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Image source, Getty Images
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The body found in Wyoming’s national park on Sunday was confirmed to be that of blogger Gabby Petito, who was previously reported missing, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said.
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The coroner’s initial investigation revealed that he was a suspected murder victim, but did not provide further details.
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“Doctor Brent Blue of the Teton County coroner has confirmed that the body is Gabrielle Venora Petito…Blue’s initial assessment is that her death was homicide,” the FBI office in Denver tweeted.
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Petito, 22, visited Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park with Laundrie, 23, as part of a cross-town road trip in a van.
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But after a month of traveling, Laundrie returned to Florida without Petito.
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Laundry is now gone too. He is considered a “person of interest” or a person who may be involved in the case but has not been charged with any crime.
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Here’s what we know so far about this case:
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Who is Gabby Petito?
Petito is known as a blogger who likes to document his travels on social media. In his Instagram account, Petito has 908,000 followers and every upload is liked by thousands of netizens.
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Last July, Petito embarked on a journey from his hometown on Long Island, New York, with Laundrie.
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Laundrie and Petito got engaged in July 2020, according to their social media accounts.
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The two lovebirds, who have been dating since high school, have documented their nomadic life in their van on Instagram and YouTube. They toured national parks in the western US.
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Image source, EPA
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Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito
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The trip was originally planned to last four months, US media said, but Laundrie returned to Florida alone on September 1.
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Petito’s family reported the loss of their daughter 10 days later.
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What happened?
It remains unclear what happened when Petito, and later, Laundrie, disappeared, but some information has emerged from the previous weeks.
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On August 12, police in the southern city of Moab, Utah, were called for an alleged domestic violence incident involving the couple.
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Camera footage on police bodies showed Petito crying and complaining about his mental health to officers. He also said that recently he and his partner often quarreled.
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A police report on the incident said Laundrie claimed Petito hit him after an argument.
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The officers advised them to separate from their homes but did not make any demands. It is not known what happened next.
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Image source, North Port/Florida Police/Handout via REUTERS
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Gabby Petito posted for the last time on Instagram on August 25.
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On August 19, a video was posted to a YouTube channel registered with Petito’s email. The video shows Petito and Laundrie smiling, kissing and running on the beach. It has been viewed more than 3.2 million times.
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The couple’s regular social media updates on Instagram abruptly ended in late August.
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Petito told his mother to pass video call on August 24 that he departed from Utah for the Teton mountains in Wyoming, according to Rick Stafford, Petito’s attorney.
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Her mother, Nicole Schmidt, told CBS New York that she and Petito usually talk three times a week while her daughter is on the road.
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On August 25, Petito uploaded for the last time on Instagram, with caption “Happy Halloween”. The photo gallery does not include any location information.
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Image source, Octavio Jones / Getty Images
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Gabby Petito’s parents at a press conference about the disappearance of their daughter in Florida on September 16, 2021.
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The last time Petito’s family heard from him was a text message on August 30 that read: “No signal in Yosemite”, referring to a national park in California.
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Schmidt doubted that his daughter actually sent the message.
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After a search that drew public attention across the country, authorities found the human remains believed to be Petito in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park on September 19.
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What is not yet known?
A full forensic analysis is still needed to confirm that the body found in Wyoming is that of Petito.
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An autopsy scheduled for Tuesday will determine the cause of death.
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Investigators have not disclosed how and where the body was found.
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