Nov 24, 2024

Body Believed to Be Gabby Petito Found, Fiancé Brian Laundrie Still Missing

by Nadia El-Yaouti | Sep 20, 2021
Missing person poster for Gabby Petito displaying her photo and details about her disappearance. Photo Source: Suffolk County Police Department missing person poster for Gabby Petito posted in Jakson, Wyo. (AP Photo/Amber Baesler)

Authorities are confirming that a body matching the description of missing 22-year-old Gabby Petito was found in Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming early Sunday. This is the same area where Petitio was last seen after a cross-country adventure with her fiancé Brian Laundrie.

The latest development comes amid a massive search in North Point, Florida, for her now missing fiancé. Laundrie was believed to be at his parent’s house, but authorities shared on Friday that Laundrie has been missing since Tuesday of last week. Officers were called to the Laundrie home last Friday after the family alerted officers that Laundrie had gone hiking into the nearby Carlton Reserve, a densely wooded hiking area, but had not returned.

An attorney for the Petito family pushed back saying that Laundrie was not missing, but in hiding, and that it was their daughter who was the one missing.

This latest break in the case is the news the community and the Petito family have been dreading. "Full forensic identification has not been completed to confirm 100% that we found Gabby, but her family has been notified of this discovery," shared FBI senior official in Wyoming Charles Jones. The Teton County Coroner has shared that an autopsy of the body will take place on Tuesday to confirm the identity as well as the manner of death.

The Petito family reported their daughter missing on September 11th after her mother was unable to get in touch with her while she was on a months-long trek across the Western U.S. with Laundrie. It was later revealed that her fiancé had since returned to his parent’s home in Florida alone in the couple’s converted camper van on September 1st.

Petito’s family made national headlines as they called for Laundrie and his parents to cooperate with authorities. After the initial report of Petito’s unknown whereabouts, Laundrie remained silent and instead secured a lawyer. Laundrie’s parents have also remained silent and holed up in their North Point home. The house has since been a landmark for community members as they descended upon it to protest, urging Laundrie to cooperate with authorities.

The couple had been on the road for months documenting their travels through their YouTube channel. The couple routinely kept their followers updated by sharing videos detailing life on the road through their renovated travel van. After the case made national headlines last week, the van was obtained by authorities as they combed through it searching for clues leading to Petito’s whereabouts.

Last week, the public got another glimpse into the dynamic between the couple after police officers in Moab, Utah, released bodycam footage of an encounter they had with the couple on August 12. Bystanders called the police after they witnessed a male and female who were later identified as Petito and Laundrie. In the bodycam footage, Petito is visibly upset and describes how she and Laundrie had been “arguing all morning.” Police officers can be seen talking to the couple separately as they sort out what they later called a mental health incident and not a domestic violence incident. A report from officer Eric Pratt details, "both the male and female reported they are in love and engaged to be married and desperately didn't wish to see anyone charged with a crime."

The released footage has only furthered speculation against Brian Laundrie who is now nowhere to be found.

Since the discovery of the body in Wyoming, the FBI has secured and executed a court-authorized search warrant on the Laundrie household. The FBI shares that "No further details can be provided since this is an active and ongoing investigation."

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Nadia El-Yaouti
Nadia El-Yaouti
Nadia El-Yaouti is a postgraduate from James Madison University, where she studied English and Education. Residing in Central Virginia with her husband and two young daughters, she balances her workaholic tendencies with a passion for travel, exploring the world with her family.

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