Brian Laundrie
Prime suspect; died by suicide before arrest; notebook confirmed admission
Deceased (October 23, 2021)Profile
About
Brian Christopher Laundrie (November 18, 1997 – c. October 2021) was the fiancé of Gabrielle "Gabby" Petito, a 22-year-old travel vlogger who was killed in late August 2021 during the couple's cross-country vanlife trip across the United States. Laundrie is widely believed to have been responsible for Petito's death, a conclusion supported by a written notebook confession found near his remains and confirmed by the FBI — but he was never tried or convicted of any crime, having died before charges could be filed. In August 2021, Laundrie and Petito set out from Blue Point, New York, on a planned four-month road trip through western national parks, documenting their journey on social media. Petito's last confirmed contact with her family was on August 27, 2021. Laundrie returned home alone to North Port, Florida on September 1, 2021 in the couple's van, without Gabby, and offered no explanation about her whereabouts. After Petito's family reported her missing on September 11, Laundrie disappeared from his parents' home on approximately September 13, 2021. A federal arrest warrant was issued for him on September 15 for unauthorized use of Petito's debit card — the only formal legal charge ever associated with him. A massive multi-agency manhunt followed. Petito's remains were found on September 19 in Bridger-Teton National Forest, Wyoming; she had died from blunt-force injuries and manual strangulation. Laundrie's skeletal remains were discovered on October 20, 2021, in the Carlton Reserve wilderness area near his family's home. His cause of death was determined by a medical examiner to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. A notebook recovered at the scene contained a handwritten statement the FBI described as a confession to killing Petito. On February 22, 2022, the FBI officially closed the investigation, naming Laundrie as the sole person responsible for Petito's death. No murder charges were ever filed, and no conviction was ever obtained. Laundrie was 23 years old at the time of his death.
Sources: Wikipedia: Killing of Gabby Petito
Legal History
Oct 2021
Remains found in Florida — self-inflicted gunshot wound. Never charged.
Laundrie's skeletal remains were found in Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, Florida, with a notebook later confirming he killed Petito. The FBI confirmed the death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. No murder charges were ever filed.
CNNSep 2021
Named as person of interest in Gabby Petito disappearance
North Port, Florida Police Department named Laundrie as a person of interest in Gabby Petito's disappearance. He had returned home to Florida alone on September 1. No charges were filed before his death.
AP News
