NORTH PORT, Fla. — A family attorney announced Tuesday that Brian Laundrie died by suicide.
After a month-long search, Laundrie's body was found Oct. 20 in Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in Florida. A federal arrest warrant was issued for Laundrie following the death of Gabby Petito.
"Chris and Roberta Laundrie have been informed that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head and the manner of death was suicide. Chris and Roberta are still mourning the loss of their son and are hopeful that these findings bring closure to both families," wrote Steven Bertolino.
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Laundrie was only named as a person of interest in Petito's death, with the warrant having been issued for violation of the federal statute "use of unauthorized access devices."
Petito's body was found in Wyoming's Bridger-Teton on Sept. 19, nearly a week after she was reported missing. A coroner determined that Petito had died of strangulation and that she had been killed up to four weeks before the body was found.
During a cross country road trip over the summer, Laundrie and Petito were stopped by police in Moab on Aug. 12 after an altercation in which Laundrie was accused of slapping his fiance. Despite speaking with a sobbing Petito, officers called the incident a "mental/emotional health break" and separated the two for the evening.
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Petito's last known location was Aug. 25 in Grand Teton National Park. Before that FOX 13 confirmed she stayed in a hotel for more than one night near the Salt Lake City International Airport.
Laundrie, meanwhile, drove back to the Florida Gulf Coast town of North Port, where their trip began, on Sept. 1, and the van was recovered by police at his family's home on Sept. 11.
