According to the FBI and a Laundrie family lawyer, items believed to be Brian Laundrie’s were discovered Wednesday in a Florida wilderness area as part of the ongoing search for clues in Gabby Petito’s murder.
Laundrie’s parents Chris and Roberta Laundrie participated in Wednesday’s search with the FBI, North Port police, Florida. This was more than a month since Laundrie went missing from the vast Carlton Reserve Park.
Attorney Steven Bertolino stated in a text to The Associated Press that “after a brief search off a track that Brian frequented some articles belonging Brian were found.” “At the moment law enforcement is conducting an additional investigation into that area.”
Tampa’s FBI field office also released a Twitter statement confirming that items of interest were found in Laundrie searches, but not describing them further.
“An FBI Evidence Response Team is currently processing the scene. According to the statement, the reserve is now closed to the public.
Sarasota County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that it was summoned to the reserve, but declined further comment.
Petito’s murder victim, 23-year-old Laundrie, is being investigated by her parents. She was on a cross country trip to West and was reported missing by her parents Sept. 11.
This case generated a lot of public attention, but it also raised questions about the inequity of attention to hundreds of Native American and other minorities women who were missing or killed across the United States. Petito is white.
Petito’s body was discovered Sept. 19, near Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. The couple had previously visited the park. According to the coroner, she died from strangulation. Her body was known to have been there for at least three to four weeks.
Police in Moab, Utah stopped the couple after they had a physical altercation. However, no charges were brought against them.
Laundrie, who was travelling alone with his wife on their trip, returned to her home Sept. 1 in the Ford van he had taken. After telling his parents that he was planning to hike in the Carlton Reserve on Sept. 14, Laundrie was reported missing. This preserve is a critical area in the ongoing search.
Wednesday’s activity was concentrated on Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. Television news reports showed many law enforcement vehicles arriving at the park and a tent being set up in the woods. This is the location where Laundrie’s Ford Mustang was found.
Laundrie is being charged with the unauthorized use of a debit card in federal Wyoming. If he is still alive, authorities will be able to arrest him.
It claims that Laundrie used a Capital One Bank credit card and someone’s personal ID number to make unauthorised withdrawals or charge more than $1,000. It doesn’t say who the card belongs to or what charges were made.
