'He's in our hearts': Family and friends still seek answers one year after Nathan Wise’s disappearance
It’s been a year since Nathan Wise went missing and his family is no closer to finding out what happened to him.
Before taking his own life, Brian Laundrie wrote in a notebook he was responsible for Gabby Petito's death, according to the FBI.
"A review of the notebook revealed written statements by Mr. Laundrie claiming responsibility for Ms. Petito's death," the FBI's Denver Field Office said in a statement released Friday.
The notebook was discovered in October, in the same area as Laundrie's remains, in Florida's Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, authorities said. A revolver was found nearby, the FBI stated.
Petito's and Laundrie's families have reached an agreement on how the couple's belongings, including a notebook, will be distributed, Laundrie family attorney Steve Bertolino said Friday, about four months after Petito's remains were found in Wyoming.
Laundrie had been the subject of a weekslong manhunt when his body was found. His family was informed he shot himself in the head, and his death was ruled a suicide, Bertolino said in November.
Bertolino would not say which family will receive the notebook. The Petito family met with the FBI in Tampa, Florida, this week and reached an agreement on distributing her and Laundrie's belongings, he said before the FBI statement was released.
The Petitos thanked the FBI for its support, according to a statement from the family's lawyer.
"We truly appreciate the FBI's diligent and painstaking efforts in this extremely complicated case. The quality and quantity of the facts and information collected by the FBI leave no doubt (that) Brian Laundrie murdered Gabby," it said.
The FBI said Friday its investigation into the death "will be closed in the near future."
"All logical investigative steps have been concluded in this case," FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider said. "The investigation did not identify any other individuals other than Brian Laundrie directly involved in the tragic death of Gabby Petito."
The news comes the week after an independent investigator determined two police officers who pulled over Petito's van in Moab, Utah, on Aug. 12 should be placed on probation for "several unintentional mistakes" during the traffic stop.
The officers agreed not to charge Petito, who had acknowledged striking Laundrie first, as long as she and Laundrie spent the night apart. The independent investigator found the officers neglected their duty by not pressing charges.
Laundrie, 23, and Petito, 22, who were engaged, set out on a road trip in Petito's converted Ford Transit van in June and documented their travels on social media. Laundrie returned alone, driving the van to his parents' Florida home September 1.
As police searched for Petito in mid-September, Laundrie went missing. Petito's remains were found a few days later, at Wyoming's Bridger-Teton National Forest. Her death was ruled a homicide by manual strangulation.
The specific evening leading up to Petito's death remain a mystery. The FBI described Laundrie as a "person of interest" in her murder, but he was not charged in her killing, although he did face charges for allegedly using Petito's debit card without authorization.
His remains were found Oct. 20 in an area that had been underwater during previous searches of a 25,000-acre reserve in North Port.
Laundrie's father, who was searching with authorities when his son's remains were found, discovered the notebook near Laundrie's body. Experts said at the time the notebook could be key in providing answers. The notebook was wet, and officials did not immediately say whether they gleaned any information from it.
Bertolino told CNN, "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. 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."
It’s been a year since Nathan Wise went missing and his family is no closer to finding out what happened to him.
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
Amazon's paid subscription service provides free delivery for online shopping across Canada except for remote locations, the company said in an email. While customers in Iqaluit qualify for the offer, all other communities in Nunavut are excluded.
The fire burning near Fort McMurray grew from 25 hectares to 5,500 hectares over the weekend.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin began a Cabinet shakeup on Sunday, proposing the replacement of Sergei Shoigu as defence minister as he begins his fifth term in office.
Police are searching for a suspect in a homicide investigation after a man was slashed in downtown Toronto on Sunday.
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.
Health Canada announced various product recalls this week, including electric adapters, armchairs, cannabis edibles and vehicle components.
English, history, entertainment, math and geography: high school trivia teams could be quizzed on any of it when they compete at the Reach for the Top Nationals in Ottawa in June.
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.
The threat of zebra mussels has prompted the federal government to temporarily ban watercraft from a Manitoba lake popular with tourists.
A small Ajax dessert shop that recently received a glowing review from celebrity food critic Keith Lee is being forced to move after a zoning complaint was made following the social media influencer’s visit last month.
The Canada Science and Technology Museum is inviting visitors to explore their poop. A new exhibition opens at the Ottawa museum on Friday called, 'Oh Crap! Rethinking human waste.'
The Regina Police Service says it is the first in Saskatchewan and possibly Canada to implement new technology in its detention facility that will offer real-time monitoring of detainees’ vital health metrics.
Just as she had feared, a restaurant owner from eastern Quebec who visited Montreal had her SUV stolen, but says it was all thanks to the kindness of strangers on the internet — not the police — that she got it back.