Updated autopsy results for Brian Laundrie, the sole person of interest in the disappearance and death of Gabby Petito, revealed he died of a single gunshot wound in an apparent suicide, an attorney for the family announced 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 Steven Bertolino said in a statement.
“Chris and Roberta are still mourning the loss of their son and are hopeful that these findings bring closure to both families,” he added.
The autopsy results came weeks after Laundrie’s remains were sent to an anthropologist for evaluation.
FBI officials discovered the 23-year-old’s partial remains within a Florida park on October 20, along with some of his personal items, including a notebook and backpack.
Officials described the remains as “skeletal” and used dental records to confirm the identity. No cause of death was immediately revealed.
Bertolino, at the time, told several media outlets that the remains would be sent for evaluation. He also said that the Laundrie family would forgo a traditional funeral and will cremate Laundrie when his remains are returned.
Laundrie’s death brought the nationwide search for the only person of interest the FBI had named in Petito’s disappearance and murder case to an end.
He had been missing since September 13, when the Laundrie family told authorities that he had gone for a hike and never returned. He was not formally reported missing until September 17.
Laundrie was previously engaged to 22-year-old Petito, who went missing in August while on a cross-country “van life” road trip with him.
Her remains were recovered on September 19 in a remote area of a Wyoming national park that she and Laundrie had visited during their trip.
Autopsy results later ruled Petito’s death a homicide, with the medical examiner noting that she was strangled to death and likely died three to four weeks before she was found.
Petito’s family has said they believe the death was the result of domestic violence and have started a foundation in honor of their daughter, which now works to help victims of domestic abuse.
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