NORTH PORT, Fla. — The FBI has confirmed skeletal remains found on Wednesday at the Carlton Memorial Reserve and Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park are those of Brian Laundrie.
The FBI confirmed Laundrie’s remains through dental records.
"The were able to do it so quickly because it was by dental records. Those take minutes, literally. Once you have an individual's dental records from their dentist, a forensic dentist can make an examination within minutes and be able to confirm or disprove an identity," said Brian Kensel, a retired FBI Special Agent with the FBI's Tampa office.
The confirmation comes a little more than 24 hours after the FBI announced the discovery of remains at the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park Wednesday afternoon.
Laundie’s remains were found in the same area where belongings of his were discovered on Tuesday.
According to the FBI, Laundrie's notebook and backpack were found in an area that was previously covered by water.
"We’re talking about water levels up above almost the chest area, rattlesnakes, moccasins, alligators," said Sheriff Carmine Marceno with the Lee County Sheriff's Office.
The Laundrie family attorney confirmed the items were found Tuesday morning at the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park near a trail that he frequented.
"The amount of time that Brian Laundrie has been out there in the swamp and in that environment is probably longer rather than shorter. I would think. It probably means he was deceased not too long after he went into that preserve," said Kensel.
Following the FBI's confirmation of the remains the family attorney released the following statement:
"Chris and Roberta Laundrie have been informed that the remains found yesterday in the reserve are indeed Brian’s. We have no further comment at this time and we ask that you respect the Laundrie’s privacy at this time."
Portions of the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park and Carlton Reserve remain closed to the public as officials continue their investigation.
The search for Laundrie lasted more than a month.
A federal arrest warrant was issued for Laundrie by U.S. District Court of Wyoming in September following the death of his fiance Gabby Petito.
RELATED:
- Teton County coroner: Gabby Petito died by manual strangulation
- Crews resume search at Carlton Reserve for signs of Brian Laundrie
- Retired FBI special agent gives insight on challenges authorities face at Carlton Reserve
- Temporary Gabby Petitio memorial removed in North Port, permanent memorial in the works
A warrant was issued for his arrest for violation of the federal statute "use of unauthorized access devices."
Laundrie and Petito were on a cross-country trip over the summer when he returned to his parent's North Port home, where they both lived, without her. Petito was reported missing on September 11 and her body was found in Wyoming's Bridger-Teton on Sunday, September 19. The body was confirmed to be that of Petito on September 21.
The Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue announced on October 11 that her cause of death was manual strangulation/throttling and ruled the manner of death a homicide.
Story developing, refresh for updates. Stay with ABC Action News for the latest.
