TikToker criticised over conspiracy theory claiming Brian Laundrie isn’t actually dead

Conspiracy theories have been flying around TikTok about whether human remains found were in fact those of Brian Laundrie

A TikTok star has come under fire for posting a video claiming that Brian Laundrie is still alive and well, despite authorities saying they found his remains last week. Tana Mongeau, who has almost seven million followers on the popular video app, shared the clip on Tuesday (October 26). In it, she suggests he's in Paris "living his best life getting a croissant." In the TikTok - captioned 'I said what I said' - Mongeau asserts, "I'm not joking. I genuinely think something was placed there so that people would think the remains were him." She continues: "I guarantee you he's in like Paris, France right now living his best life getting a croissant. "He is alive. And that's the tea." The clip has racked up a huge three and a half million views and more than 632,000 likes. The clip appears to be a response to the criticism she received for tweeting that Laundrie had "pulled a Joe Goldberg." This is a reference to the popular Netflix series, You.

@tanamongeauloli said what i said♬ original sound - Tana Mongeau

Laundrie's remains were found on October 20 at the Carlton Reserve in Florida and were later confirmed to be his after the use of dental records. Authorities had been searching for the 23-year-old in connection with the disappearance and death of his fiancée Gabby Petito. https://twitter.com/tanamongeau/status/1451332856744005635 On the same day that Mongeau posted the video, the North Port Police Department denied "false reports" that the DNA of the remains found last week did not match Laundrie, referring to a statement from the District 12 medical examiner. In a statement posted on Twitter, they said: "The identity of the remains found at the Carlton Reserve on 20 October was confirmed by comparison to known dental records of Brian Laundrie." https://twitter.com/NorthPortPolice/status/1453083875475959813?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1453083875475959813%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-36845414441596524691.ampproject.net%2F2110152252002%2Fframe.html It is not clear which "news sources" Mongeau is referring to when she says that some have been reporting the remains are not those of Laundrie. A TikTok doctor recently took to the platform to answer questions about how Laundrie's body could skeletonise so quickly in response to conspiracy theories spreading online. Related links:

• At least seven bodies have been found in search for Brian Laundrie
• Brian Laundrie parents ‘to cremate body with no funeral’ amid mystery over cause of death
• How did Brian Laundrie’s parents find his remains in a few hours?