Brian Laundrie fled home fearing 'for his mom' after media frenzy over Gabby Petito's murder
Brian Laundrie was torn between leaving the United States, covering up Gabby Petito's death, surrendering himself and suicide before disappearing into the marsh, according to a family member. On October 20, about a month after leaving his parents' Florida home, Brian was found dead with a single gunshot wound to the head. It was concluded that he died by suicide.
A family insider told The Sun in an exclusive interview that guilt, the media frenzy, protests, and the danger of his mother being imprisoned pushed him over the brink. "I'm sure he was contemplating everything," claimed the insider, who did not want to be identified. "I'm sure he told his parents would turn himself in and fight the case," stated the source. "But that whole day was awful."
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Brian told his parents Christopher 'Chris' Laundrie, 62, and mother Roberta Laundrie, 55, on September 13 that he was going for a hike in the Carlton Reserve behind his parents' North Port, Florida house, according to a source close to the Laundrie family. He was last seen alive at that point. On Friday, Sept 17, the Laundries had reported their son missing.
According to the source, "The police were talking to Steven (Bertolino, the Laundries' lawyer), and all the media frenzy stuff started. Brian found out that they might arrest his mom. That's when he left." The sources went on to say, "His dad tried to stop him since he was leaving upset, but Brian said he needed to get fresh air and clear his head, which wasn't unusual for him."
Brian's bones were later found in the gator-infested marsh next to a notebook with a suicide note after a hopeless multi-agency search that lasted weeks. According to the FBI, he had claimed responsibility for Gabby's death in the note.
I see on Fox that the Brian Laudrie autopsy did not confirm the cause of death and that his body was mere bones.Odd?I mean the info is so little.Anyone heard if the teeth to confirm that it was in fact him were intact with a jaw bone?Did I read to many Nancy Drew books as a kid?
— Denise B (@DeniseB18501248) October 24, 2021
The Laundrie's lawyer, Bertolino said, "And his parents are falling apart. It kills me because it's not their fault. They didn't cause this and they don't deserve this. I get such an awful knot in my stomach knowing they're suffering so much. The bottom line is the Petitos filed this lawsuit knowing that if his mom did do anything that she could be blaming herself and is living with the consequences." The family of Gabby Petito recently filed a lawsuit against Brian's parents, alleging the family knew their son had killed their daughter and was conspiring to help him flee. The suit alleges that Brian Laundrie had admitted his guilt to his parents around or on Aug 28 during a telephone call.
The report contains inconsistencies, according to Bertolino, and the source claiming to be close to the Laundrie family is not. "I don't know what her motives are," Bertolino said on these new comments.
Brian's parents have been at the center of the Petito murder case as many people believe they know more than they are saying. The Laundries have been criticized for not actively participating in the investigation or helping the FBI.