Human remains were found on October 20, in Florida’s Carlton reserve and are believed to be Brian Laundrie’s. Brian Laundrie has been a key suspect in the murder of Gabby Petito. The remains were described as “skeletal” by the North Port Police Department, which were later confirmed to be Brian Laundries. The remains were also found next to a backpack and notebook that was most likely Laundrie’s. Searchers were led to the nature preserve by Brian Laundries’ parents. The area was covered by water prior to the search.

Gabby Petito was reported missing on September 11 after not returning home from traveling cross country with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie. Petito’s body was later found near Grand Teton National Park, in Wyoming, on September 19. It was concluded that she was strangled to death. Briana Laundrie wasn’t charged with Petito’s death but was a key suspect in the homicide. After the arrest warrant for him was issued, the search began.

After the remains were found, a confirmation of delta records confirmed the human remains to be Laundries.

“These items were found in an area that up until recently had been underwater,” said Michael McPherson, FBI director of Tampas office.

The remains had been only found because of the water level lowering since it had been underwater for most of the time. The remains were also found close north of Brians’s parent’s home. 

“The positive ID of Brian Laundrie’s remains gives some measure of closure to this case, if not to Gabby’s family who will likely now never know what truly happened,” said Duane Chapman, also known as Dog the Bounty Hunter. He was also part of the two-month search for Laundrie. 

“Now that Laundries remains had been found this may or may not give closure to Gabby Petito’s family,” said sophomore Alyssa Colucci. She like many others also agreed that Brian’s death probably gave a certain level of closure to Petito’s parents.