Brian Laundrie dead? Partial human remains found in Florida nature park where search for wanted fugitive is taking place.
Partial human remains were reportedly located in a Florida nature park where authorities have been searching for wanted fugitive, Brian Laundrie amid the Gabby Petito case. A medical examiner has since responded to the area.
The discovery of remains comes after some items belonging to Laundrie were found in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park earlier on Wednesday.
Law enforcement sources told NBC News that the remains were found in a section of the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park that had previously been underwater due to heavy rains.
A cadaver dog also has been deployed to the scene. A tent was set up in the area, according to chopper video posted on social media.
Laundrie’s belongings were discovered Wednesday at the heavily wooded park. The heavily wooded reserve which had been closed during the search for Laundrie, had reopened to the public on Tuesday, only to be closed again after the discovery, WTSP reported.
Brian Laundrie parents informed of discovery
The morbid discovery comes five weeks after the wanted man went on the run. With the discovery coming on the day that Chris and Roberta Laundrie had first joined the search for their wanted son.
‘Chris and Roberta went to the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park this morning to search for Brian,’ Laundrie family lawyer, Steve Bertolino said in an email according to the nypost. ‘The FBI and (North Port Police Department) were informed last night of Brian’s parents’ intentions and they met Chris and Roberta there this morning.
‘After a brief search off a trail that Brian frequented some articles belonging to Brian were found. As of now law enforcement is conducting a more thorough search of that area,’ Bertolino added.
The neighboring 25,000-acre Carlton Reserve, where authorities have also been searching for the fugitive, was listed by Sarasota County as being open.
After returning to Florida in Petito’s van last month, Laundrie told his parents that he was going on a hike at the Carlton Reserve — from which he never returned.
Authorities have been on the hunt since Sept. 18 for the fugitive, who is wanted on a federal arrest warrant for allegedly using Petito’s stolen bank card after she disappeared.
The 22-year-old Long Island native’s remains were found in a Wyoming park on Sept. 19 and he was named a person of interest in her homicide. The girl’s family had first reported her missing on September 11.
‘I think we might have found something,’
Laundrie’s parents, who have claimed their son went to Myakkahatchee on Sept. 13, left their North Port home about 7:15 a.m. for the park, where two men in hiking gear began following them, according to Fox News.
One of the men later identified himself as a law enforcement officer, who apparently told the couple, ‘I think we might have found something,’ according to the network.
The Laundries later discovered a white bag and another object after making their way through a thicket. They could be seen putting the object into the bag and handing it over to the officer, Fox News reported.
The couple were seen making and receiving phone calls before being joined by the officer, who patted Chris on the shoulder.
At 8:45 a.m., the Laundries left the park and appeared emotional when they were confronted by protesters before they headed back home.
The FBI is expected to provide an update regarding the investigation later on Wednesday.
