Laundrie family attorney Steven Bertolino shares surprising new information on CNN; claims parents actually reported Brian missing the night he didn’t return home from his hike, and explains how remains were discovered.
Read the full Steven Bertolino CNN interview transcript below.
CHRIS CUOMO: [Speaking to camera] Clouding the discovery is the fact that Brian Laundries parents were there today when the discoveries were made. Is that a coincidence? Well, they were with authorities when the discoveries were made, and the parents didn’t discover the actual remains. So, there were authorities there with them the whole time.
But after all the weeks and teams and dogs, the day the parents show up, the remains are found. It is fair to be suspicious, given the disposition of the Laundrie family, from the beginning of this saga. So, how did the events of today come to pass? We have someone who can explain. Laundrie family attorney, Counselor Steven Bertolino, joins us by phone to discuss.
CHRIS CUOMO: Sir, can you hear me?
STEVEN BERTOLINO [LAUNDRIE FAMILY ATTORNEY]: Yes. Good evening, Chris. How are you?
CHRIS CUOMO: Appreciate you taking the opportunity. Um, let’s deal with the timing here… why today? Why did the parents choose today to go to the [Carlton] Preserve?
STEVEN BERTOLINO: Well, it is my understanding that the Preserve was only open to the public, as of yesterday. So, my clients reached out to me, and informed me that they wanted to go into the preserve this morning. And I thought it would be wise to notify law enforcement of their intentions.I did so, by text, to my contact in the North Port Police Department. And they responded with “Thank you for the heads up.” And then they met my clients there this morning.
CHRIS CUOMO: Why did they meet your clients there?
STEVEN BERTOLINO: Well, I presume they thought it would be a good idea, just to accompany them in. They knew the press had been following my clients for weeks and weeks on end. And, you’d have to ask them why they chose to come. They did not indicate to me last night that they would be there. They just again, thanked me for the heads up.
CHRIS CUOMO: One quick question sideways, and then I want you to take me through what you understand of how the discovery was made. Why didn’t the parents ask to go sooner during all these agonizing weeks?
STEVEN BERTOLINO: Well, the parents had assumed that the experts– the FBI, and all the tracking teams that they had– would be able to locate Brian, based upon the information that we had provided them to the specific areas and trails in the park that Brian liked to visit. The park had been closed to the public. It was really no other reason for the Laundries to go search anywhere else.
CHRIS CUOMO: Now, let’s deal with the specifics of today. Is the area that they were searching, when these discoveries were made, is this a new area that the parents hadn’t informed authorities about before?
STEVEN BERTOLINO: No, not at all. Indeed, this is the very area of the park that we initially informed the law enforcement on– I believe it was September 17– that Brian would be most likely in the Preserve in this particular area, as I know it, near the bridge. I think it’s the bridge that might connect the Myakkahatchee Environmental Park with the Carlton Reserve.
CHRIS CUOMO: Was this a very deep way or distance into the Preserve?
STEVEN BERTOLINO: No. Mr. Laundrie informed me that it was quite near the entrance. He didn’t put an exact distance on it. He put a timeframe of about 30 minutes in. But, I would guess it could be a mile or two into the Preserve.
CHRIS CUOMO: So, can you help us understand how an area that the authorities were told about, you say, by the parents that isn’t even that deep into the Preserve, wasn’t located all these weeks with all the dogs, and the teams, and everything else, until the parents showed up?
STEVEN BERTOLINO: Well listen, the explanation that the FBI gave today certainly makes sense. If that area was underwater, one can certainly understand why you might not have been able to find the items that were located today. Um, if that water had cleared two weeks ago, perhaps they could have circled back and looked again. Perhaps they meant to. Perhaps they were further and deeper into the park and never got back to this park. Because it is so near the entrance, Chris and Roberta went to this area first. And as happenstance was, they stumbled upon these items
CHRIS CUOMO: Alright, now the key understanding. What do you know from your clients about how the discovery was made? What was going on? You know, what did they tell you about how it happened?
STEVEN BERTOLINO: So, fortunately one of your rival news people were there with a camera. And I say “fortunately” because some people don’t believe how the events laid out today. But, Chris and Roberta walked into the Preserve. It is my understanding that they were followed closely by the two law enforcement personnel. And when I say “closely,” certainly within eyeshot. And as they went further in, Chris ventured off the trail, into the woods. He was zigzagging in different areas. Law enforcement was doing the same thing. And Roberta Laundrie was walking down the trail. And I believe that is on some video for some other news outlet. At some point Chris locates what’s called a dry bag. The dry bag is a white bag. It was laying in the woods, I’ll say 20 feet or so off the trail. According to Chris, it was in some, some brambles. Chris didn’t want to pick the bag up, because he wanted the law enforcement to see it. This was caught on camera. Chris couldn’t find the law enforcement, because they were then out of sight, ‘cause Chris had been in the woods. So, he didn’t want to leave the bag there with a news reporter standing nearby. So, he picked it up. He did meet up shortly with law enforcement. They looked at the contents of the bag. At that time, law enforcement officers showed him a picture on the phone of a backpack that law enforcement had located also nearby, and also some distance off the trail. At that point, the Laundries were notified that there’s also remains near the backpack, and they were asked to leave the Preserve.
CHRIS CUOMO: What do you make of the suggestion that Mr. Laundrie planted the bag and the backpack?
STEVEN BERTOLINO: In nice terms? It’s hogwash.
CHRIS CUOMO: Would the authorities have known what they walked onto the trail with?
STEVEN BERTOLINO: Absolutely! They met them at the gate, or somewhere nearby. They walked in with them. And more importantly Chris, this is what I said: fortunately, for the Laundries, the press was following them in the whole time.
CHRIS CUOMO: Why wouldn’t the dogs have found these remains?
STEVEN BERTOLINO: You would have to ask the experts on that. That’s not my expertise. If it was underwater, maybe the dogs couldn’t detect the remains underwater. Maybe the dogs were never brought back to that area. I don’t know, you’d have to ask someone else that question.
CHRIS CUOMO: What were your clients’ reactions to what happened while they were there?
STEVEN BERTOLINO: You know, that also was caught on video, it’s quite sad. You can imagine– as a parent– finding your son’s belongings alongside some of remains. And that’s got to be heartbreaking. And I can tell you that they are heartbroken.
CHRIS CUOMO: Do they believe it is their son?
STEVEN BERTOLINO: Chris, it’s not about ‘belief’. As you said at the onset, the probability is strong that it is Brian’s remains. But, we’re going to wait until the forensic results come in and verify that.
CHRIS CUOMO: Now, obviously the family’s under a veil of suspicion because of their lack of cooperation from the beginning. Optically, in terms of contacting the Petitos et cetera, and dealing with authorities. The police gave the impression that the family delayed notifying them about Brian Laundries’ disappearance.
STEVEN BERTOLINO: Well, you say that they “gave the impression”. They’ve come out right and said it. And certain members of the North Port Police Department have said it more than once. And, as I’ve discussed with you once before, let the record be clear: The Laundries reported Brian did not come home the night he went out for the hike. I actually reported that to the FBI, personally. On Friday the 17th, the FBI called me. We didn’t call them. They called me and said “We have a tip that Brian was seen in Tampa. And we want to see if he’s in the house.” After some back and forth, we agreed on a time. At 6:15pm Friday the 17th, the FBI was going to come to the house. During that conversation with agreeing on the time, I said to them, “If you got a tip, where did this come from?”. Because a member of the North Port PD gave a press conference the night before and said “We know where Brian is.” He was asked again, “Do you know where Brian is?”. He said, “We know exactly where Brian is.” I immediately called my clients and said, “Hey, was Brian picked up? Do you know where he is? Because I don’t know where he is. How did they know where he is, if we don’t?”. And that was on Thursday. On Friday, when the FBI came to the Laundrie residence, we then said “Yes, we will fill out a missing persons report.” And that got twisted, as though the family waited until Friday to report him missing, which is not how it happened.
CHRIS CUOMO: It’s unfair–
STEVEN BERTOLINO: We let it go–
CHRIS CUOMO: …it’s unfair in the micro, but it’s understandable in the macro. Because, it just doesn’t look right that the parents haven’t wanted to cooperate… that Brian didn’t want to cooperate… that they wouldn’t want to talk to the other family. So, you can understand why people would be suspicious about their actions.
STEVEN BERTOLINO: Absolutely! And you know, now is not the right time to talk about, you know, the situation with Gabby. But, the family was following my directions.
I told them not to talk to anybody, not to say a word. I was the uh, the intermediary between the family and law enforcement. And that’s why we’re confident that law enforcement– specifically the FBI– was informed Brian did not come home that night.
And whatever played out in those three days after that? That’s on the police and the FBI. That’s not on the family, as I heard you say once before.
CHRIS CUOMO: No, I get the issue about you telling the FBI and what they did– or didn’t– tell the local police. That explains that part, that’s fine. But look, you know… you don’t have to be a lawyer to be suspicious when somebody won’t cooperate with looking for someone they supposedly care about. What is the good reason that they wouldn’t want to speak to authorities, or to their son’s fiancee’s family?
STEVEN BERTOLINO: You know, you can label it “good reason”, but I can tell you ‘the reason’: I told them not to.
CHRIS CUOMO: And the question becomes, who doesn’t talk unless they have something to hide?
STEVEN BERTOLINO: And you know what? You hear a lot of talk these days about, you know, ‘individual rights’. Some people want First Amendment rights. Some people want Second Amendment rights. Conveniently, the public seems to forget about the Fourth, the Fifth and the Sixth Amendment rights. And you know what? Defense attorneys and, I would say, every attorney– including yourself– should push those rights. Some of the experts that have been on these programs, they all espouse, “Oh, this, this and this.” But they don’t step up and say, “Hey, you know what? Everybody has the right to remain silent.” And that’s what I told my clients. And that’s what they did.
CHRIS CUOMO: There’s no question they have the right. I’ve never suggested anything else. But having a right, and something being the right thing to do, are often different. Now, it has been mentioned that if and when Brian Laundrie is found, then the parents will explain the situation. If this is Brian Laundrie… and he is gone… will the parents tell what they knew?
STEVEN BERTOLINO: Well, now’s not the time to discuss that, Chris. It may come out in the future. It may not right now. We’re just ‘gonna wait for the forensic results, as I said earlier. And, you know, we may come back on that subject sometime in the future.
CHRIS CUOMO: You’ve known the family a long time, yes?
STEVEN BERTOLINO: Well over 20 years.
CHRIS CUOMO: Is it hard for them to follow your advice?
STEVEN BERTOLINO: Hard? No! I’ve never had clients follow my advice so intently.
CHRIS CUOMO: But you know what I’m saying. This is hard advice to follow. Not to talk to the Petitos, not to talk to anybody about what happened. This is not easy to do, I’m sure.
STEVEN BERTOLINO: No, it’s not–
CHRIS CUOMO: Because they know the weight of expectation.
STEVEN BERTOLINO: It’s not easy.
CHRIS CUOMO: And they know how it makes them look.
STEVEN BERTOLINO: Absolutely, absolutely. They know the weight, they know it’s been hard. But ultimately, this is the advice I gave them. This is the advice they’re taking, and that’s on me. And I took that heat September 14, when I had to give a little speech in front of a camera. Somebody in front of my office got me. And I said to them, “I’m the one who told them not to talk.” That’s been on me from day one… that’s not on the family. And if it turns out that my legal advice is wrong in that perspective, so be it. But that’s on me, not on the family.
CHRIS CUOMO: Well, giving the advice is on you. Taking it is on them. They are aware that they may be the only people who are able to tell the story of what happened to Gabby.
STEVEN BERTOLINO: At some point in time, Chris. As I said earlier, now’s not the time to discuss that. Right now we’re going to wait for the forensic results to come in, and we may revisit this in the future.
CHRIS CUOMO: Alright Counselor, look. I appreciate– especially last second like this– you coming on to explain how they came to be there today, and the correction on what they told authorities, and when, about the disappearance. And, we’ll take you at your word that there’s a chance that once this is cleared up that it’s Brian, that the family want to make… will want to make a proffer of what they knew. Because obviously, the curiosity is immense, especially for the Petito family. Appreciate you taking the opportunity.
STEVEN BERTOLINO: Well Chris, I appreciate you having me on tonight. Be well.
CHRIS CUOMO: Alright, you too. [Call ends]
CHRIS CUOMO: [Speaking to camera] Alright so look, again, what are the chances that it’s not him? Very small. But they’re going to do everything the right way. Decomposition makes identification— this is not Law and Order, DNA isn’t done in 15 minutes. But, in all likelihood it is Brian Laundrie. Will that be the end of the story? Or will there be a chapter of learning what happened from the parents?
