The FBI in Tampa, Florida, said Wednesday that officials found human remains as well as a backpack and other items that belonged to Brian Laundrie.
But the FBI did not confirm the remains are Laundrie’s. The FBI made the announcement at the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in North Port, Florida. The FBI added it will be at the park for days.
Laundrie attorney Steven Bertolino released a statement:
“Chris and Roberta Laundrie were at the reserve earlier today when human remains and some of Brian’s possessions were located in an area where they had initially advised law enforcement that Brian may be.
“Chris and Roberta will wait for the forensic identification of the human remains before making any additional comments.”
Laundrie has been a person of interest in the Gabby Petito case since September. Laundrie and Petito went on a cross-country road trip earlier in the summer. The two vlogged about their trip as they traveled through Utah, Idaho and Wyoming, stopping at Mystic Hot Springs and Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands and Arches national parks.
But only Laundrie returned home to North Port, Florida, on Sept. 1, driving Petito’s white van, which the couple had used on their trip. Petito was reported missing 10 days later on Sept. 11.
Laundrie then went missing. He allegedly left his home on Monday, Sept. 13, and was reported missing on Friday, Sept. 17. He had been missing ever since.
Petito’s remains were found on Sunday, Sept. 19, on the outskirts of a Wyoming national park. She was later confirmed to have died by strangulation.
As her family mourned, the search for Laundrie continued. Police focused their efforts on the Carlton Reserve, a hiking trail that Laundrie was known to have frequented. The search was not extended outside of Florida. Some reported seeing Laundrie in North Carolina and along the Appalachian Trail.
Still, police persisted in the Carlton Reserve. On Wednesday the search heated up as officials found articles connected to Laundrie at the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park.