NEW YORK (WCBS 880) – FBI's Tampa field office confirmed the discovery of human remains at a Florida reserve Wednesday, as well as items belonging to Brian Laundrie.
Here's the latest:
4:30 p.m., Oct. 20: FBI CONFIRMS DISCOVERY OF HUMAN REMAINS AT FL RESERVE
FBI Tampa revealed Wednesday what they found while searching for Brian Laundrie at Carlton Reserve Wednesday.
"Earlier today, investigators found what appears to be human remains, along with personal items including a backpack and notebook belonging to Brian Laundrie," said Michael McPherson, FBI Special Agent in Charge, Tampa Field Office.
The FBI did not end up confirming the remains are that of Laundrie.
"These items were found in an area that up until recently had been underwater. Our evidence response team is on scene using all available forensic resources to process the area it's likely the team will be on scene for several days," said McPherson.
McPherson said they have no additional comment on activity in the search. Portions of Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park and Carlton Reserve will remain closed to the public until further notice.
"This is an active and ongoing investigation," said McPherson. "So we ask the public to maintain distance from any law enforcement personnel, equipment, vehicles and other related activity for the safety of the public and to protect the integrity of our work."
Chants of "Justice for Gabby" rang out seconds after the press conference ended. No questions were taken.
3:30 p.m., Oct. 20: FBI SETS PRESS CONFERENCE IN LAUNDRIE SEARCH
FBI Tampa is set to make a statement to the media in connection to Wednesday's findings in the search for Brian Laundrie.
The statement will come at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday from the entrance of Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park.
WCBS 880 will broadcast the statement live on-air.
1:55 p.m., Oct. 20: APPARENT PARTIAL HUMAN REMAINS REPORTEDLY FOUND IN FLORIDA PARK AMID BRIAN LAUNDRIE SEARCH
Authorities found what appear to be partial human remains in an area of Florida's Carlton Reserve that was previously underwater, senior law enforcement officials told NBC News.
The sources said the remains were found near a backpack “consistent with items Brian Laundrie may have had.”
The revelation comes as the Sarasota County Medical Examiner's Office remains at the scene after the Laundrie family attorney said "articles" of Brian Laundrie’s were recovered in the area of the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, which is connected to the Carlton Reserve.
The FBI's Tampa field office said "items of interest were located at the Carlton Reserve this morning in connection with the search for Brian Laundrie."
The agency said an evidence response team was processing the scene.
12:30 p.m., Oct. 20: MEDICAL EXAMINER CALLED TO FLORIDA PARK AFTER LAUNDRIE ITEMS FOUND
The medical examiner's office in Sarasota County was called to a Florida nature park after "articles" belonging to Brian Laundrie were found there Wednesday.
A spokeswoman confirmed to ABC News that the medical examiner's office was called to the area of the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park and Carlton Reserve.
Minutes earlier, the Laundrie family's attorney, Steven Bertolino, said "some articles belonging to Brian were found" at Myakkahatchee after "a brief search off a trail that Brian frequented." The 23-year-old fugitive's parents, Chris and Roberta, were at the scene.
Chopper video from local station WFLA shows a tent up in a wooded area at the park, while other video shows a mobile command center arriving at the scene.
12:15 p.m., Oct. 20: ITEMS BELONGING TO BRIAN LAUNDRIE FOUND IN FLORIDA PARK
“Articles” belonging to Brian Laundrie were found at a Florida nature park where authorities have been searching for weeks.
The Laundrie family’s attorney, Steven Bertolino, released a statement after Laundrie’s parents, Chris and Roberta, were spotted at the park just north of their home in North Port on Wednesday morning.
“Chris and Roberta Laundrie went to the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park this morning to search for Brian,” Bertolino said, referring to a 160-acre park that neighbors the 25,000-acre Carlton Reserve, where authorities have been searching.
“The FBI and NPPD (North Port Police Department) were informed last night of Brian’s parents’ intentions and they met Chris and Roberta there this morning,” he said.
“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,” Bertolino said.
12 p.m., Oct. 20: OFFICER APPEARS TO TELL LAUNDRIE PARENTS ‘WE MIGHT HAVE FOUND SOMETHING’
Video from Fox News appears to show an officer telling Brian Laundrie’s parents, Chris and Roberta, “I think we might have found something,” as authorities search a Florida nature area for their son.
Chris and Roberta were at the 160-acre Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park on Wednesday to assist in the search for their son.
The park is next to the 25,000-acre Carlton Reserve, which authorities have been searching since mid-September.
Chris briefly visited the park with law enforcement earlier this month, reportedly to show law enforcement some trails that his son may have hiked, but the search was unsuccessful.
12 p.m., Oct. 20: BRIAN LAUNDRIE’S PARENTS AT FLORIDA PARK AS SEARCH FOR SON CONTINUES
Chris and Roberta Laundrie were at the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, north of their home in North Port, as law enforcement searches the area for their fugitive son.
The couple left their home just before 7:15 a.m. Wednesday and were accompanied by at least one law enforcement officer, according to Fox News.
While the park reopened to the public on Tuesday after a weeks-long closure, it was closed again Wednesday, apparently in connection to the Laundrie search.
11:30 a.m., Oct. 20: LAUNDRIE PARENTS BEING ‘TORTURED’ BY PROTESTERS, LAWYER SAYS
The attorney for Brian Laundrie’s parents, Steven Bertolino, told Insider that the couple was being “tortured” by protesters who’ve been a fixture outside their home in North Port, Florida, for weeks.
“They are being tortured in their own home by these protesters outside,” Bertolino said of Chris and Roberta Laundrie.
Additionally, the parents are "being followed when performing basic tasks like food shopping," Bertolino said.
"They are being harassed with lawsuits for a $40 sign that was more than likely on their property and should be considered litter," the attorney said. "And all of the foregoing is occurring when they have no idea whether their son is alive or not."
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