‘High’ Probability That Human Remains Found in Florida Park Are Brian Laundrie’s: Lawyer

An lawyer representing the household of high-profile fugitive Brian Laundrie said that quality remains that were recovered astatine a Florida wildlife sphere connected Wednesday apt beryllium to him.

Steve Bertolino, the lawyer representing the Laundrie family, told section quality outlets Thursday the “probability is high” that the remains are his. FBI officials connected Wednesday day announced that quality remains arsenic good arsenic items belonging to Laundrie were recovered in Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park adjacent the Carlton Reserve successful North Port, Florida.

Bertolino, successful a CNN interview, added that Laundrie’s parents were portion of the hunt team.

“It’s rather sad, you tin ideate arsenic a parent, uncovering your son’s belongings alongside immoderate remains. That’s got to beryllium heartbreaking. And I tin archer you that they are heartbroken,” helium said Wednesday night.

Laundrie was named arsenic a idiosyncratic of involvement successful the disappearance and decease of fiancé Gabby Petito, whose assemblage was recovered successful Wyoming. The FBI besides issued a national warrant for his apprehension connected slope fraud charges.

FBI agents statesman to instrumentality distant grounds from the household location of Brian Laundrie, who is simply a idiosyncratic of involvement aft his fiancé Gabby Petito went missing successful North Port, Fla., connected Sept. 20, 2021. (Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

Gabrielle Petito, 22, poses for a photograph with Brian Laundrie successful this undated handout photo. (North Port/Florida Police/Handout via Reuters)

“Chris and Roberta Laundrie were astatine the reserve earlier contiguous erstwhile quality remains and immoderate of Brian’s possessions were located successful an country wherever they had initially advised instrumentality enforcement that Brian whitethorn be,” Bertolino said connected Wednesday. “Chris and Roberta volition hold for the forensic recognition of the quality remains earlier making immoderate further comments.”

During Wednesday’s quality conference, FBI peculiar agent Michael McPherson announced that “the North Port Police Department and our authorities and section instrumentality enforcement partners person been searching the country of the Carlton Reserve for Brian Laundrie, a idiosyncratic of involvement successful the execution of Gabby Petito.” He added that a backpack and notebook belonging to Laundrie were besides discovered adjacent the remains, which were antecedently underwater.

The Sarasota County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to section media that it was besides called to the sphere connected Wednesday.

“It’s apt the squad volition beryllium connected tract for respective days,” McPherson besides said.

Petito and Laundrie had acceptable disconnected connected a cross-country travel passim the United States and documented their travels connected societal media. Officials said Laundrie returned to North Port without Petito successful aboriginal September, and Petito’s household aboriginal reported her missing connected Sept. 11.

The mates was stopped connected Aug. 12 by constabulary successful Moab, Utah, aft they had a carnal altercation, but nary charges were filed. A constabulary assemblage camera video showed the serviceman responding to the scene, interviewing some Laundrie and Petito.

Days later, Laundrie’s parents said helium went connected a hike connected Sept. 13 and ne'er returned.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.