Month: October 2021

The FBI announced on Wednesday that investigators found what appears to be human remains along with personal items Wednesday in a North Port, Fla., park in their search for Brian Laundrie. FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael McPherson said that in addition to possible human remains, searchers found a backpack and notebook that belonged to the 23-year-old Laundrie, adding that at least some of the items had “until recently been underwater.” McPherson made the announcement in a press conference but declined to take questions.

The announcement came after representatives from the Sarasota County Medical Examiner’s Office were called to Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, the last place Brian Laundrie’s family said they remember seeing him. Laundrie’s parents, Chris Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie, informed law enforcement officials on Tuesday that they planned to search the park. North Port police officers and FBI agents met them at the park Wednesday morning to assist in the search of trails Brian Laundrie was known to frequent. Steven Berolino, an attorney for the Laundrie family, confirmed that “some articles belonging to Brian were found” at the park.

Brian Laundrie’s parents reported him missing Sept. 13, less than two weeks after he returned home from a road trip out West without his fiancée, Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito, 22. Searchers found Petito’s body Sept. 19 at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming and determined she died of strangulation.Investigators have sought Brian Laundrie as a person of interest in Petito’s death and on federal charges of using someone else’s credit card. They focused their search efforts on a wildlife preserve in Florida as well as the Myakkahatchee park, which is where Brian Laundrie’s parents said they last remembered seeing him.

On Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) authorized boosters of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines, giving its approval for people to “mix and match” booster shots. The agency granted emergency use authorization for the booster doses; however, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) must also give its approval before additional shots get in arms. The CDC is scheduled to meet Thursday to examine data and requests related to the available coronavirus vaccines.

The FDA approval comes after an advisory committee recommended their authorization last week. Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said: “Today’s actions demonstrate our commitment to public health in proactively fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic. As the pandemic continues to impact the country, science has shown that vaccination continues to be the safest and most effective way to prevent COVID-19, including the most serious consequences of the disease, such as hospitalization and death. The available data suggest waning immunity in some populations who are fully vaccinated. The availability of these authorized boosters is important for continued protection against COVID-19 disease.”

The FDA authorized a single booster dose of the Moderna vaccine at least six months after completion of the two-dose regimen for individuals 65 years and older, or 18 to 64 years old who also have a high risk of severe COVID-19 or have frequent institutional or occupational exposure to the virus. Individuals over the age of 18 may also receive a single booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months after their initial one-dose vaccine. The FDA and CDC have already signed off on booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine for Americans over 65 and those with compromised immune systems or underlying health risks that make them more vulnerable to infection.