The obvious remains of an individual found in a Florida nature preserve Wednesday are likely these of Brian Laundrie, the fiancé of Gabby Petito sought in connection along with her dying, in keeping with a lawyer for the Laundrie family.
On Wednesday, authorities situated a backpack and pocket book they believed to be Laundrie’s in Carlton Reserve on the west coast of Florida.
For greater than a month, regulation enforcement officers have sought Laundrie, 23, in reference to the dying of Petito, whose physique was found on Sept. 19 in Wyoming close to the place the couple was touring on a cross nation highway journey collectively. Laundrie went lacking on Sept. 14 after returning dwelling to Florida with out Petito.
A Teton County coroner mentioned on Oct. 12 that her dying was brought on by strangulation. It had beforehand been dominated a murder.
On Wednesday evening, Laundrie family lawyer Steven Bertolino instructed CNN’s Chris Cuomo that there was a powerful chance the remains found in the Florida nature reserve had been Laundrie’s.
“It’s quite sad, you can imagine as a parent, finding your son’s belonging alongside from the remains. That’s got to be heartbreaking. And I can tell you that they are heartbroken,” Bertolino mentioned.
But a proper identification of the remains may take longer, in keeping with CNN. They had been found in an space that had till lately been underwater, FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael McPherson mentioned. A medical expert arrived on the reserve Wednesday.
Michael McPherson, chief of the Tampa FBI workplace, makes an announcement to the media throughout a briefing Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021, in North Port, Fla. Items believed to belong to Brian Laundrie and potential human remains had been found in a Florida wilderness park throughout a seek for clues in the slaying of Gabby Petito . (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)AP
Bertolino mentioned that Laundrie’s dad and mom helped regulation enforcement find some gadgets believed to be their son’s in the nature preserve. The park had been closed to the general public earlier than Wednesday, he mentioned, however the dad and mom had offered officers with areas that Brian had favored to go to.
Chris and Roberta Laundrie searched by means of the park whereas carefully accompanied by regulation enforcement, Bertolino mentioned. Chris found a white dry bag 20 toes off a path and confirmed it to officers, who knowledgeable him {that a} backpack and human remains had been found close by. The Laundries had been then requested to depart the preserve, the family lawyer mentioned.
The remains had been found in the preserve, a police spokesperson for the Florida city of North Port mentioned.