Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more!
Brian Laundrie's Parents Noticed Gun Missing When They Reported Son's Disappearance
Laundrie family lawyer Steven Bertolino told Oxygen.com that Brian Laundrie's parents noticed that a gun was missing from their possession when they reported their son missing.
The parents of the late Brian Laundrie apparently realized that one of their guns was missing as they reported him missing in September, weeks after the disappearance and death of his girlfriend Gabby Petito in Wyoming.
“Chris and Roberta Laundrie voluntarily surrendered all guns in their home to law enforcement on Sept. 17 while LE [law enforcement] was present to complete the missing persons paperwork. At that time it was discovered that one handgun was not in its case,” Laundrie family lawyer Steven Bertolino said in a statement to Oxygen.com via text on Monday.
He stated that both he and law enforcement “felt it was best for that information not to be public.”
“Imagine, with the frenzied atmosphere at the time, if the public thought Brian had a gun!” the attorney stated. “I can’t speak to why LE [law enforcement] did not reveal the info but we spoke about it at the time and I believe they felt as I did.”
Just last week it was revealed that Laundrie died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His partial skeletal remains were found with his backpack, notebook, and other personal belongings in the Mary T. Carlton Jr Memorial Reserve and the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in Florida in October.
Bertolino said he isn't sure if the gun has been discovered near Brian’s remains. The North Port Police department referred Oxygen.com to the FBI for comment; they have not immediately responded to that request.
Laundrie, 23, disappeared after telling his parents he was going for a hike on Sept. 13. He'd returned home from the cross-country trip he'd been on with Petito, 22, around two weeks earlier, without her. Her parents reported her missing on Sept. 11, bringing Laundrie under scrutiny from law enforcement. He was subsequently named a person of interest in her disappearance.
Petito's remains were found in Wyoming on Sept. 19 and an autopsy revealed that she had been strangled to death, likely weeks before she was found.
"The Murder of Gabby Petito: Truth, Lies and Social Media" will air on Oxygen on Monday, January 24 at 9/8c. It's also available to stream on Peacock now.
