AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack
- The Laundrie family's lawyer said the family tried searching for Brian in Florida's Carlton Reserve after he went missing last month.
- Steve Bertolino told NewsNation the family failed to find Laundrie the day after he didn't return from his hike.
- Laundrie's remains were found in the Carlton Reserve on Thursday, the FBI said.
The Laundrie family tried searching for Brian alone in Florida's sprawling Carlton Reserve the day after he didn't return from his hike, their lawyer said in an interview on Thursday.
Steven Bertolino told NewsNation anchor Marni Hughes that Chris and Roberta Laundrie went to the reserve the morning after Brian didn't return from his hike in mid-September, but didn't find him.
The Laundries' main concern at the time was that the media didn't get involved, Bertolino said.
Laundrie's remains were found Thursday afternoon in the Carlton Reserve, the FBI confirmed, in an area that was previously underwater.
Bertolino said he gave the parents his blessing to go search on Thursday after they asked him if it was a good idea, and he then reached out to a contact at North Port Police Department to notify them of the search.
"It was something that I suggested and it's a good thing that we did," Bertolino said.
The Laundries' pointed police to an area where Brian's remains and some of his belongings were ultimately found.
Laundrie was reported missing last month and was the only person of interest in the death of his fiancée, Gabby Petito, with whom he set out on a cross-country road trip over the summer.