Brian Laundrie’s family doesn’t want to cause a public ‘maniac’ by revealing guns have gone missing, attorney says
When asked why information about the missing gun was not shared publicly, Bertolino told CNN that he and law enforcement agreed “it’s best if that information isn’t made public.”
“Imagine, given the frenzied atmosphere at the time, if the public thought Brian had a gun,” Bertolino said. “I can’t say why (law enforcement) didn’t release the information but we talked about it at the time and I believe they felt the same way I did.”
CNN has reached out to the FBI for comment. North Harbor Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
Laundrie disappeared from his parents’ North Port home just days after Petito was reported missing. The couple traveled around the country for the summer in a convertible van before Laundrie returned home without Petito on September 1.
Laundrie disappeared days after Petito was reported missing, sparking a multi-site investigation and attracting social media attention. Petito’s remains were found in Wyoming on September 19, and her death was treated as homicide by strangulation.
While the Florida District 12 medical examiner’s office confirmed Laundrie had died by suicide, the office said it would not make the autopsy report public “until the law enforcement investigation is complete.” , the office said in a statement.