Brian Laundrie’s remains to undergo DNA analysis

The remains found at the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park were identified as Brian Laundrie’s through dental records.

Now, they need to undergo DNA analysis.

Once the examination by the medical examiner is complete, samples will be submitted for the analysis, the District 12 Medical Examiner said in a statement. The district oversees DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties.

The North Port Police Department released the statement on Twitter, saying they have received inquiries about a false report that the DNA did not match Laundrie.

We have received a number of inquiries Tuesday about a false report of DNA not matching Brian Laundrie. Below is the Medical Examiner’s statement on the matter. pic.twitter.com/tXAe63IdlC

— North Port Police (@NorthPortPolice) October 26, 2021

Laundrie, 23, was the only person of interest in the homicide of his fiancee 22-year-old Gabby Petito, whose body was recovered at Grand Teton National Park on Sept. 19. Petito was killed by manual strangulation on a trip she and Laundrie undertook to visit national parks in a converted camper van.

Laundrie was missing until his remains were recovered on Wednesday, Oct. 20.

K-9 officers played a special role in finding the remains. Two of the dogs specialize in human remains detection which ultimately helped to track bones scattered near Laundrie’s belongings.

“You have some remains, you know, that were pretty evident of a human and then you bring in these dogs to kind of scour the area,” said North Port Police Department Public Information Officer Josh Taylor.

Taylor said the conditions of Laundrie’s remains indicate he was likely dead for a while before he was found. The area where the remains were found was also underwater due to heavy rains.

The dogs spent days combing through terrain at the Carlton Reserve. Pasco County K-9s Diesel and Phi were on scene when investigators found the first bones near Laundrie’s backpack and notebook.

“Remember, these bones are spread out,” Taylor said. “They’re able to smell them and you know, help in that collection to figure out how far of an area you have.”

Diesel and Phi worked to track down the remains that may have been moved by wildlife or floodwaters.

“It turned out to be you know, a pretty spread out,” Taylor said. “So those dogs were instrumental in sniffing out, you know, a bone or a piece of human remains that might be a little bit further away.”

Laundrie’s parents who helped find their son left North Port to grieve privately.

They returned on Tuesday.