Is Brian Laundrie dead? TRUTH about remains recovered in North Carolina
An unidentified body was discovered in North Carolina on Saturday, October 9, which led to social media users speculating that it was Laundrie's. Amid endless social media speculations, the FBI has confirmed that a body found near a scenic North Carolina overlook over the weekend is not that of Florida fugitive Brian Laundrie. The rumors have now been dismissed by the FBI. Brian Laundrie is sought in connection with the death of Long Island native Gabby Petito, 22. Petito's body was found days after she went missing and her death was subsequently ruled a homicide.
“At this time there is no evidence to connect or any reason to believe it is related to the search for fugitive Brian Laundrie,” the FBI told WSOC-TV in a statement on Sunday, October 10. The remains are being probed by the federal agency, along with the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. An ID is yet to be released.
READ MORE
Jelani Day: 5 things you need to know about Illinois University graduate's death
Is Brian Laundrie hiding in a bus? Pic of vehicle near Chris Laundrie's business goes viral
Meanwhile, as a massive manhunt to find Laundrie is underway, a number of people have come forward revealing potential sightings of the man whose whereabouts are unknown at present. A number of people have claimed to have seen the fugitive, with tips coming even from Mexico, Canada and the Bahamas.
Amid speculations that Laundrie's parents are helping him evade justice, his sister, Cassie Laundrie, recently said her family has been ignoring her after her brother disappeared and Petito died. Addressing protesters outside her Lakewood Ranch home Monday, October 4, Cassie said she did not know if her parents helped Laundrie escape and that she has not been able to speak with them. "I'm in the boat where I'm getting ignored by my family and thrown under the bus by my family's attorney," Cassie had said. The Laundrie family attorney previously confirmed that Chris and Roberta Laundrie are unaware of their son's whereabouts.
Police have been unable to locate Brian Laundrie for days now. He has been named a person of interest in Petito's homicide and a warrant has also been issued against him. Last week, Brian Laundrie's father, Chris Laundrie, joined the FBI in the search for his missing son. He "accompanied members of law enforcement into the [T. Marby Carlton Jr. Memorial] reserve to show them the trails and places Chris and Brian have hiked and which Brian was known to frequent," Laundrie family attorney Steve Bertolino had said in a statement.