Further tests will be carried out to determine exactly how she died
A coroner has determined that Gabby Petito’s manner of death was homicide after it was confirmed that human remains found earlier this week near a rural campsite in Jackson, Wyoming were those of the missing 22-year-old.
The FBI confirmed that Teton county coroner, Brent Blue, ruled her manner of death to be homicide, meaning she was killed by another person. However, an exact cause of death has not been disclosed pending final results from the autopsy.
On Sunday (September 19), the FBI said they had found human remains “consistent with the description” of Petito, who was reported missing a week earlier on September 11 by her family. The Guardian reports that her body was found near an undeveloped camping area surrounded by woodland, around 30 miles northeast of Jackson, Wyoming.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the bureau confirmed that the remains were indeed that of Gabby Petito.
“The FBI’s commitment to justice is at the forefront of each and every investigation,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider said. “The FBI and our partners remain dedicated to ensuring anyone responsible for, or complicit in Ms. Petito’s death, is held accountable for their actions.”
#FBIDenver appreciates the collaboration of all agencies and personnel who assisted in the search, recovery, and identification efforts. @NatlParkService @forestservice @GrandTetonNPS @BridgerTetonNF pic.twitter.com/2CWXNBMUn2
— FBI Denver (@FBIDenver) September 21, 2021
Petito, who had gathered a huge following on Instagram posting about her “van life” travels, had gone on a road trip with her fiancé Brian Laundrie in July. However, on September 1, Laundrie returned home to Florida on his own in the van the pair had been travelling in.
After being declared a person of interest by police, Laundrie has since gone missing, having not spoken to the police at all since his return home.
A search is underway for the 23-year-old at a 24,000-acre wilderness reserve in Florida.
The FBI are requesting for anyone with information about Laundrie’s role in Petito’s death to contact them.
The FBI is asking anyone who was in the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area between Aug 27 and Aug 30 who may have had contact with Gabby Petito or Brian Laundrie or who may have seen their van to call 1-800-CALL-FBI. Photos can be uploaded here:https://t.co/YqJNdVcmPv
— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) September 21, 2021
Related links:
- Gabby Petito disappearance: FBI confirm remains found are that of missing woman
- Newly-revealed cryptic final text from Gabby Petito’s phone to her mother
- New 911 call claims Brian Laundrie ‘slapped’ and ‘hit’ Gabby Petito
