Brian Laundrie’s family attorney says the human remains found in a Florida park probably belong to the missing 23-year-old.
On Wednesday, October 20, the FBI confirmed the discovery of partial human remains and a number of possessions belonging to Brian Laundrie in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. They were at a short distance from Carlton Reserve, where a previous search for the missing man had taken place, Unilad reports.
UPDATE: Items of interest were located at the Carlton Reserve this morning in connection with the search for Brian Laundrie. An #FBI Evidence Response team is processing the scene. The reserve is closed to the public and no further details are available at this time. @FBIDenver pic.twitter.com/itOYRpY6fp
— FBI Tampa (@FBITampa) October 20, 2021
The remains will be further examed by medical experts to determine their identity.
However, speaking to CNN, Laundrie’s family attorney, Steve Bertolino, said the “probability is strong” that they belonged to the 23-year-old.
The lawyer explained:
“We are going to wait for the forensic results to come in to verify that.”
Bertolino disclosed that Brian’s parents were “heartbroken” by the distressing development.
On Wednesday morning, Laundrie’s family had arrived at the park to join the search for their missing son. Shortly after, a backpack and notebook belonging to Brian were discovered in the area.
According to FBI officers, the region had “up until recently been underwater.”
The attorney said:
“This is the very area of the park that we initially informed law enforcement on, I believe it was Sept. 17, that Brian would be most likely in the preserve in this particular area.”
The search for Brian Laundrie, who had been missing for over a month, was launched following the death of his girlfriend Gabby Petito. Her body was discovered on September 19 in Wyoming.
Petito’s death was ruled a homicide by the coroner, prompting authorities to consider Laundrie as a person of interest.