Gun reportedly missing from Laundrie family home

As Brian Laundrie’s cause of death has been revealed, a new detail on a missing item from the family home could give authorities a new lead.

After confirming Brian Laundrie, the sole suspect in the death of New York woman Gabby Petito, died by suicide, the Laundrie’s family lawyer has dropped another bombshell regarding the investigation.

According to Fox News, Brian Laundrie’s parents Chris and Roberta turned over all of the firearms in their home to the FBI – but one was missing.

When Brian Laundrie was reported missing his parents turned over all their firearms. But one was missing.
That is according to Laundrie family attorney Steven Bertolino.

— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) November 23, 2021

The Laundrie’s family lawyer, Steve Bertolino, said Tuesday afternoon local time that investigators informed the parents that an autopsy had determined their 23-year-old son’s manner of death was suicide.

However it is not clear if the missing gun that was not turned over as part of the investigation is connected with Laundrie’s death.

Brian Laundrie’s remains were found one month after Gabby Petito’s

Mr Laundrie became the only person of interest in the death of his fiancee, Gabby Petito, after her remains were found in Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest in September.

Weeks after her body was found, Ms Petito’s death ruled a homicide by manual strangulation. Mr Laundrie’s decomposed remains were found about a month later in Florida’s Carlton Reserve in an area that had previously been submerged in water.

Due to the poor condition of the remains, a medical examiner sent what was left of the body to a forensic anthropologist for further analysis.

Along with the discovery of the body, several items — including a notebook — were also found nearby.

Brian Laundrie’s remains were found about a month after Gabby Petito. Picture: CNN

While the FBI has no obligation to reveal any of its findings to the public during an ongoing investigation, they did announce shortly after Mr Laundrie’s body was found that they had found a backpack, dry bag and notebook nearby to the remains.

Mr Bertolino did not reveal where the gun Laundrie used came from or if it has been located. When asked by The Sun about the weapon used by Laundrie, he said he was “not certain”.

Mr Laundrie left for the Carlton Reserve on 12 September, the day after Ms Petito was reported missing by her family after failing to return home from a cross-country road trip.

It is unclear exactly when he died, however speculation given the condition of his remains is that he may have been submerged in water for weeks inside the national park.

The notebook recovered by authorities has remained a focus especially among internet sleuths hoping to determine what lead to Ms Petito’s death.

Brian Laundrie was the only person of interest in the death of Gabby Petito. Picture: Handout / Moab City Police Department / AFP.

Gabby Petito’s remains were found in Wyoming.

Now, the notebook may stand as the last hope police have in determining answers about her death.

While the notebook sustained significant water damage, North Port Police spokesman Josh Taylor told Insiderlast month it may be “salvageable”.

As the FBI, who are the lead agency in the investigation, continue with the drying process and scouring of the pages to find legible handwriting or imprints, there’s ongoing speculation that the notebook could contain a suicide note.

Insider questioned Ms Petito’s father, Joseph, about what he thought might be in the notebook in which he said regardless of what is inside — it wouldn’t bring him closure and definitely wouldn’t bring Gabby back.

A backpack and notebook belonging to Brian Laundrie was discovered near the area where the remains were found. Picture: Fox News

Mr Bertolino confirmed he wasn’t sure if the notebook contained any further information, and whether it will ever be released by the FBI.

What will remain crucial to the ongoing investigation, alongside the notebook, will be Laundrie’s digital communications, including his texts and emails, as well as use of social media, and internet browsing history prior to his death.

Both Chris and Roberta said they hope that the result of an examination into his cause of death brings closure to both their family and that of Ms Petito’s.