GABBY Petito thought she would have the time of her life when she set off on a four-month adventure trip with her fiancé.
However, the 22-year-old, who got engaged just a year before the tour, tragically went missing – and was later found dead.
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Who was Gabby Petito?
Gabby Petito was a 22-year-old girl who went on a trip around America with her boyfriend.
Born and raised in Blue Point, New York, she had six younger siblings and half-siblings.
She was known for living an adventurous life with her father, Joe Petito, describing her as “very, very free-spirited.”
He told Newsday: “Clothes didn’t impress her. Cars didn’t impress her. Experiences — that’s what impressed her.”
She had two tattoos – a triangle on her left arm with flowers and “Let it be” written on her right arm.
Gabby and Brian Laundrie were due to travel around the country for four months.
The couple got engaged a year before their trip.
Gabby had saved enough money to convert a van into a campervan and was about to embark on a road trip across America, following her dream of becoming a travel video blogger.
On July 2, 2021, the pair embarked on their travels but it wasn’t long until Gabby’s family started to worry.
Two months later Gabby was found dead, strangled by fiance Brian after sustaining severe head injuries.
Where was Gabby Petito’s body found?
On September 19, 2021, authorities in Wyoming announced a body was found in Grant Teton National Park, where she had been camping with her fiancé when she disappeared.
Petito’s lawyer later confirmed that the body was identified as Gabby.
“I want to personally thank the press and news media for giving the Petito and Schmidt family time to grieve,” lawyer Richard Stafford said in a statement.
“We will be making a statement when Gabby is home. I will contact you to arrange a time and location.”
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Bodycam footage during a traffic stop on August 12, 2021, in Utah saw Gabby explaining injuries and bruises on her body after a domestic violence 111 call.
Gabby was last seen on August 24, 2021, checking out of a hotel with Laundrie in Salt Lake City, Utah.
She was reported missing on September 11 by her mother, with her body found eight days later.
Following her death Gabby’s family launched the Gabby Petito Foundation in honor of their late daughter.
The website states: “With a mission to turn our tragedy into purpose, the Gabby Petito Foundation was born.
“We wish to address the needs of organizations that support locating missing persons and to provide aid to organizations that assist survivors of domestic violence through education, awareness, and prevention strategies.”
The foundation’s Twitter bio includes a phrase coined by Gabby’s dad in an Instagram post after her remains were found: “She touched the world.”
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What was Gabby Petito’s cause of death?
Gabby’s autopsy results were revealed on Tuesday, October 12, 2021.
Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue confirmed Gabby died by strangulation. She died as a result of homicide.
He added that Gabby’s predicted time of death was three to four weeks before her body was found on September 19.
He stated the corpse remained “in the wilderness” throughout the time.
Was Gabby’s fiancé Brian Laundrie found?
Laundrie was described as a person of interest on September 15, 2021, by police after he returned home to Florida on his own as he was the last person to have seen Gabby before she disappeared.
However, just two days later his parents told police they had not seen their son since September 14.
Police then announced that they were searching the Carlton Reserve for Laundrie.
More than a month later on October 20 Laundrie’s body was found in a Florida park along with a notebook and backpack.
It was confirmed on November 23 that Laundrie had taken his own life.
The FBI made the announcement in a statement saying, “On October 21, 2021, a comparison of dental records confirmed that the human remains found at the T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve and Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park are those of Brian Laundrie.”
I am ending my life not because of a fear of punishment but rather because I can’t stand to live another day without her. I’ve lost our whole future together, every moment we could have cherished.
Brian Laundrie
In the notebook that was found with Laundrie’s body, a letter was found where he took responsibility for Gabby’s death.
He claimed that he killed her after she injured herself in a fall in Wyoming, saying he thought it was “merciful”.
He said that he loved Gabby and he apologised to “everyone who this will affect”.
He ended the note by writing: “I am ending my life not because of a fear of punishment but rather because I can’t stand to live another day without her.
“I’ve lost our whole future together, every moment we could have cherished.”
How to watch The Disappearance Of Gabby Petito
A new documentary has been made on the chilling murder case of Gabby Petito that will unfold the tragic events that led to her death.
The documentary The Disappearance Of Gabby Petito will stream in the UK on ITVX on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
You will need a VPN to watch it in the US.
The series consists of three parts which will explore the story of Gabby’s disappearance and death – and will also include interviews with her family members.
Gabby Petito timeline
Gabby Petito, 22, was last seen on August 24, leaving a hotel in Utah. Here is a timeline of Gabby Petito’s disappearance:
- June 2021 – Gabby Petito and her fiancé Brian Laundrie set off on a cross-country trip across the US.
- July 4 – Gabby posts photos of herself barefoot in Gove County, Kansas.
- July 8 – Gabby posts photos of herself at the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.
- July 18 – Gabby and Brian post photos of themselves at Utah’s Zion National Park.
- August 12 – Body camera footage was released in September showing an encounter Brian and Gabby had with police in Utah. Police confirmed that no significant injuries were reported.
- August 19 – Gabby and Brian post a video on their YouTube channel chronicling their trip.
- August 24 – Gabby is spotted leaving a hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah.
- August 25 – Gabby Facetimes her mom, Nichole Schmidt, for the final time. In a later police report, Schmidt said her conversations with her daughter revealed “more and more tension” between her and Brian.
- August 25 – Gabby also posts her last Instagram. No location is given.
- August 27 – Gabby is seen for what’s believed to be the final time. Witnesses claim they saw Brian in an explosive argument with staff at a restaurant in Jackson Hole, leaving Gabby in tears.
- August 27 – Four hours later, travel bloggers driving through Grand Teton National Park drive past the couple’s van “abandoned” on a dirt road.
- September 1 – Brian returns home to Florida without Gabby.
- September 11 – Gabby’s parents report her missing to Suffolk County police.
- September 14 – Brian’s family issues a statement saying he has retained an attorney and will not be cooperating with investigators.
- September 14 – Brian is allegedly last seen by his family. He reportedly told them he was going hiking in Cartlon Reserve but failed to return.
- September 15 – Florida’s North Port police announce Brian is a person of interest in the case. He is not charged with any crime.
- September 16 – Utah police release body camera footage of the police encounter with Brian and Gabby.
- September 17 – Brian’s parents say they have not seen their son in a couple of days and report him missing.
- September 18 – Police announce they were searching Carlton Reserve in Florida for Brian. Police announce they have not found anything.
- September 19 – Authorities in Wyoming say they found a body in Grand Teton National Park. The FBI announces the body was believed to be Gabby’s but a full forensic identification needs to be completed first to confirm.
- September 20 – Police execute a search warrant on Laundrie’s home, seizing his silver Mustang and a hard drive that may contain “evidence relevant to proving that a felony has been committed.”
- September 21 – Officials announce they will be conducting an autopsy on the remains found in Wyoming to confirm whether or not they belong to Gabby. Police also resumed their search for Laundrie, this time on the Venice side of Carlton Reserve.
- September 21 – The FBI announced the body found in Wyoming was identified as Gabby’s. The cause of death was not yet revealed.
- September 21 – The Teton County Coroner’s office said Gabby’s official cause of death was still pending but the initial manner of death is homicide.
- September 22 – Police continue to scour Carlton Reserve for a trace of Laundrie but yield no leads. A specialist dive team is called in to assist with the hunt.
- September 23 – Officials announced a federal arrest warrant for Brian was issued.
- September 26 – Gabby’s funeral was held on Long Island, New York.
- October 12: Gabby’s autopsy results were made public. Teton County Coroner Dr Brent Blue confirmed Gabby died by strangulation.
- October 20: Laundrie’s personal items were found at the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. A medical examiner was called to the scene.
- October 21: The FBI confirmed the remains found have been identified as Laundrie’s.
- November 23: Laundrie’s autopsy reveals he died from a gunshot wound to the head.
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