Brian Laundrie Full Autopsy Released

Authorities recovered decomposing partial remains in the Carlton Reserve on October 20, 2021. Those remains were confirmed to be those of 23-year-old Brian Laundrie. On February 14, 2022, Sarasota Medical Examiner Dr. Wilson Broussard released the full autopsy report detailing the cause of death and the exact conditions of Laundrie’s body.

Laundrie Died From Gunshot Wound to the Head

Laundrie died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Toxicology reports did not find any illicit drugs in his system.

Authorities located Laundrie’s body in plain view after the water submerged. There was no soft tissue remaining and no smell of decomposition at the crime scene.

Body Submerged in Water

The autopsy results confirmed Laundrie was submerged in “up to three foot of water” for an extended period of time after the self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators could not find Laundrie because it was submerged in water. Once the water rescinded, his body was partially eaten by coyotes, raccoons, rodents, and feral dogs.

The report stated Laundrie’s body suffered “extensive carnivore damage.”

Personal Effects Recovered; Laundrie Confessed to Murdering Gabby

Police recovered additional personal effects approximately 250-feet from Laundrie’s remains. Those items included a pair of green shorts, two shoes, a white metal ring, a handwritten note, and a hat with the logo “MOAB Coffee Roasters.”

Police recovered a .357 magnum snub nose revolver with two live rounds in the chamber and one spent round. Buried underneath dirt was a single bullet.

A dry backpack containing a notebook was also found. Laundrie confessed to murdering Gabby Petitio in the notebook.

The skeletal remains of two boars, a cow, and other animals was also recovered at the scond crime scene.

Additionally, police found several photographs on the ground.

Laundrie’s Skull & Bones

Laundrie’s skull was almost entirely complete, though multiple fragments “consistent with a gunshot injury of the head.” Laundrie shot himself once in the left temple.

The remains included a “right and left scapulae, right humerus, right femur, two tibiae, two fibulae, two clavicles, two pelvic bones, the sacrum, one right ulna, one right radius, and multiple ribs” the report continues. “Also, multiple fragments of cranium and skull along with a generally intact mandible with attached teeth and the lower aspect of the maxilla with attached teeth are noted. Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae are also located nearby.”

The larger bones showed evidence of “moderate to extensive animal predation” characterized by “gouging, gnawing, and chewing marks.” The Medical Examiner noted the likely culprits of the Laundrie meal were feral dogs, coyotes, rodents, and raccoons.

Laundrie’s remains were confirmed via dental records. His death was ruled a suicide.

The Disappearance and Murder of Gabby Petitio

Gabby and Laundrie embarked on a cross country road trip in June 2021. A police-involved domestic violence altercation occurred in Utah in July and in September, Laundrie returned to Florida without Gabby. The Petito family reported Gabby missing on September 11, 2021.

Police questioned Laundrie regarding Gabby’s whereabouts. He did not cooperate with the investigation, instead invoking his fifth-amendment rights, He went missing a short time later.

Her body was found later in September in Wyoming.

Police then charged Laundrie in connection with her death. The charges brought against Laundrie in Utah were dropped in January 2021.

Laundrie’s remains were recovered after a weeks-long manhunt.

Domestic Violence Resources

Domestic violence takes on many forms. It is not always physical but often resorts to violence. If you are in an abusive relationship or know someone who is, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799.7233 inside the United States.

Resources & Additional Information:

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/14/us/brian-laundrie-autopsy-gabby-petito/index.html

https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/21/us/brian-laundrie-update-gabby-petito-thursday/index.html