Bertolino’s statement concluded that, “at this time, Brian is still missing and when he is located, we will address the pending fraud charge against him.”
Later,while speaking to WFLA, Petito’s mom, Nichole Schmidt, referenced Bertolino’s statement, saying, “His words are garbage.”
Schmidt also told Bertolino, “Keep talking.”
On Tuesday afternoon, three weeks afterPetito’s remains were foundin Grand Teton National Park, Teton County Coroner Brent Blue revealed she died from manual strangulation.
According to Blue, Petito’s body had been outside for three to four weeks. Blue said Petito was not pregnant at the time that she died.
Petito and Laundrie had embarked on a cross-country journey in July, traveling from Florida to New York in their white Ford van, then heading west. Petitodocumented their adventureson her YouTube channel and planned to start a blog about their new, so-called “vandwelling” lifestyle.
The couple’s travels appeared to be going well until late August, when Petito’s mother stopped hearing from her while she was staying in Grand Teton National Park. More than two weeks after their last conversation, Schmidt learned that Laundrie had quietly returned to his parents' Florida home without Petito.
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Petito wasn’t reported missing until Sept. 11, 10 days after Laundrie allegedly arrived back in Florida. On Sept. 15, he wasnamed a person of interestin her disappearance.
For the first several days of Petito’s missing person case, investigators say they tried unsuccessfully to speak with Laundrie and his parents. They were directed to the family’s attorney, who had instructed his clients not to speak.
On Sept. 17, the Laundrie family spoke with the FBI for the first time — but instead of getting answers about Petito’s disappearance, investigators say they were informed thatLaundrie himself had now gone missing, launching a second missing persons case to locate him.
As of Tuesday, Laundrie has still not been located despiteexhaustive searches in a Florida wildlife preserve, where he is believed to have gone hiking on the day that he vanished.
source: people.com
