By Nupur Kudapkar
Gabrielle (Gabby) Venora Petito was a 22-year-old American woman from Suffolk County, New York who went on a cross-country road trip with her fiancé Brian Laundrie. When her fiancé returned without her in her van she was reported missing on Saturday, September 11th, 2021. Unfortunately, her body was found the following weekend on Sunday, September 19th by local authorities in Grand Teton, Wyoming.
The Case:
June 2021: Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie set off on a cross-country trip. They intended to drive to the West Coast in Petito’s white Ford van, visiting state and national parks across the western United States. She had been looking forward to sharing her experience with her family and others on social media. During her travels, she had regular contact with her family members; however, this communication unexpectedly ceased at the end of August.
August 12: According to a recording of the call provided by the Grand County Sheriff’s Office, police in the southern Utah town of Moab were called to a suspected domestic violence incident involving the couple on August 12. As per bodycam footage provided by Moab police, they were pulled over the van and were observed for speeding and striking a curb near Arches National Park. The footage also shows the cop calling for backup and separating the couple. A key part is Gabby admitting to hitting him and proceeding to talk about her mental health.
Last week of August: Gabby was last spotted checking out of a motel on August 24. Two days later, she shared a photo of herself in front of a butterfly mural on her Instagram account. Petito’s relatives informed police they last spoke with her during the last week of August. Petito is thought to have been in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park before last contact with her family. Gabby had lots of communications with her family but one of her lasts texts was “No service in Yosemite”
Early weeks of September: Miranda Baker stated in a series of TikTok videos that she and her boyfriend picked up Laundrie that evening when he was hitchhiking in Colter Bay, Wyoming. Laundrie informed police that he had been camping outside of Grand Teton National Park, along the Snake River. When Laundrie found out Baker and her partner were driving to Jackson Hole instead of Jackson, he became upset, requested for the car to stop, and got out near the Jackson Dam.
September 1: According to authorities, Laundrie will return to the couple’s North Port house, where his parents also reside.
September 11: Petito’s family, who resides in New York, reports her missing to the Suffolk County, New York, Police Department after being unable to contact her.
September 16: Brian’s family was not cooperating and refused to talk to Gabby’s family, in a statement to the Laundrie’s the family begs to know about her whereabouts even just a little bit of information.
September 17: After many days of Petito’s family and the police begging Laundrie’s family to help with the case, Laundrie’s family requests that the police visit their house. They disclosed that they haven’t seen Brian since September 14. “Laundrie family attorney Steven Bertolino tells CNN ‘the whereabouts of Brian Laundrie is currently unknown. The FBI is currently at the Laundrie residence removing property to assist in locating Brian. As of now, the FBI is now looking for both Gabby and Brian” (CNN). The search for Brain Laundrie is now on.
September 19: Human remains discovered in Teton County, Wyoming, are “consistent with the description of” Petito, FBI officials say in a news conference.“‘Full forensic identification has not been completed to confirm 100% that we found Gabby, but her family has been notified of this discovery,’” Charles Jones, FBI Denver’s supervisory senior resident agent in Wyoming, says (CNN).
September 21: The Teton County coroner confirms the human remains found Sunday in the Bridger-Teton National Forest were those of Petito, according to the FBI. The cause of death? Still unknown but is deemed to be a homicide as of September 23.
September 23, 2021 (the date I am writing this article): Brian Laundrie has still not been found, however, Gabby Petito’s body has. It seems quite obvious that he killed her, why run away, not cooperate, and act suspicious when your fiancé goes missing. The news pressures the loved ones of missing people to be a wreck and act in an effort to get their loved ones home safe. BrianLaundrie has not done that, instead, he is in hiding refusing to accept his mistake. What happened between them that caused her death is still unknown but Gabby deserves justice.
If you have any information about Gabby Petito or about Brian Laundries’ whereabouts: Tips may be submitted to the FBI online at tips.fbi.gov or by phone by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or 303-629-7171.