Gabby Petito case: Human remains found to be Brian Laundrie's as his lawyer speaks out

North Port, Florida – The remains found in Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park on Wednesday have been confirmed by the FBI as Brian Laundrie's – the sole person of interest in the murder of Gabby Petito.

Gabby Petito (r.) and Brian Laundrie (l.) were engaged to be married prior to their deaths.
Gabby Petito (r.) and Brian Laundrie (l.) were engaged to be married prior to their deaths.  © Collage: Screenshot/Instagram/gabspetito

The outcome many were dreading was confirmed in a statement by the FBI on Thursday evening. The identification was made using dental records.

The partial skeletal remains were found near a backpack that belonged to Laundrie on Wednesday at Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park.

The manner and cause of death are still a mystery. They might both be indeterminable, depending on what remains were found, and the condition they were found in.

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Though the parents were at the park searching at the same time the remains were found, they were not the ones to locate them and were asked to leave upon discovery, according to Brian Entin with NewsNation.

After the news broke that the remains found were Laundrie's, the family's attorney Steven Bertolino spoke with NewsNation's Marni Hughes on-camera about the discovery and the public's unsolicited opinions.

The Laundrie family attorney speaks out

To honor the life of their daughter, Gabby Petito's parents started the Gabby Petito Foundation to help find other missing peoples and safely assist those in abusive relationships.
To honor the life of their daughter, Gabby Petito's parents started the Gabby Petito Foundation to help find other missing peoples and safely assist those in abusive relationships.  © Collage: Screenshot/Instagram/gabspetito

Tensions were noticeably high as Bertolino expressed his anger at those who continued to protest outside Chris and Roberta Laundrie's home in the wake of learning their son was deceased.

He also shared his immense distaste for the numerous theories floating around about the Laundries and their potential involvement in the 23-year-old's disappearance, calling them all, "bulls***."

"Do you realize how ludicrous that is? How aggravating, how maddening it is to even hear those things? And the fact that it's being put out there by the press, as well? That's where my level of frustration and anger is coming from," Bertolino told Hughes.

In the interview, Bertolino gave further insight into his relationship with the Laundrie family, Brian Laundrie included. He said he'd known Brian since he was an infant, and had been a longtime family friend.

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Given the decades-long relationship with the Laundries, Bertolino was then asked if he could speak on Brian's character or personality. It was at this exact moment when he seemed to switch gears, claiming he didn't know Brian well enough to speak about his character.

The remains were found roughly five weeks into the manhunt for the since-deceased Laundrie, who allegedly left home on September 13 for a hike at the Carlton Reserve in North Port, Florida, and never returned.

Family members of Gabby Petito, who was engaged to Laundrie, reported the 22-year-old as a missing person on September 11.

This came after days of ignored texts and phone calls to the entire Laundrie family concerning Petito's whereabouts and safety. In light of Petito's death, her family founded the Gabby Petito Foundation.

The foundation aims to help family members of missing people locate their loved ones, and also help victims of domestic violence leave abusive relationships safely.

Cover photo: Collage: Screenshot/Instagram/gabspetito

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