Partial human remains, notebook and backpack found in search for Brian Laundrie

After a month-long search for Brian Laundrie, authorities have found human remains and two items that could be the key to solving Gabby Petito’s death.

The search for Brian Laundrie, who has been the sole person of interest since his girlfriend Gabby Petito was strangled to death last month, may have come to an end, after human remains were discovered in the place he vanished.

Law enforcement announced earlier today they had found what appeared to be partial human remains in an area of Carlton Reserve that was underwater, near some belongings believed to belong to Mr Laundrie.

The remains were found in a spot near where Mr Laundrie left to go hiking on September 14.

FBI Tampa special agent in charge Michael McPherson made a brief statement to reporters this morning, 4.30pm local time, just five hours after law enforcement made the discovery.

“Earlier today, investigators found what we believe to be human remains, a backpack and a notebook belonging to Brian Laundrie,” Mr McPherson said.

An agent holding the bag found.

An evidence tent. Picture: Supplied

A number of evidence response teams are on the scene, with Mr McPherson saying they would use “all forensic resources” to gather what they could.

The area where the remains and items were found had been flooded recently, with the receding waters revealing the clues and items.

“It’s likely the (forensic) team will be on scene for several days,” Mr McPherson said.

“We don’t have all the answers yet .. but we’re working diligently to get those answers for you.”

The reserve will stay closed to the public until further notice.

Protesters at the press conference chanted “justice for Gabby” as the police and FBI walked back to the scene.

Chris and Roberta Laundrie speaking with police after the discovery was made. Picture: Supplied

The K-9 unit called in to search for Brian Laundrie.

Authorities have been searching Carlton Reserve and surrounds for weeks.

Mr Laundrie’s parents Chris and Roberta reportedly directed FBI agents and police to the location where “some articles belonging to their son were found,” according to a statement by Laundrie lawyer Steven Bertolino.

“Chris and Roberta Laundrie went to the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park this morning to search for Brian,” Mr Bertolino said.

“The FBI and NPPD were informed last night of Brian’s parents’ intentions and they met Chris and Roberta there this morning 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.”

The mass search for Brian Laundrie at Carlton Reserve.

Mr Laundrie, 23 vanished from his family’s home on September 14 after telling his parents Chris and Roberta he was going for a hike in the sprawling Carlton Reserve.

His parents alerted authorities three days after their son failed to return home from a hike in the reserve, described by authorities as “unforgiving” due to its high presence of alligators and snakes.

The search for Mr Laundrie was centred Carlton Reserve after authorities found Ms Petito’s body in Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming on September 19.

An autopsy later revealed Ms Petito, 22, was strangled to death.

Ms Petito’s remains were found after local police and the FBI conducted an extensive air and ground search of the region surrounding the Spread Creek Dispersed camping area.

Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie were on a cross-country road trip together. Picture: Instagram

The body of Gabby Petito was found on Sunday near a campground in Wyoming. Picture: Instagram

Teton County Coroner Dr Brent Blue confirmed Ms Petito’s manner of death was homicide.

In a second update, Dr Blue revealed Ms Petito died from “strangulation”.

“After a detailed investigation by our forensic pathologists, our anthropologists and local law enforcements, the Teton County Coroner’s Office filed the following verdict in the death of Gabrielle Petito,” Dr Blue said.

“We hereby find the cause and manner of death to be … the cause death by strangulation, and the manner is homicide.”

Ms Petito was reported missing by her parents on September 11 after her fiance, Brian Laundrie, returned from their cross-country road-trip to his home in North Port without her.

The body of 22-year-old Gabby Petito was found near a campground in Wyoming. Picture: Instagram

The FBI said it “remained dedicated to ensuring anyone responsible for or complicit in Ms Petito’s death is held accountable for their actions”.

“Anyone with information concerning Mr Laundrie’s role in this matter or his current whereabouts should contact the FBI,” Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider said.

The search for Brian Laundrie

After returning to Florida on September 1 without his fiancee Gabby Petito, who was reported missing by her parents on September 11, Brian Laundrie refused to address the last time he saw her.

Instead, on September 14, Mr Laundrie released a statement through a lawyer saying that while the search for Ms Petito was under way in Wyoming, he and his parents would be “remaining in the background” of the investigation.

In response, Ms Petito’s parents – Nichole Schmidt and Joe Petito – also issue a statement accusing Mr Laundrie of refusing to tell them when and where he last saw their daughter.

An extensive search for Brian Laundrie started on Saturday, September 18, after his parents said he was missing. Picture: Octavio Jones/Getty Images/AFP

On September 17, Mr Laundrie’s parents informed police their son has actually been missing for three days after saying he was going for a hike in Carlton Reserve, north of their home in North Port.

Since that date, police in Florida have been scrambling to locate Mr Laundrie, scouring the land and air of the 10,000-hectre snake and croc-ridden nature preserve.

The search for Brian Laundrie shifted from the Carlton Reserve to his home in North Port on Monday. Picture: Octavio Jones/Getty Images/AFP.

Shortly after the second day of searching for Mr Laundrie concluded, the remains of Ms Petito were found in Wyoming.

By the time Monday morning arrived, authorities announced they were calling off the search efforts for Mr Laundrie in Carlton Reserve, and the FBI turned their efforts to Mr Laundrie’s parents’ home.

Following a lengthy retrieval of evidence, including towing away the silver Ford Mustang Mr Laundrie drove to Carlton Reserve on September 14, the FBI stepped in to take over the now criminal investigation into Ms Petito’s death.

As a result, the search resumed for Mr Laundrie, back in Carlton Reserve.