Breaking: Brian Laundrie Died of Gunshot Wound to Head, Final Autopsy Confirms

Laundrie was last seen on September 13.

By Emily Rella | Oct 21, 2021

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Update 11/23: A final autopsy report on the remains of former fugitive Brian Laundrie confirmed that the 23-year-old died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, the Laundrie family lawyer confirmed.

“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,” family attorney Steve Bertolino said in a statement to the New York Post. “Chris and Roberta are still mourning the loss of their son and are hopeful that these findings bring closure to both families.”

On Thursday evening, the FBI confirmed that the skeletal remains found in Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in North Port, Florida belonged to 23-year-old Brian Laundrie, the sole person of interest in the homicide of 22-year-old Gabby Petito.

The remains were found early Wednesday alongside a notebook and backpack that the Laundrie family lawyer had confirmed belonged to Brian.

“On October 21, 2021, a comparison of dental records confirmed that the human remains found at the T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve and Myakkahatchee Creed Environmental Park are those of Brian Laundrie,” the FBI said in a written statement.

Laundrie had been reportedly missing since September 13, when his parents said they last saw him leaving to go for a hike in that park.

Petito, Laundrie’s fiancé, went missing after the couple traveled together on a cross-country camping and hiking trip. She was later found dead in Wyoming.

This is a developing story.

Update 11/23: A final autopsy report on the remains of former fugitive Brian Laundrie confirmed that the 23-year-old died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, the Laundrie family lawyer confirmed.

“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,” family attorney Steve Bertolino said in a statement to the New York Post. “Chris and Roberta are still mourning the loss of their son and are hopeful that these findings bring closure to both families.”

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer
Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

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