Family members hoped for more information from law enforcement about the cause of Brian Laundrie’s death, which was suspected to be related to the death of Gabby Petito, an attorney stated Friday.
“I was told by law enforcement yesterday, perhaps by mid-day tomorrow we’d get some more information,” Steve Bertolino, the attorney for Laundries, said to ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
On Thursday, the FBI identified Brian Laundrie’s human remains as being those found in a Florida nature preserve a day before. The FBI also reported that a notebook and backpack thought to be belonging to Laundrie were found in the wilderness park. They were previously found underwater in an area that had previously been searched.
The FBI didn’t provide a statement listing the cause of death. It is not known how long the remains were submerged in water.
Petito’s body was discovered Sept. 19 at the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, where the couple had previously visited.
The FBI statement stated that they had no comment and asked for privacy from the Laundries.
Richard Stafford, Petito’s attorney, stated that they would not have an immediate reaction to the identification and burial of Laundrie’s remains.
Stafford wrote in an email that “they are grieving their loss of their beautiful girl.” “Gabby’s family will make an emotional statement when it is appropriate and convenient for them.”
The search for the remains ended a lengthy federal, state, and local investigation that began after Laundrie vanished Sept. 14, two weeks after he returned home alone to North Port, Florida.
However, the investigation into Petito’s murder is still ongoing. Law enforcement officials have never identified Laundrie as a person of concern in this case.
Petito’s family reported Petito missing on Sept. 11. This triggered a worldwide media search. Laundrie focused largely his attention on the Carlton Reserve wilderness parks near her home. This swampy, densely wooded area is home to coyotes and bobcats as well as snakes and many other creatures.
They first met as teenagers in Long Island, New York. The couple later moved to Florida’s Gulf Coast, where he lives with his parents.
While on a trip in a Ford Transit van, Petito gained an initial online following. The videos were filled with happy scenes and may have revealed deeper issues. The case of Petito became a social-media obsession after his disappearance.
Petito’s case is attracting a lot of attention. This has led to renewed calls to people to pay more attention to cases involving missing Indigenous women or other people of color. Petito, 22 years old, was white.
Wyoming’s coroner concluded that Petito had died from strangulation, and that her body was there for at least three to four weeks.
Police in Moab, Utah stopped the couple on Aug. 12, after they had a physical altercation. However, no domestic violence charges were brought against them. Police in Moab, Utah are currently conducting an internal review to determine whether policy was adhered to.
Laundrie returned to her home Sept. 1, alone, in the van she and her husband took on their trip. Later, authorities confiscated the van. After telling his parents that he was going on a hike in the Carlton Reserve, he was reported missing.
Numerous tips were submitted to authorities, but none of them was confirmed.
Wednesday’s searches focused on Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park where Laundrie drove a Ford Mustang to the wilderness, and found the remains of the Ford Mustang. The park is located directly next to the Carlton Reserve. Both parks are approximately 35 miles (56 km) south of Sarasota.
