Brian Laundrie Case: Why is the notebook that was found important?
1:21
(CNN) -
A comparison of dental records conducted Thursday confirmed that the skeletal remains found Wednesday in the Carlton Reservation are those of Brian Laundrie, the FBI said in a statement Thursday afternoon.
Brian Laundrie: From a trip across the country with Gabby Petito to her disappearance.
Timeline of your search
Investigators also found clothing believed to belong to Laundrie on Wednesday.
"It's consistent with what was thought he was wearing," Taylor said.
Taylor indicated that the belongings had been there for some time.
Laundrie disappeared last month, a few days before Wyoming authorities found the remains of his fiancee Gabby Petito, who had been strangled.
advertising
A coroner ruled that Gabby Petito died from strangulation.
But there are still unanswered questions
Investigators also found a backpack and notebook of Laundrie, 23, near the remains while searching the Carlton Reservation in North Port, according to FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael McPherson.
“To my understanding, the notebook has not been opened.
You know, that will have to be prosecuted, "Taylor said.
A source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN that the notebook is "possibly salvageable."
The source said the laptop was "out of the dry bag."
"It was clearly wet and they are going to use any potential method to dry it before opening it," according to the source, who added: "They will be very careful."
The source said it's unclear how the laptop ended up out of the bag.
When Taylor was asked if weapons were found, Taylor replied, "I cannot access that information."
When asked if there is an ongoing search for Gabby Petito's killer, he replied, "That is certainly not in the purview of the North Port Police Department."
They reveal what was the cause of death of Gabby Petito 2:08
During a police search, Brian's father, Chris Laundrie, was the first to spot an item that belonged to his son, according to Taylor.
Laundrie's family attorney, Steven Bertolino, told CNN's Chris Cuomo on Wednesday that "it's very likely Brian's remains."
The apparent remains found in a Florida park are most likely Brian Laundrie's, says family lawyer
The discovery came Wednesday morning when Laundrie's parents and police searched an area of the reserve that had been underwater but recently reopened to the public.
"It's quite sad, you can imagine as a parent, finding your son's belongings along with some remains. That has to be heartbreaking. And I can tell you that they are heartbroken," Bertolino told Cuomo.
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said Thursday that law enforcement agencies had been searching in treacherous conditions, including nearly chest-high water filled with snakes and alligators.
Why didn't the Laundries speak to the police earlier?
2:07
"These are very, very difficult conditions. You're looking in areas where you just can't walk and look. It's not like you're searching a house or a car," he said.
"These areas are huge and covered by water."
The exhaustive search for Laundrie dragged on for more than a month as authorities tried to piece together what happened to him and Petito during their trip through the western United States this summer.
Petito, 22, disappeared on the trip amid tensions in their relationship, and his remains were later found in Wyoming, near where the couple had last been seen.
Teton County Medical Examiner Dr. Brent Blue ruled his death a homicide and said he died from manual strangulation.
Laundrie, who had returned to his parents' home in Florida alone, refused to speak to investigators and then disappeared into the nature preserve.
He has not been seen since September 13.
He has not been charged with his death, although he was accused of allegedly using two financial accounts that did not belong to him in the days after Petito's murder.
Authorities, including several K-9 units and SUVs, returned to the reserve Thursday morning to search the area.
A medical examiner arrived at the reservation on Wednesday and formal identification of the remains could take some time.
A source close to the investigation told CNN that the alleged human remains "appear to have been there for a while."
Brian LaundrieGabby PetitoInstaNews
