Thursday's confirmation by the FBI that Brian Laundrie was found, Gabby Petito's fianc and only person of interest in her murder, was confirmed by the FBI.
The FBI's Denver Field Office, which is leading the investigation, stated that a comparison of dental files confirmed that the human remains found at Carlton Reserve and Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, Sarasota County (Fla.) on Wednesday belonged to Laundrie.
Steven Bertolino is an attorney representing Laundrie's parents. He said that police arrived at their North Port, Fla. home late Thursday afternoon in order to notify them.
Partial human remains and a notebook and backpack belonging to Laundrie were discovered on Wednesday in Myakkahatchee's park. This trail is located adjacent to the 24,565-acre Carlton Reserve. Laundries parents reported that he was missing last month.
Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie in an undated photograph. (North Port, Fla. Police/Handout via Reuters/File
Bertolino stated Wednesday that Laundries' parents went to the park to look for their son and met with North Port police officers and the FBI.
Bertolino stated that Chris and Roberta Laundrie visited the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park to find Brian. After a quick search on a trail Brian used, we found some items that belong to Brian.
According to the FBI, the remains were discovered in an area that was previously under water. To assist with the investigation, the Sarasota County Medical Examiner's Office was called in as well as a Pasco County Sheriff's Office cadaver dog.
NBC News reported earlier Thursday that the remains contained a part of a skull and were "skeletal".
His parents Laundries reported him missing Sept. 17, just two days after Petitos body was discovered near Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
Gabby Petito. (via Facebook
The Teton County Coroners Office performed an autopsy and concluded that the death of the 22-year old victim was a result of strangulation.
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This case attracted national media attention and criticism from news outlets for not reporting similar cases involving people with color.
It's also been a hot topic on social media with internet sleuths looking through the Instagram posts of couples for clues.
Unconfirmed sightings have been made of Laundrie along Canada's Appalachian Trail and Mexico. The search was joined by TV personalities such as Duane Chapman, known as Dog the Bounty Hunter, and John Walsh, long-time Americas Most Wanted host.
Petito and Laundrie spent months touring national parks in their 2012 Ford Transit van. They also documented the trip via social media.
Police in Moab, Utah stopped the couple after they had a physical altercation. However, no charges were brought against them.
Video of Brian Laundrie speaking to an officer is captured by a police camera. He and Gabby Petito were travelling in a van near Arches National Park's entrance on Aug. 12. (Moab Police Department via AP)
Gabby Petito, as seen in a police bodycam video on Aug. 12. (Moab Police via YouTube)
Laundrie returned to North Port on Sept. 1 with the couple, having lived there for some time with his parents. Petitos parents who live on Long Island said that they lost touch with her in August and reported her missing Sept. 11.
Petitos' family made public appeals to Laundries parents for cooperation with authorities. Police claim that the Laundries initially refused to share any information in their search for Petito and their son.
Nicole Schmidt, Petito's mom, spoke out in a 60 Minutes Australia interview that aired last weekend. She said that their silence speaks volumes.
Christopher Wilson also contributed to this report.
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