PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (CBS12) — The discovery of Brian Laundrie's remains this week in south Florida raises questions about what led authorities to go to that spot.
A former FBI agent says he feels the FBI gave Brian Laundrie's parents an ultimatum. Either tell us what you know or we'll arrest you on federal charges.
Stuart Kaplan is a former FBI agent who now works as a criminal defense attorney in Palm Beach Gardens,
He says there's now little doubt that the remains found Wednesday in an alligator-infested nature reserve in Florida are those of Brian Laundrie.
He feels Laundrie's parents probably knew where he was for some time, but felt the need to protect him from being caught by law enforcement.
Kaplan feels the FBI may have had enough evidence to charge Laundries' parents with obstruction of justice, accessory after the fact or lying to or misleading a federal agent.
He says in a case such as this, the parents can compound the criminal activity by a loved one, if they try to assist them in covering it up.
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Kaplan says if the Laundries did not cooperate with the feds and they were arrested and convicted, they could've each faced up to 25 years in federal prison.
According to Kaplan, In the federal system, there's no opportunity for early release, meaning they would've had to serve the entire 25-year sentence behind bars,