Brian Laundrie, considered a “person of interest” in the death of death of Gabby Petito, died of a self-inflicted gunshot to the head, the lawyer for his family announced on Tuesday.
“Chris and Roberta Laundrie have been informed that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head and the manner of death was suicide,” attorney Steve Bertolino told The New York Post and other media outlets on Tuesday. “Chris and Roberta are still mourning the loss of their son and are hopeful that these findings bring closure to both families.”
A forensic anthropologist determined the cause of death to be suicide.
Laundrie’s remains were found a month ago in a Florida park. Dental records had to be used to confirm his identity.
The FBI also found a notebook and backpack belonging to Laundrie around the same time they found his remains. The contents of neither have yet been revealed to the public.
He was a person of interest in the death of his fiancee, Gabby Petito, who was reported missing at the beginning of September by her family. She had not been heard from since August. She and Laundrie had been traveling the country in a van.
On Sept. 1, Laundrie returned to his home in Florida with the van and without Petito. He disappeared days later.
Petito’s body was found in the Bridger-Teton National Forest later in the month.
A warrant was issued for Laundrie’s arrest by the federal court in Cheyenne. The warrant did not accuse Laundrie of any role in Petito’s death, but accused of him of unlawfully using a credit card in the days following her disappearance.
In October, Teton County coroner Dr. Brent Blue confirmed the cause of Petito’s death as homicide by strangulation. He also said her body had been in the forest for three to four weeks before law enforcement officials discovered her remains.
