Laundrie family discovered a gun was missing when Brian disappeared

Brian Laundrie autopsy indicates suicide, lawyer tells CNN 2:19

(CNN) -

The parents of Brian Laundrie, Gabby Petito's now-deceased fiancé, discovered a gun was missing when they voluntarily surrendered their firearms to police in September, the family's attorney said.

Attorney Steven Bertolino told CNN that Chris and Roberta Laundrie surrendered their guns to police on September 17, and it was at that point that they discovered that a pistol was missing from its case.

The family immediately consulted the police, which included the FBI and North Port Police, on the matter.

This was also the same day the family informed authorities that Brian was missing.

• Brian Laundrie's autopsy shows he committed suicide with a gunshot to the head

They reveal what was the cause of death of Gabby Petito 2:08

When asked why they had not shared this information previously, Bertolino said that he and the authorities agreed that "it was better that this information was not public."

"Imagine, with the frantic atmosphere at the time, if the audience thought Brian had a gun!"

Bertolino said.

"I can't explain why [the authorities] didn't reveal that information, but we talked about it at the time and I think they felt like me."

He also said he did not know if a weapon was found near Brian's remains and possessions and ordered CNN to ask police.

CNN has reached out to the FBI for comment on the matter.

• The chronology of the disappearance of Brian Laundrie does not close: these are the discrepancies between the authorities and his family's lawyer

The Brian Laundrie case

Brian Laundrie's body was found Oct. 20 in an area of ​​the Carlton Preserve that had been flooded during previous searches of the 10,117-hectare nature preserve in North Port, Florida after several weeks.

The Florida Twelfth District Medical Examiner's Office said in late November that its investigation into Brian Laundrie's death determined that he committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.

Laundrie disappeared just days after his fiancee Gabby Petito was reported missing.

The couple had been traveling across the country for the summer in a van and documenting their travels on social media.

The case gained national attention as authorities searched for both.

Laundrie returned to her parents' home in Florida on September 1 without Petito.

While police were trying to question the family about Petito's whereabouts, Laundrie disappeared on September 13 or 14 after leaving home with a backpack, according to his parents.

Petito's remains were found in Wyoming on September 19.

His death was declared a homicide by manual strangulation.

The circumstances of Petito's death remain a mystery.

Brian Laundrie Gabby Petito