Gabby Petito & Brian Laundrie's Families Release Statements After Notebook Confession

On Friday, January 21, the world learned of Brian Laundrie’s notebook murder confession.

The Blast recently reported on Laundrie confessing that he killed his fiancée, Gabby Petito.

The Petito’s family lawyer, Richard Stafford, released a statement on behalf of the Petito-Schmidt family.

“Gabby’s family would like to thank the Federal Bureau of Investigation, specifically the Wyoming, Denver, New York and Tampa offices, all of their task force members and their assisting agencies. Gabby’s family would like to thank the FBI’s Victim Services Department for all they have done for them. Victim Services has been there for support from the earliest stages of this investigation and helped their entire family navigate through the worst moments of their lives,” the statement read. “We truly appreciate the FBI’s diligent and painstaking efforts in this ecxtremely complicated case. The quality and quantity of the facts and information collected by the FBI leave no doubt the Brian Laundrie murdered Gabby.”

Chris and Roberta Laundrie’s lawyer, Steve Bertolino, also released a statement on behalf of the Laundrie family.

He didn’t acknowledge the fact that Laundrie confessed to murdering Gabby.

“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. 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,” Bertolino stated.

He concluded the statement, “May Gabby and Brian both rest in peace.”

The FBI seized his notebook and backpack prior to discovering his remains in a Florida nature reserve back in October.

Laundrie’s belongings were found by his own parents, who were highly uncooperative throughout the entire investigation.

On Wednesday, October 20, the NBC New York reported “items belonging to Brian Laundrie were found by his own parents on a trail he frequented at the Florida environmental park center to the national manhunt, the family's attorney confirmed.”

The items were found after a “brief search.”

The FBI revealed the disturbing evidence found in his notebook on Friday, January 21.

Brian admitted he killed his fiancée in a notebook entry he wrote shortly before his took his own life.

The murderer also sent text messages between his and Petito’s cellphone in the days after she was strangled to death.

This was his attempt “to deceive law enforcement by giving the impression Ms. Petito was still alive,” the FBI Denver said in its final investigative update.

FBI Denver also revealed that Gabby’s parents met with the FBI at the Tampa Field Office on Thursday, January 20, given the investigation will be closed soon.

“All logical investigative steps have been concluded in this case,” said FBI Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider. “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. 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.”

The FBI opened its investigation into the disappearance of Gabby on September 12 after her mother reported her missing on September 11.

On September 19, the remains of Gabby were located at Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area in Wyoming.

According to the investigative report, “Ms. Petito was found approximately three weeks after her last known communication.”

The Teton County Coroner’s Office concluded that Gabby died of “blunt-force injuries to the head and neck, with manual strangulation.”

Brian was the only person of interest in her missing person case.

He returned home to North Port, FL. in Gabby’s conversion van without her. Her communication with her parents went from every day to next to nothing. This was a red flag for Gabby’s mother.

Brian then led law enforcement officials on a manhunt to find him in a nature reserve next to his parent’s home.

His remains were discovered on October 21 through the help of dental records.

The Laundrie family lawyer, Steven Bertolino, revealed to Brian’s parents, Roberta and Chris, he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The manner of death was a suicide.

Prior to Gabby’s tragic death and Brian’s subsequent suicide, the couple was on a cross-country National Parks road trip tour.

Recently, an outside investigation was conducted to see if there were any errors made by Utah police when Brian and Gabby were pulled over before her death.