Brian Laundrie update – Autopsy reveals suicide as cause of death of Gabby Petito’s fiancé as family hopes for ‘closure’

MULTIPLE NOTEBOOKS PICTURED IN GABBY AND BRIAN'S SNAPSHOTS

Laundrie was pictured with notebooks while traveling with Gabby Petito.

In one photo, Brian was tucked under some blankets next to a stream and appeared to be relaxing in a hammock while they explored the Appalachian Trail in Georgia.

A green spiraled notebook was seen stacked on top of a paperback edition of Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk with a handful of fine point ink pens.

During their ill-fated cross-country road trip, an orange notebook can be seen inside a tent while the young couple was camping at Zion National Park, Utah.

Other notebooks appear to be shelved inside Gabby's immaculately decorated 2012 Ford Transit Connect van's interior.

BRIAN'S FAMILY HOPES NEWS BRINGS 'CLOSURE TO BOTH FAMILIES'

Family attorney Steven Bertolino confirmed Brian's cause of death on 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," Laundrie family attorney Steven Bertolino told The Sun on Tuesday.

"Chris and Roberta are still mourning the loss of their son and are hopeful that these findings bring closure to both families," he added.

NOTEBOOK MAY BRING 'UNDERSTANDING' TO FAMILY

Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe told the journal could help to understand Laundrie's "motive" or his feelings about fiance Gabby Petito.

McCabe said a team of law enforcement experts can help to dry out their paper, "trying to recover the writing, the ink marks, and fingerprints."

He added: "In terms of understanding Laundrie’s motive, his feeling about Petito, maybe event any kind of notes or comments he may have made about the events—that notebook could shed a lot of light on those issues."

DID BRIAN USE GABBY’S WATER BOTTLE FOR AN OVERDOSE?

Some online sleuths theorized Brian Laundrie used Gabby Petito’s water bottle to mix a cocktail of drugs before he overdosed.

Wild theories about Laundrie’s death ran rampant before his death was confirmed a suicide by gunshot wound.

Hikers discovered a Nalgene water bottle thought to match one that belonged to Gabby days after police found bone fragments in the Florida wilderness.

One web sleuth suggested: “I don’t know why people assume the water bottle is not important. Maybe it contained an overdose of drugs mixed with water as his method of death.”

Another commented: “I think it’s important to Gabby’s case as in: it was her bottle, and Brian took it, why? He knew she wouldn’t need it anymore. He knew she was dead.”

HOW LONG WAS BRIAN MISSING?

Laundrie vanished from his parents’ home on September 13, the family’s lawyer confirmed. Gabby’s remains were discovered in rural Wyoming on September 19.

On Thursday, September 23, the FBI issued a warrant for Laundrie’s arrest, claiming he “used unauthorized debit cards after Gabby Petito’s death.”

His remains were found on October 20 and identified on October 21, almost one month after the warrant for his arrest was issued.

BRIAN’S FAMILY ‘MAY NEVER SPEAK’ ABOUT SON

Brian Laundrie’s parents may never tell their side of the story, Steven Bertolino previously told CNN’s Chris Cuomo.

Cuomo asked the reason behind the family’s decision not to speak with authorities or Gabby Petito’s family.

“I can tell you the reason,” Bertolino said. “I told them not to.”

Cuomo then asked if the Laundries will “explain the situation” at a later date.

“It may come out in the future, it may not,” said Bertolino.

BRIAN 'HAD WEEKS TO DISTURB EVIDENCE,' SAYS EXPERT

Paul Belli, of the International Homicide Investigations Association, told The Sun: “Here’s a person that had weeks to handle or do things to disturb scenes such as the van."

“I would be looking at the scenes. Cops may be looking at the actual scene of the crime. They may not have that. I don’t know.”

Belli said investigators will have carried out a lot of “forensic processing” on the young couple’s Ford transit van that they traveled in.

Belli fears that investigators may not fully know what happened in Gabby’s final moments.

The expert said: “I think they’ll get a lot of information and have a circumstantial idea of what actually occurred but there’s a good possibility that they may never know every detail.”

GABBY'S PARENTS COMMENT ON BRIAN'S SUICIDE (CONTINUED)

"The family was also asked to wait for the United States Attorney's office to make a determination on whether any additional individuals will be charged.

"When that determination is made, we will have a statement."

GABBY'S PARENTS COMMENT ON BRIAN'S SUICIDE

Gabby's family has issued a statement on Brian Laundrie's autopsy results.

"The Schmidt and Petito family has been aware of the circumstances surrounding the suicide of the sole suspect in Gabby's murder," it said.

"Gabby's family will not be making a statement at this time due to the request of the United States Attorney's Office and the Teton County Prosecutor's Office.

"The family was asked not to make any comments and let the FBI continue their investigation"

BRIAN WAS ‘UPSET’ BEFORE HE LEFT PARENT’S HOME

Previously, Laundrie family attorney Steve Bertolino shared the distraught mindset that Laundrie was in before he left home for his last time.

The attorney told : “I can tell you Brian was very upset when he left. Chris conveyed to me several times he wished he wouldn’t have let him go but he couldn’t stop him.”

Brian's remains, and articles belonging to Laundrie, were found in a stretch of land that had previously been submerged in floodwaters.

BRIAN LAUNDRIE MAY HAVE DIED BEFORE MANHUNT BEGAN

Investigators piecing together Brian Laundrie's last known movements may be looking at a timeline change after cops admitted he likely died before the manhunt for him even began.

North Port Police spokesperson Joshua Taylor told  "there is a very good possibility" the 23-year-old fugitive died on September 13 - the same day he told his parents he was going hiking in Carlton Reserve but never came home.

BRIAN IDENTIFIED BY DNA AND DENTAL RECORDS

The medical examiner confirmed on Tuesday that Brian Laundrie's remains were identified by both DNA and dental records.

"Confirmation of the identity of the remains by both dental comparison and DNA analysis," the report said.

BRIAN'S FULL AUTOPSY REPORT REVEALED

The medical examiner released Brian's full cause of death on Tuesday.

"The cause of death has been determined to be a gunshot wound of the head. The manner of death has been determined to be suicide," it reads.

It said that complete reports will be made public when the full investigation is complete.

BRIAN’S BEST FRIEND: ‘IT APPEARS AS IF THIS STORY IS OVER’

Brian Laundrie’s friend continued: “But it appears as if this story is over.”

The friend alluded to Laundrie’s notebook as showcasing an important look into Laundrie’s private life and his potential last days with Petito.

“Hopefully his notebook can detail what it is we all want to know,” the friend, alluding to Petito’s cause of death that was determined to be by strangulation.

BRIAN’S BEST FRIEND ASKS ‘WHY?’

Laundrie’s best friend exasperatedly asked “why” he would do such a thing, adding they believe Laundrie is the person behind Gabby Petito’s death.

The friend told The Sun in an exclusive interview that Laundrie’s notebook could contain clues to solve Petito’s death, whom a medical coroner determined had died due to strangulation.

“I think this is the outcome we expected,” the friend told The Sun in an exclusive interview after Laundrie’s remains were found and subsequently identified.

“I don’t know if it’s the one we would ask for,” the friend, who wishes to remain anonymous, said.

BRIAN LAUNDRIE AUTOPSY UPDATE

Laundrie family attorney Steve Bertolino was questioned about whether a notebook found by Brian's body had provided any answers.

He was also asked about why the medical examiners ruled it a suicide.

“Nothing further," he said.

BRIAN'S CAUSE OF DEATH REVEALED

Laundrie family lawyer Steve Bertolino revealed on Tuesday that Brian Laundrie's parents have been informed he died by suicide.

"BREAKING: '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," reporter Josh Benson shared on Twitter from the attorney.

"Chris and Roberta are still mourning the loss of their son and are hopeful that these findings bring closure to both families.”

QUESTIONABLE FIREARM

Photos surfaced of Brian Laundrie's bedroom revealing an American Flag-painted gun hanging off his bookshelf.

The gun hangs diagonally from a black-and-white poster above a bookshelf of people beating each other.

The gun was noticed by internet sleuths, but investigators are still looking into Brian's habits leading up to Gabby Petito's death and his disappearance.

WHAT WAS BRIAN LAUNDRIE'S CAUSE OF DEATH?

Following a weeks-long search through Myakkahatchee and the nearby Carlton Reserve for Brian, the fugitive's bones were found inside the alligator-infested parks, but questions still remain on how he died.

The location where Brian's remains were eventually found had previously been submerged in four feet of storm waters for more than a month.

The advanced state of decomposition that his remains were found in means that they were likely feasted on by gators and other local wildlife, as five weeks wouldn't be long enough for a body to decompose that much naturally, experts told The Sun.

A cause, manner, and date of death have not yet been determined for Brian after an autopsy came back inconclusive late last month.

WHAT DID GABBY’S DAD JOE PETITO SAY AT HER FUNERAL, CONTINUED

“And she’s inspired a lot of women and a lot of men to do what’s best for them first. Put yourself first and do it now while you have the time. I couldn’t be more proud as a father,” he added.

Joe also warned women in toxic relationships to “leave now” so that way this tragedy does not happen to them.

Just days after, the family then held a press conference, where Nicole showed off matching tattoos that were designed by Gabby prior to her death.

On October 3, 2021, Gabby’s family announced that they had launched the Gabby Petito Foundation in honor of their late daughter.

WHAT DID GABBY’S DAD JOE PETITO SAY AT HER FUNERAL?

On September 26, the family held a memorial service for Gabby to lay her to rest following the autopsy results.

At the service, Joe said that he wanted people to be “inspired” by the life she embodied.

“So when you leave here today, be inspired by what she brought to the table because the entire planet knows this woman’s name now,” he said.

GABBY PETITO TIMELINE

‘SHE SETTLED FOR HIM’

Livingston claimed he got to know Gabby because she would come to visit Laundrie a few times a week and that “she was always a sweetheart, very peaceful,” he told .

“She was always really nice to me, and she was really outgoing. Once I realize that the person who was missing was somebody I actually knew, it hit me like a tidal wave,” Livingston continued.

“I think the only reason why she settled for him is he wanted to travel.”

‘VERY POSSESSIVE’

Livingston added that Laundrie would reportedly attempt to mark his territory with Gabby and “would come over and do the boyfriend thing, put his arm around her, give her a kiss, very possessive,” Livingston claimed to .

“He was a good employee who knew how to talk to people,” he revealed.

“He knew how to make people like him, he knew how to make people happy, and he knew how to make people buy the product that we had, honest. He had the same kind of air you would be taught if you worked at a dealership.”

UPDATE ON BRIAN LAUNDRIE CASE COMING SOON

A reporter shared on Twitter on Tuesday morning that an update on the Brian Laundrie case is coming sometime today or on Wednesday.

"JUST IN. Just received a text from Steven Bertolino regarding #BrianLaundrie remains: 'Hi Josh. I’m told today or tomorrow. Check in around mid day.' #laundrie," Josh Benson wrote.

Steven Bertolino is the Laundrie family attorney.