In Notebook Found With His Remains, Brian Laundrie Confessed To Killing Gabby Petito: FBI

Updated: 4:44 p.m., Friday

TAMPA, FL — After four months of investigating the disappearance and death of Gabby Petito, the FBI offered its final comments on the case Friday afternoon, stating that the only person identified as being involved in her homicide was her fiancé, Brian Laundrie. And officials said Laundrie admitted the slaying before he died.

“All logical investigation steps have been concluded in this case. The investigation did not identify any other individuals other than Brian Laundrie directly involved in the tragic death of Gabby Petito. The FBI’s primary focus throughout the investigation was to bring justice to Gabby and her family,” Michael H. Schneider, special agent in charge, said in a statement shared in an FBI news release.

Laundrie, who was reported missing in Florida on Sept. 17, was also later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in a Sarasota County park.

A notebook found near his body included written statements by Laundrie claiming responsibility for Petito’s death, the FBI said.

The case was followed closely around the world, and authorities received numerous tips as they searched for Petito and Laundrie.

“The public’s role in helping us in this endeavor was invaluable as the investigation was covered in the media around the world. On behalf of the FBI, I want to express my deepest appreciation to the public for the thousands of tips that were provided during the investigation, and to our local, state and federal law enforcement partners for their work throughout the investigation,” Schneider said.

After privately meeting with the FBI in Tampa Thursday, an attorney for Gabby Petito’s family said there’s “no doubt” that Petito’s fiancé, Brian Laundrie, killed her during a road trip this summer, Fox News correspondent Laura Ingle tweeted Friday.

“We truly appreciate the FBI’s diligent and painstaking efforts in this extremely complicated case. The quality and quantity of the facts and information collected by the FBI leave no doubt that Brian Laundrie murdered Gabby,” according to the statement from Richard B. Stafford.

Brian Entin with NewsNation tweeted a statement from the Laundrie family attorney, Steven Bertolino, Friday.

“Gabby and Brian are no longer with their families and this tragedy has caused enormous emotional pain and suffering to all who loved either or both of them,” the attorney said. “We can only hope that with today’s closure of the case each family can begin to heal and move forward and find peace in and with the memories of their children. May Gabby and Brian both rest in peace.”

Petito, who was last heard from at the end of August 2021 while on a road trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, was found strangled to death near a Wyoming national park in September. He was the only person of interest in her death.

Laundrie was reported missing Sept. 17 in North Port, Florida, where the couple, Long Island, New York natives, previously lived with his parents. His skeletal remains, as well as a notebook and other items belonging to him, were found in a Sarasota County park after more than a month of searching.

Josh Taylor, spokesperson for the North Port Police Department, one of the agencies investigating the deaths of Petito and Laundrie, told Fox News he was “unaware” of any big developments in the case. He indicated the meeting between Petito’s parents and the FBI was planned in advance.

"We knew they would be meeting after the first of the year. I would think we would be briefed if, in fact, something was wrapping up,” he said.

Bertolino also said Thursday that he didn’t know of any breaking news in the case.

The Petito family’s trip to Tampa comes just after they’ve come to an agreement with Laundrie’s parents about how their children’s belongings should be distributed, according to the New York Post. The two families have been arguing over how to split up the possessions.

“An agreement in principle with respect to the distribution of property between the two families has been reached,” Bertolino said.

The attorney told Brian Entin with NewsNation that this includes the notebook found with his remains, according to a tweet from the correspondent.

Earlier this month, Petito’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, filed a court petition to obtain her daughter’s belongings that were either at the Laundrie home or in police custody.

Laundrie’s parents also recently asked the FBI for ownership of the notebook found near their late son’s remains in October. Authorities have yet to release the contents of the notebook since it was found.

His parents also filed a court petition in December seeking access to their son’s estate. His assets are listed as $20,000 in Bank of America checking/savings accounts.

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The couple was traveling throughout the Western United States in a van this summer, visiting national parks, when Petito disappeared at the end of August.

Her body was found weeks later near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. An autopsy concluded that she died of strangulation and that her death was a homicide.

Laundrie returned home alone to Florida in Petito's van Sept. 1 and was reported missing by his parents Sept. 17.

Authorities searched for Laundrie for more than a month. His skeletal remains, including a portion of his skull, were found Oct. 20 in the Carlton Reserve and the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in Sarasota County. The FBI used dental records to match the remains to Laundrie.

No cause of death could be determined after an Oct. 22 autopsy, and Laundrie's bones were sent to a forensic anthropologist for further examination.

The medical examiner's office ultimately determined that Laundrie died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.