SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. — Brian Laundrie’s parents, Chris and Roberta Laundrie, have been informed that their son died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to the family’s attorney Steven Bertolino.
“Chris and Roberta are still mourning the loss of their son and are hopeful that these findings bring closure to both families,” Bertolino said in a statement.
Laundrie’s remains were found at the Carlton Reserve on Wednesday, Oct. 20, along with a notebook and a backpack. Dental records confirmed that the remains were those of the 23-year-old man.
The FBI and local law enforcement agencies had been searching the more than 24,000-acre reserve for weeks before finding Laundrie’s remains in an area that had previously been under water.
Laundrie was considered a person of interest in the death of his girlfriend, 22-year-old Gabby Petito, whose body was found in September in the Grand Teton National Park where she was last seen on Aug. 30, with Laundrie.
Laundrie returned home to North Port, Fla., on Sept. 1. Petito was reported missing 10 days later on Sept. 11. A Wyoming coroner confirmed that Petito died by strangulation and that her death was a homicide.
Laundrie’s family said he left for a hike on Monday, Sept. 13, and was reported missing when he did not return.
