Subscribe Us

Gabby Petito’s body identified; coroner rules death a homicide

TETON COUNTY, Wyo. — The body of missing YouTuber Gabby Petito has been identified, the FBI confirmed in a tweet.

An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday on the remains found Sunday in a Wyoming park. The Teton County coroner ruled the death a homicide, but the cause of death is pending final results, the tweet said.

The body was found in Grand Teton National Park.

The confirmation officially ends a nearly two-week search for Petito after her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, returned alone from a cross-country trip the two were taking. Laundrie was ruled a person of interest in Petito’s disappearance before he vanished last week.

Here is a timeline of what we know in the disappearance and subsequent search for Gabby Petito:

July 2: Petito, Laundrie leave for road trip

Petito and Laundrie leave New York for a cross-country road trip to national parks out west in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.

The couple documents their travels on both their personal Instagrams and a travel account under the name “Nomadic Statik.”

Aug 12.: Petito, Laundrie get into ALLEGED disputes

Utah authorities receive a 911 call reporting an alleged domestic violence incident between two people believed to be Laundrie and Petito.

Later in the day, Moab City Police in Utah respond to reports of an alleged physical interaction between Petito and Laundrie. Hourlong body camera footage from the investigation shows officers responding to the 911 call with Petito crying “uncontrollably,” saying the pair had been having “little arguments” that day. Authorities said Laundrie told officers the couple had been traveling for four to five months, which “created emotional strain between them and increased the number of arguments.”

Petito and Laundrie reportedly separated for the night, with Petito keeping the van and Laundrie getting lodging assistance from police. In the report, Laundrie is listed as the victim, but Chief Bret Edge said there was not enough evidence to move forward with any charges.

Aug. 21: Petito’s father last speaks with her

Joseph Petito, Gabby Petito’s father, Facetimes with his daughter for the last time. He said he helped her order food in Salt Lake City.

“No red flags that popped out,” Joseph Petito said in a Zoom interview to NewsNation affiliate WFLA. “I’m trying to wrap my brain – Monday morning quarterback it, you know what I mean – still nothing is popping in my head.”

Aug. 25: Petito’s mother last speaks with her

Gabby Petito’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, says she last spoke with her daughter on Aug. 25. She said the couple was near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming when she last spoke with her.

Aug. 27: Petito’s mom receives odd text

Petito’s mother said she received an “odd” text on Aug. 27 that read, “Can you help Stan, I just keep getting his voicemails and missed calls,” according to a police warrant. “Stan” refers to Petito’s grandfather, but her mother, Nicole Schmidt, told police that Gabby never referred to him by his first name.

Sept. 1: Laundrie returns to Florida with the van

Florida authorities say Laundrie returned to his parents’ home in Florida with Petito’s van.

Sept. 11: Petito is reported missing

Family members report Petito missing to Suffolk County Police in New York. Later that day, North Port Police in Florida confirm they recovered the van at Laundrie’s parents’ home. Police say the couple also lived there.

Sept. 15: Laundrie named person of interest

Florida authorities say Laundrie is now a person of interest in the case after Petito disappeared during their cross-country road trip together. While Laundrie was identified as a person of interest, police said he “has not made himself available to be interviewed by investigators or has provided any helpful details.” 

Sept. 16: Petito’s family pens letter to Laundrie family, potential case connection

Attorneys for Petito’s family read a letter on behalf of the family, pleading with Laundrie’s family to help the investigation.

“If you or your family have any decency left please tell us where Gabby is located,” the letter said. “Please tell us if we’re even looking in the right place.”

That same day, Brian Laundrie’s sister became the first family member to speak on Petito’s disappearance.

“Obviously, me and my family want Gabby to be found safe,” Cassie Laundrie, Brian Laundrie’s sister, told ABC’s “Good Morning America” in a clip. “She’s like a sister and my children love her, and all I want is for her to come home safe and sound and this to be just a big misunderstanding.”

Authorities in Utah also said they are “not ruling anything out” in a potential connection between Petito and Laundrie, who were in Moab a day before a newlywed couple were last seen. The alleged domestic dispute between Laundrie and Petito happened outside Moab on Aug. 13. The next day, Kylen Schulte and Crystal Turner were seen for the last time at a bar in Moab. Days later, Schulte and Turner were found dead at a campsite near Moab.

The search for Petito was still underway.

Sept. 17: Petito disappearance not related to double murder, Laundrie reported missing

Authorities announce they determined that the disappearance of Petito and the double homicide of Schulte and Turner were not related.

A family lawyer said that Laundrie was missing. Police searched the Carlton Reserve for Laundrie after it was reported he’d been seen there. Laundrie was reported missing after his family said they last saw him Tuesday while wearing a hiking bag with a waist strap heading into Carlton Reserve.

SEPT. 19: Body found in Wyoming believed to be Petito

FBI Denver confirmed a body found in Wyoming is believed to be Petito.

The FBI said the body was found by law enforcement agents who had spent the past two days searching campgrounds. The body fit the description of Petito and was found in Teton Park.

The cause of death has not yet been determined and further forensic identification was needed, said FBI Supervisory Special Agent Charles Jones.

Jones said investigators are still seeking information from anyone who may have seen Petito or Laundrie around some camping sites located on the park’s eastern boundary, the same site that was the subject of a law enforcement search efforts.

Sept. 20: FBI searches Laundrie’s family home, Search for Laundrie continues

FBI Tampa confirmed that they were executing a court-authorized search warrant at Laundrie’s residence, where he lived with his parents and Petito. No further details were provided. Images from the scene show police tape surrounding the home and agents entering with evidence boxes.

Earlier in the day, authorities said they have no plans to conduct a “major search” of the Florida reserve where Laundrie was last believed to seen. Police said they are still searching for Laundrie.

Sept. 21: Search for Laundrie continues at Florida reserve

FBI agents continued to search for Laundrie in the 24,000-acre Carlton Reserve in Florida. Investigators had focused intently on the area after Laundrie’s parents told police he may have gone there.

NewsNation affiliates WFLA, KTXL and the Associated Press contributed to this report.


Post a Comment

0 Comments