Is Brian Laundrie Dead? Remains Found in Carlton Reserve Are Pending Identification

According to emerging reports, remains have been discovered amid the search for Brian Laundrie, whose girlfriend, Gabrielle Petito, was found strangled in Wyoming last month.

NBC News reported on Wednesday that partial human remains were found in the nature reserve where Laundrie’s parents said Brian was going for a hike when they last saw him over a month ago. According to the breaking news update posted on Twitter, a senior law enforcement official confirmed to NBC News that the remains were found in the Carlton Reserve, in an area that was previously underwater. A backpack believed to belong to Laundrie was found near the remains, according to the report.

Citing the Laundrie’s family’s lawyer, Steven Bertolino, WFLA reported earlier on Wednesday that “articles” belonging to Brian were found at the entrance to the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park — which was closed again amid increased police activity. The park had been reopened to the public a day earlier.

Bertolino reportedly declined to tell WFLA about why North Port police called the medical examiner to the park. He also refused to comment on whether he believed the remains mean that Brian Laundrie is dead, according to a 10 Tampa Bay reporter.

Laundrie has not been criminally charged in connection with the death of his girlfriend, Gabrielle Petito, 22, who was found dead at the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming on September 19. Officials determined she was strangled, and her cause of death was deemed a homicide.

Currently, Laundrie is wanted for the unauthorized use of a debit card for allegedly withdrawing $1,000 between August 30 and September 1 — when Petito, 22, was missing. Laundrie reportedly arrived in Florida on September 1 without Petito, and she was reported missing on September 11.

Continuing Coverage of the Gabrielle Petito/Brian Laundrie Case

Petito reportedly spoke to her mother for the last time on August 23 or 24, when she said she and Laundrie were leaving Utah and driving to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Petito would be found dead at that park weeks later.

Laundrie, who was named a person of interest in Petito’s initial disappearance, is believed to have left his parents’ North Port, Florida, home on September 13 or 14. His parents reported him missing on September 17.

His parents claimed he went to the Carlton Reserve, a 24,000-acre preserve in Sarasota County, Florida. An extensive search of the reserve has not led to any known evidence related to the investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back with CrimeOnline for updates as they are made available.

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[Featured image: Brian Laundrie/Moab Police Department]