Gabby Petito murder: Fugitive Brian Laundrie DEAD, FBI confirms

The FBI has confirmed that the human remains found in a Florida nature preserve as those of Brian Laundrie, a person of interest in the death of girlfriend Gabby Petito.

Petito, a social media influencer, had been traveling with Laundrie, on a cross-country road trip. According to police, Laundrie returned to his home in Florida, without her on 1 September – she was reported missing by her family 10 days later. It would not be too long before her remains would be found on the edge of Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park, which the couple had visited. The coroner there concluded she died of strangulation.

Brian Laundrie’s family asks for compassion

According to the FBI, Brian Laundrie’s skeletal remains, his backpack, notebook and clothes, were found on Wednesday in a Florida wilderness park. The area where they were found had been under water during earlier searches. The FBI confirmed in a tweet that the comparison of dental records proved that the remains were indeed Laundrie’s.

“On 21 October, 2021, a comparison of dental records confirmed that the human remains found at the T Mabry Carlton, Jr Memorial Reserve and Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park are those of Brian Laundrie,” tweeted the FBI’s Denver office.

In an interview with NBC News, the Laundrie family attourney Steven Bertolino asked the public to show compassion to them.

“There are two young people that have now lost their lives. There are parents that are suffering. Now, I understand that whatever happened or whatever didn’t happen, whatever people know, this is tragic for two families. And anybody with a child, and anybody with a sense of humanity can understand the frustration that both families feel,” he said.

Laundrie has not been charged in Petito’s death, however a court in Wyoming issued an arrest warrant for him in late September, accusing him of using a debit card to make unauthorised withdrawals.