BODY MYSTERY
Brian Laundrie search – Human remains found at reserve ‘WON’T be identified today’ & parents aren’t convinced it’s him
HUMAN remains found during the search for Brian Laundrie are not expected to be identified today, the medical examiner has said - but the fugitive's parents are "not convinced" they're his.
A backpack and notebook belonging to Laundrie were found by police near human remains at Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, near the Calton Reserve, yesterday during a brief search with the missing 23-year-old's parents.
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The medical examiner journalist Brian Entin that he does not expect to identify the remains today.
The discovery came almost five weeks after cops and FBI agents first started searching the national park.
Michael McPherson, of the Tampa FBI division, told reporters Wednesday that investigators will likely be at the scene for “several days” as they forensically examine the evidence.
had previously told viewers on Wednesday night that the medical examiners could identify the remains as early as today.
He said: “In terms of when they will be able to positively identify those human remains, the latest we've heard from the medical examiner tonight is he expects possibly tomorrow, possibly the day after that.”
Entin warned that the identification process could take longer.
FBI teams and canine units have been pictured arriving at the reserve early on Thursday morning, according to NewsNationNow.
As the public waits for answers, the Laundrie family lawyer Steven Bertolino told Insider that Brian's parents, Chris and Roberta, are "not convinced" yet that the remains are Brian's.
They do however concede there's a "strong chance" that they are his, Bertolino said, adding they are "just waiting" for the identification results to come back.
Bertolino, meanwhile, said it was "common sense" to believe that it was Brian's body that was found yesterday.
"Brian's belongings found near remains in an area of [the] park [the] parents knew he frequented," the attorney said.
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He also made similar remarks to CNN on Wednesday night, insisting there was a "strong probability" the remains were Brian's.
Bertolino told : “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.”
Chris Laundrie also found a white plastic dry bag while cops and cadaver dogs were scouring the park Wednesday.
Bertolino added: “Chris didn’t want to pick the bag up because he wanted law enforcement to see it. This was caught on camera."
The lawyer said that Chris informed authorities once he found the item.
The Laundries were then asked to leave the park as investigators continued combing the area.
Bertolino branded it “hogwash” to suggest the parents planted Brian’s possessions in the swamp, explaining that they were both being shadowed by reporters and police.
A notebook and a backpack were also discovered at the site.
Internet sleuths are wondering what may be written inside the journal as they speculated whether it could provide “clues” for cops in their probe.
Criminologist Casey Jordan said a notebook “pointed to the possibility” of a suicide note, reports. The contents inside the notebook remain unknown.
Others wondered how the notebook would not disintegrate if it was in a waterlogged area.
But, social media users that a notebook would be damaged but not destroyed if in a waterproof bag.
'SLEUTHS AT WORK'
Sleuths trawled through Laundrie and Gabby’s Instagram channels and noticed several images of notebooks.
In one photo, Brian was tucked under some blankets next to a stream and appeared to be relaxing in a hammock while they explored the Appalachian Trail in Georgia.
A green spiraled notebook was seen stacked on top of a paperback edition of Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk with a handful of fine point ink pens.
Gabby commented on the photo: "Went hiking for my #22."
And, during their ill-fated cross-country road trip, an orange notebook can be seen inside a tent while the young couple was camping at Zion National Park, Utah.
Other notebooks appear to be shelved inside Gabby's immaculately decorated 2012 Ford Transit Connect van's interior.
Laundrie was first reported missing on September 17 – days after allegedly telling Chris and Roberta that he was going for a hike in the reserve.
The nature reserve is home to venomous snakes, Florida panthers, and bears while alligators lurk underneath the swampy waters.
'ANIMALS CAN DESTROY YOU'
Wilderness expert Mark Urban told : "You have so many animals that are hungry.
"You can be in a snake stomach, you can be in a gator stomach, or you can be eviscerated by a bear.
"An animal is not going to eat out in public. It's going to take back to where it feels safe and sheltered. Some of these animals can destroy you in this Florida heat."
Survivalists warned that Laundrie would find it hard to find safe drinking water or start a fire if he was hiding out in the reserve.
There have been alleged sightings of Laundrie in other parts of Florida, the Appalachian Trail, Montana, Mexico, and Canada.
Laundrie was reported missing days before FBI detectives in Wyoming found Gabby Petito’s remains.
Her body was discovered on September 19 – days after the young vlogger was reported missing by her family.
Coroners ruled the manner of her death as a homicide before confirming weeks later that she died from strangulation.
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Gabby’s stepfather Jim Schmidt told Fox News that the family wouldn’t know what happened to the vlogger unless Laundrie is found.
He said: “He’s our missing piece to the puzzle to find out what happened. What happened out there? Until they find him we don’t know.”
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Laundrie's parents may never speak about him or Gabby Petito even if remains found in swamp are his, their lawyer says
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