GABBY MURDER TWIST
Brian Laundrie – ‘Heartbroken’ parents’ lawyer says remains are likely his as it’s revealed dad Chris found backpack
THE human remains found on Wednesday near a backpack and notebook in a Florida swamp very likely belong to Gabby Petito’s fugitive fiancé Brian Laundrie, his “heartbroken” parents’ lawyer has said.
Steven Bertolino, the attorney for Brian’s parents Chris and Roberta, said it is a “strong probability” the remains belong to the 23-year-old, as he revealed that Chris himself was first to discover a “dry bag” belonging to his son near the entrance to the Carlton Reserve in North Port, Florida.
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'STRONG PROBABILITY'
"The probability is strong that it is Brian's remains, but we're going to wait for the forensic results to come in and verify that,'" said Bertolino said during an .
The remains were discovered by Brian's backpack and notebook five weeks after the 23-year-old vanished after he told his parents he was going on a hike in the 25,000-acre Carlton Reserve.
Chris and Roberta Laundrie were seen "grieving" at the wilderness park after the FBI confirmed the shocking discovery and after the FBI for the first time characterized the death of as a "murder."
“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 at a press conference confirmed the remains were found in an area that was submerged earlier in the search.
The discovery came as:
- Brian's belongings were found by his parents on a trail he often used
- Sleuths have speculated what was found in the white bag
- Brian's mom appeared to wipe a tear from his dad's face
FATHER FOUND BRIAN'S DRY BAG
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 didn't want to pick the bag up because he wanted law enforcement to see it," Bertolino said.
He added: "This was caught on camera.
Read our Brian Laundrie live blog for the very latest news and updates...
"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."
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."
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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, Laundrie's parents 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.
The officer places his hand on Chris Laundrie's shoulder during the exchange. Roberta then turns to face him and wipes his cheek.
Roberta was apparently attempting to wipe away a tear from Chris's face.
SOAKED SWAMP
The attorney suggested that the spot where the remains and belongings were found was the same location the parents had shared with authorities a month ago.
“Indeed, this is the very area of the park that we initially informed law enforcement, on I believe it was September 17th, that Brian would be most likely in the preserve,” Bertolino said.
“Mr. Laundrie informed me that it was quite near the entrance... He put a time frame of about 30 minutes in.
“A mile or two into the reserve.”
The specific location in the vast alligator and insect-infested swampland had been mostly submerged in hurricane-soaking water back in September when authorities launched the manhunt for Brian.
The findings came after both parents paid a visit to the reserve to search for their son.
Bertolino explained that the reason why the parents waited until Wednesday to help in the search for their son was because the park was closed to the public until Tuesday.
The reserve had been shuttered to the public while local and federal law enforcement pursued clues to tracking the fugitive.
Once it reopened, parents joined search teams Wednesday morning for the first time together.
"The parents had assumed that the experts, the FBI and all the tracking teams they had, would be able to locate Brian based upon the information that we had provided them to the specific areas and trails in the park that Brian liked to visit," he said.
It wasn't the first time the parents were involved in the pursuit for their son's whereabouts.
Earlier this month, to offer insight about his son's favored trails and campsites.
Read more: Notebook found near human remains - could it hold the key to Gabby Petito case?
LAUNDRIES REMAIN SILENT
The Laundrie parents have faced harsh criticism since they last saw their son on September 13, with many people speculating they played some role in their son’s disappearance.
They have been accused of secretly covering for Brian to buy him time to elude the manhunt to more outlandish theories such as stashing him in a bunker under their North Port, Florida home.
They've also remained tightlipped both publicly and withdrawn from Gabby's parents since Brian returned back to Florida alone on September 1.
Bertolino made it clear that the parents were following his advice.
'They know it's been hard," he said during the interview with Cuomo. "But ultimately, you know, this is the advice I gave them.
"This is the advice they're taking, and that's on me.
"I'm the one who told them not to talk.
"That's been on me from day one.
"That's not on the family."
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OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
During Wednesday's announcement, FBI Special Agent McPherson said investigators found "what appears to be human remains, along with personal items, such as a backpack and notebook belonging to Brian Laundrie."
He added that the reserve will remain closed as the investigation continues and urged the public for patience.
Teams are expected to remain on the ground for several days and a no-fly zone has been put in place over the area.
FBI agents did not answer questions and were met with a chant of "Justice for Gabby" as the press briefing ended.
"I know you have a lot of questions but we don't have all the answers yet," McPherson said.
WEDNESDAY MORNING
The Carlton Reserve is linked to the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park where Chris and Roberta searched for their son.
"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," Bertolino said in a statement.
"Chris and Roberta will wait for the forensic identification of the human remains before making any additional comments."
The medical examiner was called in on Wednesday morning after the fugitive's parents reportedly discovered a white bag and a dark-colored object in a patch of brambles.
Footage also showed vehicles with government tags arriving at the scene.
The later confirmed that "items of interest" were found, adding that their "evidence response team is processing the scene."
Bertolino said earlier in a statement: "Chris and Roberta Laundrie went to the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park this morning to search for Brian.
"The FBI and NPPD were informed last night of Brian’s parents’ intentions and they met Chris and Roberta there this morning after a brief search off a trail that Brian frequented some articles belonging to Brian were found.
"As of now law enforcement is conducting a more thorough investigation of that area," he said.
Two white tents were later seen erected in the park after the coroner was called out in a large white van. A human remains detection team was also at the scene.
BRIAN LAUNDRIE'S TIMELINE
Laundrie and Gabby were roughly two months into a four-month adventure when he returned to his home with her van on September 1.
The vehicle was found parked outside Laundrie's parents' home, where he and Petito had lived for the past two years.
Laundrie was later reported missing by his family on September 13 after allegedly telling them that he was going to take a hike in the Carlton Reserve.
Laundrie's parents said that they drove his car home from a Florida wildlife reserve after he "failed to return from a hike."
Yet they did not report him missing for another two days.
Laundrie's parents reportedly told police they realized Brian hadn't come back from his hike "on Wednesday or Thursday," and that's when they went to pick up the Mustang and drove it back to their home.
Laundrie's parents remained at their Florida home as of Tuesday afternoon.
Gabby's killer, who has not been named, is now listed among the FBI's Most Wanted as the agency hunts for information on the young woman's final movements.
Laundrie has only been named as a person of interest but not a suspect.
GABBY'S FINAL DAYS
They narrowed down her final days to between August 27 and August 30 as they call on the public to contact them if they saw her during this time near the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area in Wyoming.
Teton County Coroner Dr Brent Blue confirmed that Gabby Petito died by strangulation during a press conference last week.
He added that Gabby's predicted death was three to four weeks before her body was found on September 19.
The body was outside "in the wilderness" for this time.
The doctor also confirmed that Gabby Petito was not pregnant at the time of her death and that a toxicology report was unable to be released at this time.
Following the results of the autopsy, Brian Laundrie's family attorney, Steve Bertolino, released a statement saying: "Gabby Petito’s death at such a young age is a tragedy.
"While Brian Laundrie is currently charged with the unauthorized use of a debit card belonging to Gabby, Brian is only considered a person of interest in relation to Gabby Petito’s demise.
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"At this time Brian is still missing and when he is located we will address the pending fraud charge against him."
The FBI has issued an arrest warrant for Laundrie on September 24 for reportedly spending $1,000 on Gabby's bank card after the last day she was seen alive.
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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.
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