The FBI announced Friday that it will be closing its homicide investigation regarding the death of Gabby Petito.
In a statement, the FBI said, “Yesterday, the family of Gabrielle Petito met with the FBI at the Tampa Field Office as the investigation will be closed in the near future.”
“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,” Schneider added.
Fox News reported, “Petito’s family was in Florida on Thursday morning, roughly four months after their daughter was found strangled to death in Wyoming. An attorney representing Laundrie’s family said they had reached an agreement about how the couple’s property – including a notebook found with his remains – will be distributed.”
The FBI noted a timeline of the events, including the information that “investigators found human remains later confirmed to be Mr. Laundrie, along with a backpack, notebook, and a revolver. A review of the notebook revealed written statements by Mr. Laundrie claiming responsibility for Ms. Petito’s death.”
It was confirmed that Laundrie “died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
The Petito/Schmidt family lawyer Rick Stafford said in a Friday statement, “Gabby’s family would like to thank the FBI, specifically the Wyoming, Denver, New York and Tampa offices, all of their task force members and their assisting agencies.”
Stafford continued, “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.”
Stafford added, “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.”
Laundrie attorney Steven Bertolino said the event “has caused enormous emotional pain and suffering to all who loved either or both” Petito and Laundrie.
“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,” he said.
As The Daily Wire reported, “Petito was on a cross-country road trip with boyfriend Brian Laundrie, 23, before she was reported missing by her family and then eventually found dead. The pair often used social media to document their travels.”
In October, Laundrie’s remains were discovered in the area of Florida’s Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, The Daily Wire reported:
“Human remains were found in the same area where personal belongings were found of Brian Laundrie, Gabby Petito’s fiancé who’s been missing for over a month, officials said Wednesday,” per NBC News. “A senior law enforcement official says what appears to be partial human remains have been found in the Carlton Reserve in a location that was previously underwater. There is no confirmation the remains belong to Laundrie.”
“The remains were found near a backpack, according to this source, which may be consistent with the type of items Laundrie may have had in his possession,” the outlet added.
“Before Laundrie’s remains were found, and the search for Petito intensified, the 23-year-old was reported missing.
“He was named a ‘person of interest’ in the Petito case, and his family home was raided by the FBI and reportedly declared a ‘crime scene.’ An arrest warrant was issued for Laundrie on September 23, not for Petito’s death, but for allegedly using stolen bank cards,” The Daily Wire noted.