The FBI has just informed the parents of Brian Laundrie that the remains are indeed him. Rest in piss, you coward.
The human remains found Wednesday in a Florida nature reserve belong to missing ‘van-lifer’ Brian Laundrie, the FBI confirmed Thursday afternoon—a stunning end to a weeks-long search for a fugitive who was apparently right under investigators’ noses the entire time.
The bombshell news comes five weeks after Laundrie, 23, was last seen leaving his family’s home in nearby North Port in the wake of his fiancee Gabby Petito’s death by strangulation.
Steven Bertolino, the Laundrie family’s attorney, confirmed the report, telling The Daily Beast that Laundrie’s parents were notified that their son is dead.
“Chris and Roberta Laundrie have been informed that the remains found yesterday are indeed Brian’s,” Bertolino said in a text message. “We have no further comment at this time and we ask that you respect the Laundrie’s privacy at this time.”
Joe Petito, Gabby’s father, was unable to be reached immediately following the news. Laundrie’s family did not respond to requests for comment.
Laundrie had been under intense scrutiny by much of the public and Petito’s family ever since he returned home alone on Sept. 1 from what ostensibly started out as a free-spirited cross-country road trip with Petito.
He offered no explanation as to where Petito was or what had happened to her, setting off alarm bells for Petito’s family, who reported her missing on Sept. 11.
Then, on Sept. 13, Laundrie vanished as well, after telling his family he was going on a hike. Police searched the Carlton Reserve area for weeks but came up empty-handed.
In a strange twist, Laundrie’s parents told the police on Tuesday night that they would be heading to the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park the following morning to search for Brian, Bertolino said.
The FBI and North Port Police met Chris and Roberta Laundrie at the park, which is adjacent to the Carlton Reserve, on Wednesday morning. “After a brief search off a trail that Brian frequented some articles belonging to Brian were found,” Bertolino said.
Human remains were found with a backpack and notebook, all belonging to Laundrie. The area had reportedly been underwater until waters receded recently. (Bertolino denied as “hogwash” any speculation that Laundrie’s parents planted the items.)
