, the Laundries were notified that there was also remains near the backpack and they were asked to leave the reserve."
The attorney called it “hogwash” to suggest the parents planted Brian’s possessions in the swamp, explaining that they were both being shadowed by reporters and police.
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.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
The officer places his hand on Chris Laundrie's shoulder during the exchange. Roberta then turns to face him and wipes his cheek.
Teams are expected to remain on the ground for several days and a no-fly zone has been put in place over the area as the investigation continues.
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Brian Laundrie timeline
Brian Laundrie has not been seen since the morning of September 13. Here is a timeline of Laundrie's latest whereabouts:
- July 2021: Brian Laundrie and his fiancé Gabby Petito leave for a grip across the country. The couple visit numerous national parks across the way.
- August 12: Police in Utah respond to an incident involving the couple. The bodycam footage is not released for another month but it shows a visibly upset Gabby talking to police after reports of a domestic violence incident outside a grocery store.
- August 24: Gabby is seen leaving a hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah, with Laundrie.
- September 1: Laundrie returns to his home in North Port, Florida without Gabby.
- September 6: Laundrie joins his family on a camping trip about 75 miles from their home in North Port.
- September 11: Gabby's family reports her missing.
- September 13: Laundrie leaves home to go hiking in Carlton Reserve, Florida. His family had initially said he departed on September 14, but revised their timeline weeks later.
- September 15: Laundrie is named a person of interest in the case of Gabby.
- September 16: Bodycam footage is released regarding the incident between Gabby and Laundrie.
- September 19: The FBI announces a body found at a Wyoming national park is believed to be that of Gabby's.
- September 23: The FBI issued a warrant for Laundrie's arrest claiming he "used unauthorized debit cards after Gabby Petito's death."
- September 26: A funeral is held for Gabby in New York.
- September 27: Dog the Bounty Hunter announces he will lend a hand and help search for Laundrie.
- September 28: Gabby's family held an emotional press conference as the search for Laundrie continued.
- October 5: Laundrie's sister, Cassie, appeared on Good Morning America and urged her brother to come forward.
- October 7: Laundrie's father, Chris Laundrie, assisted law enforcement in the search to find his son.
- 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 near the Myakkahatchee Creek Park trail in Florida. The medical examiner was called to the scene to investigate.
- October 21: Reports stated the human remains found in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park were bones.
- October 21: The FBI confirmed the remains found have been identified as Laundrie's.
Brian Laundrie dead - Somber moment cops arrive at parents' home to reveal remains belong to missing son
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