Partial human remains will be examined after being found during a search for Brian Laundrie, who was the boyfriend and travel companion of murdered woman Gabby Petito.
FBI Special Agent Michael McPherson said the remains were found during a search of the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park and Carlton Reserve, south of Tampa in Florida, not far from Mr Laundrie’s parents’ home.
The find comes after weeks of searching across multiple states for Mr Laundrie.
“Investigators found what appears to be human remains, along with personal items such as a backpack and notebook belonging to Brian Laundrie,” Special Agent McPherson said.
Portions of Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park and the Carlton Reserve have been closed to the public as investigators continue to search the area.
Mr Laundrie, 23, is a person of interest in the killing of Petito, who was reported missing on September 11 by her parents.
The couple had been on a cross-country trip.
Petito’s body was found on September 19 on the edge of Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park, which the couple had visited.
The coroner there concluded Petito died of strangulation and her body had been where it was found for three to four weeks.
On August 12, the couple was questioned by police in Moab, Utah, in a roadside stop after they had a physical altercation, but no charges were filed.
Mr Laundrie returned home, alone, on September 1 in the van the couple were using on their trip.
He was reported missing after telling his parents on September 14 that he was going for a hike in the Carlton Reserve, which has for weeks been a key area in the search to locate him.
ABC/AP