Possible human remains have reportedly been found in a Florida park on Wednesday where authorities have been searching for fugitive Brian Laundrie, who is being sought in connection with the murder of his fiancée Gabby Petito. Several items belonging to Laundrie were also found.
According to the New York Post, human remains were discovered in Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. Sarasota County Medical Examiner and cadaver dog were both called to the scene.
The FBI confirmed the discovery of Laundrie’s items, but did not comment on the human remains.
“Items of interest were located at the Carlton Reserve this morning in connection with the search for Brian Laundrie. An FBI Evidence Response team is processing the scene,” FBI’s Tampa, Fla. office posted on Twitter.
Miami-based journalist Brian Entin shared video of the park on Twitter, writing, “This is the area closed off today and surrounded by FBI. I was in there yesterday when the reserve was briefly back open.”
Laundrie’s parents, Chris and Roberta, were present when items were found. They had notified the FBI and local police late Tuesday that they planned to search for their son in the park on Wednesday morning, according to the family’s attorney Steven Bertolino.
“Chris and Roberta Laundrie went to the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park this morning to search for Brian. The FBI and NPPD were informed last night of Brian’s parents’ intentions and they met Chris and Roberta there this morning,” Bertolino said in a statement. “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 investigation of that area.”
Entin shared footage of the active scene as FBI and local law enforcement arrived.
In addition to the medical examiner and cadaver dog, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office are also at the scene.
“Another mobile command center has shown up,” Entin tweeted, along with video of the unit.
Last week, roughly one month after 22-year-old Petito was found dead in Wyoming, the findings of her autopsy revealed that she was strangled to death.
Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue told reporters during a virtual press conference that he found the cause of death to be strangulation, and affirmed that the manner of her death was homicide.
Blue wouldn’t reveal whether the strangulation was caused by an object or someone’s hands.
Petito’s body was found in Grand Teton National Park on September 19, and was positively identified on September 21. Her family last heard from her in the last week of August, but she was not reported missing until September 11.
Laundrie was named a person of interest in her death, but has not been named a suspect. He was last seen on September 14.
