Killing of Gabby Petito
| Killing of Gabby Petito | |
|---|---|
| Location | Bridger–Teton National Forest, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Date |
|
Attack type | Homicide by blunt trauma and strangulation Murder-suicide |
| Deaths | 2 (including perpetrator) |
| Victim | Gabby Petito |
| Perpetrator | Brian Laundrie |
| Motive | Unknown |
In August 2021, 22-year-old American vlogger, Gabrielle "Gabby" Venora Petito was killed by her fiancé Brian Christopher Laundrie while they were traveling together across the United States. The trip was planned to last for four months and began on July 2, 2021, but Petito disappeared on August 27.
After Petito's disappearance, Laundrie became a suspect when he drove the van from Wyoming back to his parents' Florida home and did not want to talk with the police or press. He left his home on September 13 and was reported missing four days later.
On September 19, Petito's remains were found in Wyoming's Bridger–Teton National Forest. An autopsy found that she was killed by blunt-force injuries to her head and neck and manual strangulation.
After a month of going missing, Laundrie's skeletal remains were found in Florida's Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park on October 20.
Background
Petito was traveling across the United States with her fiancé. Her family lost contact with her in late August when she was in or near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.[1] Her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, was also missing and wanted by law enforcement for questioning in her disappearance and death.[2]
Body found
On September 19, 2021, authorities said they found a body that matched Petito's. It was discovered in Bridger–Teton National Forest, Wyoming.[3][4][5] Two days later it was confirmed that the remains were Petito's and, based on reports from an autopsy, it was reported that her cause of death was homicide.[3] In October, her death was determined to have occurred three to four weeks before her body was found with the cause being homicide by strangulation.[6]
Brian Laundrie
Police officials searched for Petito's ex-fiance, Brian Laundrie, who went missing beginning on September 14. He was the main suspect in her death. On September 22, the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a warrant for Laundrie's arrest on charges of debit card fraud.[7][8]
On October 20, Laundrie's remains and some of his belongings were found at a park in North Port, Florida, which had recently been underwater due to flooding.[9]
References
- ↑ Cramer, Maria (September 15, 2021). "A 'Vanlife' Couple Went on a Cross-Country Trip, but Only One Returned". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2021-09-18. Retrieved 2021-09-20.
- ↑ Moshtaghian, Artemis; Alsharif, Mirna; Maxouris, Christina (September 15, 2021). "Police looking for missing woman Gabby Petito ask for her boyfriend's cooperation". Jenn Selva, Ben Norbitz, Andy Rose and Claudia Dominguez. CNN. Archived from the original on 2021-09-18.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sutton, Joe; Caldwell, Travis; Andone, Dakin (2021-09-19). "Human remains found in Wyoming are "consistent" with description of Gabby Petito, FBI says". Travis Caldwell, Andy Rose, Jenn Selva, Alta Spells, Shawn Nottingham, Christina Maxouris, Aya Elamroussi, Rob Frehse, MiSeon Lee and Deanna Hackney. CNN. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ↑ Reardon, Sophie (September 19, 2021). "Body found in Wyoming "consistent with the description" of Gabby Petito, officials say". CBS News. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ↑ "Gabby Petito: Body matching missing woman found in Wyoming". BBC News. 2021-09-20. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ↑ GRUVER, MEAD (October 12, 2021). "Coroner: Gabby Petito strangled 3-4 weeks before body found". Associated Press.
- ↑ Vera, Amir. "The search for Gabby Petito's fiancé Brian Laundrie continues this week. Here's why it's been so hard to find him". CNN. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
- ↑ "On September 22, 2021, the U.S. District Court of Wyoming issued a federal arrest warrant for Brian Christopher Laundrie pursuant to a Federal Grand Jury indictment related to Mr. Laundrie's activities following the death of Gabrielle Petito". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
- ↑ Haynes, Danielle (October 21, 2021). "FBI IDs remains in Florida park as those of Brian Laundrie". United Press International.
Other websites
- "Gabby Petito case: Full Utah bodycam video". Archived from the original on September 24, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.