Brian Laundrie claimed responsibility for Gabby Petito's death before he died, FBI investigators say

• Brian Laundrie claimed responsibility for the death of his fiancée Gabby Petito before he died by suicide, the FBI said.
• Laundrie's skeletal remains were found in a Florida reserve in October, nearby a backpack and a notebook.

Brian Laundrie wrote in a notebook found near his skeletal remains in a Florida nature preserve that he was responsible for the death of his fiancée Gabby Petito — and tried to "deceive" authorities before the young woman's body was found, the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced on Friday.

Laundrie's remains were discovered on October 20 of last year near his backpack at Florida's vast 25,000-acre Carlton Reserve where the 23-year-old eventually vanished after he returned home from a joint cross-country road trip without Petito.

He died by suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, a coroner ruled.

Nearby Laundrie's remains, investigators found his backpack, notebook, and a revolver, the FBI said in a statement.

"A review of the notebook revealed written statements by Mr. Laundrie claiming responsibility for Ms. Petito's death," the FBI said on Friday as it wrapped up its investigation into the case.

Petito's body was discovered at a remote campsite in Wyoming on September 19 roughly three weeks after her last known communication. She and Laundrie had embarked on the road trip out West in a converted camper van last summer, documenting their travels on social media along the way.

A coroner concluded that Petito, 22, died of "blunt-force injuries to the head and neck, with manual strangulation."

Laundrie disappeared nearly two weeks after he returned from the trip to the North Port, Florida, home the couple shared with his parents without Petito on September 1.

His parents reported him missing on September 17 after they told police that their son went out for a hike with only a backpack three days earlier and never returned to the home.

After Petito's death, the FBI said on Friday, there were several text messages between Laundrie's cell phone and Petito's cell phone.

"The timing and content of these messages are indicative of Mr. Laundrie attempting to deceive law enforcement by giving the impression that Ms. Petito was still alive," said the FBI.

The FBI officially opened its investigation into Petito's disappearance on September 12 — a day after Petito was reported missing by her family in Long Island, New York.

"All logical investigative steps have been concluded in this case," FBI Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider said in a statement on Friday.

"The investigation did not identify any other individuals other than Brian Laundrie directly involved in the tragic death of Gabby Petito," Schneider said, explaining, "The FBI's primary focus throughout the investigation was to bring justice to Gabby and her family."

He added, "The public's role in helping us in this endeavor was invaluable as the investigation was covered in the media around the world."

Schneider expressed his "deepest appreciation to the public for the thousands of tips that were provided during the investigation."

Laundrie family attorney Steven Bertolino commented on the FBI's findings on Friday, saying, "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 said. "May Gabby and Brian both rest in peace."

Earlier Friday, Richard Stafford, an attorney representing Petito's family said, "The quality and quantity of facts and information collected by the FBI leave no doubt [that] Brian Laundrie murdered Gabby."

Additionally, the FBI said on Friday that between August 30 and September 1, Laundrie used Petito's debit card without authorization on his drive back to Florida from Wyoming.

A US district court previously issued an arrest warrant for Laundrie on a charge related to bank card fraud on September 22.

Laundrie was the subject of a massive FBI-led manhunt in the case that garnered national attention before his remains were ultimately discovered.