Brian Laundrie Confesses To Killing Gabby Petito In Notebook Entry, FBI Says

Brian Laundrie, in an image from a police bodycam released by the Moab City Police Department in Utah

Brian Laundrie wrote in his notebook that he killed his fiancée Gabby Petito, the FBI revealed Friday in its final report on the case. The report also mentioned other details about how Laundrie tried to deceive the law enforcement.

Laundrie strangled Petito to death last summer while the couple was on a cross-country road trip. He also sent text messages between his and Petito’s cellphone in the days after killing the 22-year-old YouTuber in an attempt “to deceive law enforcement by giving the impression Ms. Petito was still alive,” the FBI Denver said, according to the New York Post.

All “logical investigative steps have been concluded in the case,” FBI Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider said in a statement. “The investigation did not identify any other individuals other than Brian Laundrie directly involved in the tragic death of Gabby Petito."

“The FBI’s primary focus throughout the investigation was to bring justice to Gabby and her family,” Scheider said. “The public’s role in helping us in this endeavor was invaluable as the investigation was covered in the media around the world.

“On behalf of the FBI, I want to express my deepest appreciation to the public for the thousands of tips that were provided during the investigation, and to our local, state and federal law enforcement partners for their work throughout the investigation.”

Richard Stafford, an attorney for the Petito family, thanked the FBI.

“We truly appreciate the FBI’s diligent and painstaking efforts in this extremely complicated case,” Stafford said in a statement. “The quality and quantity of the facts and information collected by the FBI leave no doubt the [sic] Brian Laundrie murdered Gabby.”

Steven Bertolino, the lawyer for the Laundrie family, also issued a statement after the release of the FBI report.

“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,” Bertolino wrote, according to ABC News. “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... May Gabby and Brian both rest in peace.”

The FBI report comes a day after news surfaced that the Laundrie and Petito families have reached a settlement regarding the distribution of things belonging to the couple.

Petito was reported missing on Sept. 11 after her family was unable to get in touch with her. Authorities found Petito's remains at a national forest in Wyoming on Sept. 19. Laundrie, 23, was reported missing after the authorities found Petito's remains. He was determined to be a person of interest in her disappearance.

On Oct. 20, Laundrie's remains were found in Florida’s Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. His death was later ruled to be suicide by gunshot wound to the head. Bertolino said the gun used was taken from his parents’ home. Neither Bertolino nor the Laundrie family had previously mentioned a firearm missing from their home to the FBI.