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“She could’ve been protected that day”: Gabby Petito’s family files lawsuit

The family of Gabby Petito, whose boyfriend admitted to killing her last year, have launched a wrongful death suit against Utah’s Moab Police Department, claiming officers’ negligence led to her death. Ms Petito and her boyfriend Brian Laundrie were stopped by officers in Moab last year after a bystander allegedly saw Mr Laundrie hit Ms Petito and reported the incident to police. The couple were ultimately not cited for domestic violence, and Ms Petito’s body was found weeks later after she had been strangled. On Thursday local time, Ms Petito’s parents and other family members announced their intent to sue the department for $US 50 million ($NZ 85 million). The suit claims that police officers failed to effectively intervene in a domestic violence situation between Ms Petito and Mr Laundrie by failing to issue a domestic violence citation, claiming that officers disregarded signs of violence they should have been trained to notice. “She could’ve been protected that day,” Nicole Schmidt, Ms Petito’s mother, said. The suit also claims that police officers “coached Gabby to provide answers that the officers used to justify their decision not to enforce Utah law", with the family claiming that officers “egregiously misinterpreted Gabby’s extreme emotional distress, seeing it as the cause of the domestic violence rather than its result”, per AP. “Despite the witness’s report, the officers treated Brian as if he were the victim of domestic abuse rather than the perpetrator,” the lawsuit reads, per Fox News. “In fact, the officers never directly questioned Brian about whether he hit Gabby or how she ended up with scratches on her face. “The purpose of this lawsuit is to honour Gabby’s legacy by demanding accountability and working for change in the system to protect victims of domestic abuse and violence and to prevent such tragedies in the future.” Moab police officer Eric Pratt is also alleged to have been “fundamentally biased” in his investigation by “choosing to believe Gabby's abuser, ignoring evidence that Gabby was the victim and intentionally looking for loopholes to get around the requirements of Utah law and his duty to protect Gabby", The family’s complaint is based on the claim of an unnamed woman referred to as “Witness 1”, who alleged that Officer Pratt threatened to kill her after their relationship ended while he was the police chief in the rural town of Salina, Utah. In a statement after the lawsuit was filed, the city of Moab said Ms Petito’s death was tragic but not the fault of the police department. "Our officers acted with kindness, respect and empathy toward Ms Petito," city spokesperson Lisa Adams said. "No one could have predicted the tragedy that would occur weeks later and hundreds of miles away, and the City of Moab will ardently defend against this lawsuit." In a statement, the Moab Police Department said the 22-year-old’s death was a “terrible tragedy” that no-one could have predicted. “The death of Gabrielle Petito in Wyoming is a terrible tragedy, and we feel profound sympathy for the Petito and Schmidt families and the painful loss they have endured,” it read. “The death of Gabrielle Petito in Wyoming is a terrible tragedy, and we feel profound sympathy for the Petito and Schmidt families and the painful loss they have endured. “The attorneys for the Petito family seem to suggest that somehow our officers could see into the future based on this single interaction. “In truth, on August 12, no one could have predicted the tragedy that would occur weeks later and hundreds of miles away, and the City of Moab will ardently defend against this lawsuit.” The suit comes after a notice of claim was filed in August, and after an independent investigation found that police made “several unintentional mistakes”, including not issuing a domestic violence citation, in January. Image: Instagram

Legal

"I ended her life": Brian Laundrie's diary finally released

Sinister details of Gabby Petito’s murder have been revealed in the form of handwritten notes made by her fiance Brian Laundrie. He offered an apology, along with his confession for killing Petito out of ‘mercy’. The notebook – which was recovered from the Florida nature preserve where Laundrie's body was found after the 23-year-old took his own life in October 2021 – has been shared by the Laundrie family’s attorney, Steven Bertolino. “I ended her life,” Laundrie wrote in the notebook, which was recovered near his body, before going on to detail his version of events of the day that Petito died. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Pages of Brian Laundrie’s diary released. On this page Laundrie appears to say he killed <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GabbyPetito?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GabbyPetito</a> out of mercy…because she had injured herself. The diary doesn’t explain why he didn’t call for help <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nbc4ny?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nbc4ny</a> <a href="https://t.co/Dhps2JdEwr">pic.twitter.com/Dhps2JdEwr</a> — Pei-Sze Cheng (@PeiSzeCheng4NY) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeiSzeCheng4NY/status/1540418661344808961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2022</a></blockquote> “Rushing back to our car trying to cross the streams… before it got too dark to see… I hear a splash and a scream," the notebook pages read. “When I pulled Gabby out of the water she couldn’t tell me what hurt, she had a small bump on her forehead that eventually got larger. “Her feet hurt, her wrist hurt, but she was freezing, shaking violently. “Gasping in pain, begging for an end to her pain.” Laundrie then describes trying to keep her warm and awake while Petito was in “extreme” pain, but his entries do not explain any effort made to find medical attention. “I don’t know the state of Gabby’s injuries, only that she was in extreme pain. “I ended her life, I thought it was merciful, that it is what she wanted, but I see now all the mistakes I made.” Police encountered the pair during their trip in Moab on August the 12th 2021, after reports of domestic violence. The couple were on a cross-country road trip and sharing their adventures on social media. Bertolino said Laundrie flew home to Florida alone on August the 17th, and that Laundrie then returned to Utah six days later to “rejoin Gabby”. On September the 1st, Laundrie drove back to his parents' Florida home, again without Petito. He had been sending text messages from her phone to fool people into believing that she was still alive. Petito’s body was later found on September 19 in Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming, with an autopsy later revealing she had been strangled by someone’s bare hands, and likely died three to four weeks before she was found. The notebook was found in October 2021, along with human remains, a backpack and a revolver, and a month later the remains were identified as Brian Laundrie’s. Bertolino said he met with the FBI in Tampa, along with the Petito family attorney, where personal items belonging to Laundrie and Petito were handed back to their families. Image: Getty

Caring

Gabby Petito’s murder to be turned into a movie

The story of Gabby Petito’s disappearance and death looks set to be turned into a movie. Production company Lifetime has approved The Gabby Petito Story as part of their Stop Violence Against Women initiative. “The Gabby Petito Story will explore Gabby and her fiancé Brian Laundrie’s complicated relationship and what may have gone wrong during their cross-country trip that resulted in Gabby’s tragic murder,” a statement from Lifetime reads. Gabby’s story became a wild sensation after she disappeared on a trip with her fiance Brian Laundrie. The 22-year-old travel blogger was reported missing in September 2021 by her parents when she did not return from her trip with Brian. Her fans pored over her social media posts for clues as to what happened to her, which eventually led to the horror discovery of her dead body in Wyoming. The film is set to premiere later in the year, right around the one year anniversary of her disappearance. It will explore her tragic death and the warning signs of her toxic relationship with Brian who eventually committed suicide. Images: Instagram

Movies

Brian Laundrie’s autopsy deemed INCONCLUSIVE

The remains believed to belong to Brian Laundrie have been sent to an anthropologist in an effort to determine how he died. The FBI said the remains of missing vlogger Gabby Petito’s fiancé were identified as belonging to Mr Laundrie using dental records. However, Florida authorities <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/brian-laundries-bones-found-where-parents-told-fbi-to-search-a-month-ago-lawyer/news-story/732bb9f8bac8703e165a4fc4f3a3ad3d" target="_blank">have said</a> the autopsy was inconclusive and a manner or cause of death could not be determined. Steve Bertolino, the Laundrie family’s lawyer, told The Daily Mail: “I can confirm that the remains were being sent to an anthropologist for further evaluation.” The decision comes a month after the remains were discovered at Florida’s Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park Reserve. Mr Laundrie’s partial remains were found, along with a backpack and a notebook, after a flooded section of the reserve was drained. “Chris and Roberta Laundrie were at the reserve earlier today when human remains and some of Brian’s possessions were located in an area they had initially advised law enforcement that Brian may be,” Mr Bertolino told NewsNationNow. Some web sleuths have theorised that Mr Laundrie’s parents planted the dry bag they found in the reserve, while others believe Mr Laundrie may have been eaten by an alligator. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> So we are expected to believe a massive manhunt, with the FBI, police and dogs were all unable to find a shred of anything connected to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BrianLaundrie?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BrianLaundrie</a>, but his parents go to the site a month later and in minutes suddenly find his belongings? Huh. — Victoria Brownworth 🎃💀 (@VABVOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/VABVOX/status/1450892944999960584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2021</a></blockquote> Mr Laundrie allegedly told his parents that he was going hiking in the alligator-infested reserve on September 13 - a week before Ms Petito’s remains were found. Tom Joyce, a retired NYPD commander, told The Sun that the remains likely suffered “a lot of post mortem predation”. “If the remains are skeletal, that means the tissue has been pulled away from the bones,” he said. “Most likely by alligators, crabs, fish, and stuff like that. “That’s what it sounds like to me because it’s definitely not long enough time for it to go naturally.” Following the discovery, the manhunt to find Mr Laundrie came to an end after entering its fifth week. Mr Bertolino also <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/brian-laundries-family-to-mourn-son-privately-without-funeral/news-story/2f31f07e238e2e3c71d8153bc1350c0f" target="_blank">confirmed</a> that the Laundrie family would be farewelling their son privately. He told TMZ that the remains, including part of his skull, would be cremated. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845060/petito4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/54d5246a38aa43e78378078bb0969455" /> Chris and Roberta Laundrie assisted with the search for their son. Image: Fox News “Getting the news your child is no longer with you is sad under any circumstance,” he said on <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/brian-laundries-family-to-mourn-son-privately-without-funeral/news-story/2f31f07e238e2e3c71d8153bc1350c0f" target="_blank">NBC’s Top Story</a> program. “The Laundries have also been subject to people outside their house for four weeks and they’re continuing out there today, which is making it all the more difficult.” Ms Petito was last in contact with her family on August 25, and was spotted at a restaurant with Mr Laundrie several days later. After her remains were found on September 19, a preliminary autopsy ruled that her death was a homicide. It was later revealed by coroners that she died from strangulation. Image: @bizarre_design / Instagram

Legal

"It boggles my mind": Unusual find near Brian Laundrie's body

A water bottle that matches the one belonging to Gabby Petito has been spotted near where Brian Laundrie's remains were found in Florida. The Nalgene water bottle was discovered by hikers on Tuesday morning, close to where bone fragments were spotted in a Myakkahatchee Park clearing. It was also near where Chris and Roberta Laundrie discovered their son's white bag during the initial search last week. A similar-looking water bottle can be seen in the Nomadic Statik YouTube video Gabby Petito posted online in mid-August. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845077/brian-bottle-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/6ce27188422b422e8fd44bec51ea060f" /> The circled image shows Gabby's water bottle in her van. Image credit: YouTube <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845076/brian-bottle.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/aeaa1f0d7d354ef8a1f0e427c9ee1b8d" /> The hikers were quick to notice the similarity to the found bottle. Image credit: Fox News While there has been no official confirmation on who the found water bottle belongs to, the Petito family lawyer, Richard Stafford, told Fox News reporter Michael Ruiz that it may have been hers. Richard said, “We have a picture that’s from before she left for her trip. It looks like the bottle. I don’t know why it would be left there. It boggles my mind.” A statement from North Port Police Department spokesman Josh Taylor said, “As far as I know, nothing related to this case has been found. Bunch of false reports. However, this is an FBI led investigation and they should speak to anything such as that located. They may know more.” Brian's remains were found in the Carlton Reserve in Florida last week, after he had been missing for over a month. Authorities are still searching for the 23-year-old’s manner of death after autopsy results came back inconclusive. Mr Laundrie was the sole person of interest in the death of his fiancé Gabby Petito, 22, who was found strangled to death in Wyoming on September 19th. Image credits: Youtube / Instagram @gabspetito / Fox News

Legal

Chilling theory over how Brian Laundrie's remains were found

Brian Laundrie's family lawyer has been forced to debunk rumours that Brian's parents, Chris and Roberta, planted his possessions in Carlton Reserve before they were found by police. Steven Bertolino gave his first interview after human remains, a backpack and notebook were discovered in the manhunt for Brian, who has been named a "person of interest" in the homicide of his 22-year-old girlfriend Gabby Petito. Gabby's body was found in a campground in Wyoming on September 19th, as her "manner of death" was deemed as homicide by strangulation by local county coroner in the following weeks. In the weeks following her death, an active search for her fiancé Brian Laundrie continued in the dense reserve in Florida, which turned up the "partial remains" and personal items, all likely belonging to the 23-year-old. Mr Bertolini announced that Brian's father Chris had found the items, after only being inside the nature reserve for less than 30 minutes. “That area was under water and you can certainly understand why you may not have been able to locate it until today,” Mr Bertolino told <a rel="noopener" href="https://twitter.com/CuomoPrimeTime/status/1450996081563680768?s=20" target="_blank">CNN</a>. “If water had cleared two weeks ago perhaps they (police) could have circled back to search again. Perhaps they meant to … but never got back to this part because it is so near to the entrance." “Chris and Roberta went to this area first … and they stumbled upon these items.” CNN host Chris Cuomo questioned the family lawyer, asking if it was unusual that Brian's parents happened upon the key evidence in such a short amount of time, despite dogs and search personnel combing the area previously. “Some people don’t believe how the events laid out today … but Chris and Roberta walked into the preserve, and they were followed closely by two law personnel,” Mr Bertolino explained, calling any allegation that Chris had “planted” the bag that he found as “hogwash”. “And when I say close … I mean within eyeshot. As they went further in, Chris went off the trail and into the woods. He was zigzagging in different areas … law enforcement was doing the same thing." “Roberta Laundrie was walking down the trail … and at some point Chris locates what is called a ‘dry bag’. The dry bag is a white bag laying in the woods 20 feet or so off the trail. “According to Chris, it (the bag) was in some bramble.” Chris picked up the bag and took it to law enforcement on the search team, as they examined its contents. “At that point, law enforcement showed him (Chris) a picture on the phone of a backpack that law enforcement had located also nearby,” Mr Bertolino explained. “At that point the Laundrie’s were notified that there was also remains near the backpack … and they were asked to leave the preserve.” Mr Bertolini said his clients were "heartbroken" after hearing that Brian's remains had been discovered. The official announcement came from FBI Tampa, as they said they will continue their investigation in the mysterious set of events. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UPDATE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UPDATE</a>: 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. <a href="https://twitter.com/FBITampa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBITampa</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZnzbXiibTM">pic.twitter.com/ZnzbXiibTM</a> — FBI Denver (@FBIDenver) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDenver/status/1451302161690898435?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2021</a></blockquote> <div class="description g_font-long-format"></div> “It’s quite sad … you can imagine as a parent finding out your son’s belongings alongside remains … that has got to be heartbreaking,” Mr Bertolini said. “I can tell you they are heartbroken.” FBI officials said they will have personnel on site during the upcoming days to comb for further evidence, as an autopsy will be carried out to determine Brian's cause of death. Image credits: Instagram @gabspetito

Legal

Seven bodies unearthed in Gabby Petito case

Authorities have unearthed multiple sets of human remains while searching for Brian Laundrie in Florida, prompting a wave of conspiracy theories to emerge in response. FBI Special Agent Michael McPherson said that some of the remains were found during a search of the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park and Carlton Reserve, south of Tampa, Florida, not far from Laundrie's parents' home. The shocking find comes after weeks of searching for Laundrie, who is considered a person of interest in Gabby Petito’s disappearance and death. In addition to the remains, authorities <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/legal/gabby-petito-items-found-in-search-for-brian-laundrie" target="_blank">also found</a> a backpack and a notebook that they believe belonged to Laundrie, which up until recently were submerged in water. This has led armchair sleuths online to conclude that the most recent set of remains found belongs to Laundrie himself. Authorities have been searching for Laundrie for over a month; Gabby was reported missing on September 11, Laundrie was last seen on September 14, and Gabby’s body was found on September 19. In addition to the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park and Carlton Reserve remains, the uncovering of several bodies around the country during the search has people wondering if the cases are connected. Two of the bodies that authorities found were initially flagged as potentially being linked to the case because they had been found near where the couple had been travelling. Meanwhile, a seventh body, belonging to a woman who went missing in Colorado near where the couple had been in early July, was found this week. These coincidences appear to some like a spree on Laundrie’s part, while others have pointed out that uncovering this many bodies in national parks is not “statistically significant”, and that the increase can largely be attributed to things like increased police presence and authorities receiving more tips from the public than usual. One Reddit user wrote, “This is all coincidence. People here are hyper-focused on certain parts of the country right now so they think anything that happens is relevant.” Other bodies found include a married couple who were found murdered in Utah, a man who died by suicide in Wyoming, and a woman who disappeared in California in June. Image: Gabby Petito/Instagram

Travel Trouble

Gabby Petito: items found in search for Brian Laundrie

As the search or Gabby Petito's missing fiancé Brain Laundrie continues, police have found partial human remains in the Carlton Reserve. The area, previously underwater, is located near Brian's parents home in Florida according to FBI officials in Tampa. The remains were found near a backpack that contained items consistent with what Brian may have had on him. “Earlier today, investigators found what appears to be human remains along with personal items, such as a backpack and notebook, belonging to Brian Laundrie,” FBI Tampa Special Investigator Michael McPherson said. “Our evidence response team is on scene using all available forensic resources to process the area.” The human remains will be forensically analysed to confirm whether they belong to Brian Laundrie. Brian remains the sole person of interest in the high-profile homicide investigation into Gabby Petito. Brian's parents, Chris and Roberta Laundrie, participated in the search on Wednesday with police from North Port and the FBI. “After a brief search off a trail that Brian frequented some articles belonging to Brian were found,” the family's attorney Steven Bertolino said. “As of now, law enforcement is conducting a more thorough investigation of that area.” <div class="hide-print ad-no-notice css-qyun7f-StyledAdUnitWrapper ezkyf1c0"> The FBI field office in Tampa also issued a statement on Twitter confirming that “items of interest” were found in the Laundrie search but did not elaborate. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> UPDATE: Items of interest were located at the Carlton Reserve this morning in connection with the search for Brian Laundrie. An <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FBI?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FBI</a> Evidence Response team is processing the scene. The reserve is closed to the public and no further details are available at this time. <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDenver?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBIDenver</a> <a href="https://t.co/itOYRpY6fp">pic.twitter.com/itOYRpY6fp</a> — FBI Tampa (@FBITampa) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBITampa/status/1450887057052774400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2021</a></blockquote> “An FBI Evidence Response team is processing the scene. The reserve is closed to the public and no further details are available at this time.” Brain returned gabby Petito's van to his parents home on September 1st, before going hiking in the nearby Carlton Reserve two weeks later. He then vanished, and has been missing since September 14th. Despite several apparent sightings of Laundrie since, police had previously been no closer to finding him. Laundrie is charged in a federal Wyoming indictment with unauthorised use of a debit card, which would allow authorities to arrest him if he is found. Image credits: Instagram @gabspetito / Moab Police </div>

Legal

Laundrie lookalike ambushed at gunpoint

Image: Instagram and Facebook A New Yorker bearing an uncanny resemblance to Brian Laundrie had a rude shock when US Marshals on the hunt for the fugitive pulled their guns on him during a nap on the Appalachian Trial. Ithaca couple Severin Beckwith and Anna Brettmann were taking a nap at the Lodge at Fontana Village Resort after lunch when they heard a knock and seconds later their door flew open. “Next thing I see is a bunch of guys with riot shields with ‘US Marshals’ written on them, handguns pointed at my face,” Beckwith told Fox News. The stunned hiker was promptly handcuffed as one of the feds helped Brettman get dressed. Beckwith, who resembles Brian Laundrie, the sole person of interest in his girlfriend, Gabby Petito’s murder, said he had a hunch why he was targeted on the Appalachian Trail, where tipsters have reported spotting the 23-year-old fugitive. The look-a-like told the New Yorker that one of the agents touched the side of his head and said he had a “notch in the upper part of my inner ear, just like his”. Making matters worse for Beckwith, was that he and Brettman, who had been hiking from Georgia to Virigina since late September – had booked their room with a credit card connected to an Empire State ID, the outlet said. Gabby was originally from Long Island. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844924/new-project-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/feb94d4bfe024e8bb1a4c2c9143d18ec" /> Gabby and Brian together. Image: Instagram. Beckwith was quickly cleared because he didn’t have Laundrie’s telltale tattoos and he produced an ID that ruled him out as the wanted man. Following the marshals’ advice, Beckwith shaved his beard – but quickly regretted it “because I have much less of a chin that Laundrie does”. Beckwith suspects that an employee at Fontana Lake marina alerted the authorities to his presence and even snapped his photo, which a marshal showed the guest after breaking down the door. For their trouble, the lodge provided the couple with a free night’s stay and a complimentary breakfast. Last month, another Laundrie lookalike became a TikTok sensation overnight. The unidentified man, who created the @notbrianlaundrie account was seen doing his laundry in one clip and asking another TikToker for tips on how to avoid being “attacked” for being confused with the fugitive. Meanwhile, a woman who pioneered the FBI’s Behavioural Science Unit told Fox News that the argument between Laundrie and Petito that people witnessed at Wyoming eatery in August may hold the key to the woman’s fate. “The restaurant incidient… is the second and most important,” Ann Wolbert Burgess told Fox News about two incidents that she raised as red flags before Petito’s death. The second incident being the domestic dispute called on August the 12th in Moab, Utah. Burgess is the author of “A killer by Design: Murders, Mindhunters, and My Quest to Decipher the Criminal.” “How she has to apologise for his behaviour is something that’s kind of characteristic, and this probably enrages him even more because he wants to appear in a certain way,” Burgess said of the incident at Merry Piglets, a Jackson Hole restaurant. Nina Celie Angelo, a photographer who witnessed the incident at the eatery, recently told Fox News Digital she believed Laundrie was arguing with staff over the bill or about money. She said his body language appeared “aggressive” and that he left and returned several times.

Legal

Gabby Petito's cause of death finally announced

Almost one month after Gabby Petito’s body was discovered, a coroner in the US state of Wyoming has revealed her cause of death. Tenon County Coroner Dr Brett Blue released a memo on Tuesday, listing Gabby’s cause of death as homicide and the cause as, "Death by manual strangulation/throttling." "Our initial determination is the body was in the wilderness for three to four weeks" before she was found, Blue told reporters, which would place her time of death in mid to late August. The coroner believes that Gabby’s manner of death is consistent with a tragic end to a domestic violence relationship. “This is only one of many deaths around the country of people who are involved in domestic violence and it’s unfortunate that these other deaths do not get as much coverage as this one," Blue said. Gabby’s story has gripped the world, after her and her fiancée Brian were travelling around the United States on their ‘van life’ road trip, and <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/police-reports-social-media-provide-timeline-gabby-petito-s-disappearance-n1279390">chronicling their adventures on social media. </a> A few weeks into their trip, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/tragedy-unfolding-body-confirmed-as-missing-woman-gabby-petito">Gabby’s body was found</a> in the Grand Teton National Park on September 19th. Brian returned to his parent’s home in North Port, Florida on September 1st without Gabby, and Gabby was officially reported missing 10 days later. Brian is still at large, as the ruling of Gabby’s autopsy motivates police further to find her fiancée. North Port Police Department have made a major breakthrough in the search for Brian, as they have located a small campsite close to his family’s home. Brian is now the <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/new-witnesses-in-gabby-petito-homicide-as-fbi-issue-warrant">subject of a federal warrant</a> as a key person of interest in Gabby's case, as well as for unauthorised use of another person’s debit card. You can watch the Teton County Coroner’s full statement on Gabby’s autopsy here: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hk_OCL4kTXQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Image credits: Instagram @gabspetito

News

Major breakthrough in search for Brian Laundrie

A major breakthrough has occurred in the case of Brian Laundrie, who disappeared from his house in Florida in early September. The investigation into Brian, whose fiancée Gabby Petito was found dead in Wyoming last month, has uncovered new details about his earlier movements, as well as traces of human activity in a nature reserve that has been the key area of the search. Police found the <a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/they-were-here-dog-the-bounty-hunter-confirms-new-laundrie-lead" target="_blank">remnants of a campsite</a> that appeared to be used recently in Florida’s Carlton Reserve, a sprawling 24,565-acre wilderness near Laundrie’s family home that has been closed to visitors, a source close to the family told <a rel="noopener" href="https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/07/us/gabby-petito-brian-laundrie-update-thursday/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a> on Wednesday. Chris Laundrie, Brian's father, joined law enforcement and went to the reserve to help them look on Thursday morning. “Chris was asked to point out any favorite trails or spots that Brian may have used in the preserve. Although Chris and Roberta Laundrie provided this information verbally 3 weeks ago it is now thought that on-site assistance may be better,” the family's attorney Steven Bertolino said. The North Port Police Department also confirmed that a notice was placed on a seemingly abandoned vehicle that belonged to the Laundrie family close to the reserve on September 14th. Brian originally told his family that he was heading to reserve the last time they saw him. The ongoing search for Brian comes as law enforcement try to piece together the events that led to the death of 22-year-old Gabby Petito. Gabby and Brian had been travelling across the United States in a 'van life' trip that they were documenting on social media. Gabby was officially reported missing on September 11th: 10 days after Brian returned home from Florida without her. In the days following, <a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/tragedy-unfolding-body-confirmed-as-missing-woman-gabby-petito" target="_blank">Gabby's body was found</a> in a national park in Wyoming, and the coroner determined she died by homicide. Brian originally refused to speak with police when questioned, and then went missing himself. Brian is now the <a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/new-witnesses-in-gabby-petito-homicide-as-fbi-issue-warrant" target="_blank">subject of a federal warrant</a> as a key person of interest in Gabby's case, as well as for unauthorised use of another person’s debit card. He was last seen on September 13th by his family, and has been missing for 25 days. Image credits: Facebook / Instagram @gabspetito

News

"I'd turn him in": Brian Laundrie's sister speaks out

Cassie Laundrie has spoken out about her brother's mysterious disappearance, and called on her parents to "come clean" if they are involved. Cassie, sister to Brian Laundrie, sat down in an exclusive interview with Good Morning America to discuss how Brian's disappearance following the death of his fiancé Gabby Petito has put their family in a "horrible mess". She also spoke about the <a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/they-were-here-dog-the-bounty-hunter-confirms-new-laundrie-lead" target="_blank">infamous </a><a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/they-were-here-dog-the-bounty-hunter-confirms-new-laundrie-lead" target="_blank">camping trip</a> to Florida’s Fort De Soto Park, just six days after he returned home form a 'van life' trip around the states without Gabby. “No, I do not know where Brian is — I’d turn him in,” Cassie told Good Morning America. “I would tell my brother to just come forward and get us out of this horrible mess,” she said of the fugitive who vanished days before <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/tragedy-unfolding-body-confirmed-as-missing-woman-gabby-petito" target="_blank">22-year-old Petito was found dead</a>. “I worry about him. I hope he’s okay — and then I’m angry and don’t know what to think,” she admitted of her 23-year-old brother. “I’ve tried to get in touch with him — phone went to voicemail,” Ms Laundrie said. “I hope my brother’s alive, because I want answers just as much as everybody else.” Cassie also implored her parents, Chris and Roberta Laundrie, to come forward with any information, insisting that they have also refused to speak to her ever since she last saw them before Petito was known to be missing. “I don’t know if my parents are involved,” Ms Laundrie admitted. “I think if they are, then they should come clean.” “They deserve answers,” she said of the loved ones of Gabby, who she earlier said her children will know as “Aunt Gabby forever.” Cassie says the last time she saw and spoke to her brother was on September 6th on the notorious camping trip, which has become a key moment in the manhunt for Brian. The Florida camping trip reportedly happened five days before Gabby was officially reported missing on September 11th. “We just went for a couple of hours and we ate dinner and had S’mores around the campfire and left,” she recalled. “There was nothing peculiar about it. There was no feeling of grand goodbye — there was no nothing." “I’m frustrated that in hindsight I didn’t pick up on anything. It was just the regular visit,” she insisted, saying she immediately told police about it when she realised Petito was missing. “It was not hidden from law enforcement. I’ve been co-operating with the police since day one,” she said. Cassie wishes that her brother had come to her when he returned home without Gabby, rather than her parents who initially refused to let law enforcement talk to him. “I really wish he had come to me first that day with the van, because I don’t think we’d be here,” she said. Ms Laundrie also said it was “definitely painful” to see the video of her brother fighting with Gabby in Utah during their road trip. “It was pretty typical them to argue and try and take space from each other. But people saying that they saw public domestic violence — I’ve never seen anything like that from either of them,” she insisted. You can check out the interview with Cassie Laundrie here: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m90mnL9QjG8" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Image credits: Instagram / Good Morning America

News

Couple may have accidentally photographed Gabby Petito’s missing fiancé in selfie

An unsuspecting couple may have inadvertently photographed Brian Laundrie, fiancé of Gabby Petito and person of interest in her case, while holidaying in Florida days before she was reported missing. Marci and Kenny Newsom were staying at Fort De Soto Campground in Pinellas, Florida, on the weekend of September 6. Speaking to WBBH, Ms Newson said "Apparently, they were at the campground when we were there, and they were right next to us," referring to Laundrie and his parents. The campground is approximately 120km from the Laundrie family home in Northport, Florida. <img style="width: 500px; height: 306.85131195335276px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844550/screen-shot-2021-10-01-at-115411-am.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4f7f379c2a32404293cf50cc642f963c" /> In the photo the Newsoms took with friends, a figure can be seen walking in the background, and the Newsoms believe this figure is Brian Laundrie. While this can’t be confirmed, Ms Newsom told WBBH that the three campers who stayed next to them kept to themselves, adding, "They were there, and then they weren't." Earlier this week, <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/they-were-here-dog-the-bounty-hunter-confirms-new-laundrie-lead">Dog the Bounty Hunter said</a> he was able to confirm Laundrie had stayed at a campsite with his parents that weekend. He told Fox News, “We had a very good lead come up today that he was down here in this park, not far away. We checked our lead out. It is confirmed. The parents were down here two times. “It was September 1-3 and September 6-8. They registered to stay at this park. Allegedly, what we’re hearing, is ... three people came in on the 6th and two people left on the 8th. I think he’s been here, for sure. He was here, for sure. Not over in the swamp.” Documents seen by CNN show Laundrie’s mother checked out of the campground on September 11, three days before Gabby was reported missing. Laundrie’s parents said on September 17 they had last seen their son three days earlier. The search for Brian Laundrie has been ongoing, with <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/could-it-actually-be-him-brian-laundrie-potentially-spotted-on-the-run">reports of sightings</a> being made from all over Florida. Laundrie is wanted in relation to a federal arrest warrant relating to his actions after Gabby’s death, when he allegedly used a debit card and PIN for accounts that did not belong to him for charges exceeding $1000 between August 30 and September 1. Images: Instagram, Marci Newsom

Travel Trouble

“They were here”: Dog the Bounty Hunter confirms new Laundrie lead

Bounty hunter Duane “Dog” Chapman has reportedly closed in Gabby Petito's missing fiancé Brian Laundrie, after receiving a "confirmed" tip. After following the anonymous tip, Chapman believes he has discovered where Brian stayed with this parents after returning solo from the 'van life' trip. Chapman claims Laundrie’s parents stayed at a Florida campsite in a nature park twice in early September, which coincides with when Brian returned on September 1. Brian's parents told investigators they last saw him on September 14, three days after Gabby was reported missing. “We had a very good lead come up today that he was down here in this park, not far away,” the Dog the Bounty Hunter star told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/brian-laundrie-manhunt-dog-bounty-hunter-tipster-laundries-park-september" target="_blank">Fox News</a>. “We checked our lead out. It is confirmed. The parents were down here two times." “It was September 1-3 and September 6-8. They registered to stay at this park." Chapman continued his investigation at the park, and was able to "confirm" the tip-off. “Allegedly, what we’re hearing, is ... three people came in on the 6th and two people left on the 8th," he said. “I think he’s been here, for sure." “He was here, for sure. Not over in the swamp.” The "swamp" is in reference to Carlton Reserve, where police and FBI officials have spent 10 days looking for Brian. Chapman joined the search for Brian after the <a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/new-witnesses-in-gabby-petito-homicide-as-fbi-issue-warrant" target="_blank">FBI issued a warrant for his arrest</a> in association with Gabby Petito's disappearance. Despite Chapman's findings, Brian's parents have denied any involvement in their son's disappearance. “The speculation by the public and some in the press that the parents assisted Brian in leaving the family home or in avoiding arrest on a warrant that was issued after Brian had already been missing for several days is just wrong,” Steven Bertolino, the family's lawyer, reportedly said in a statement. After ruling Gabby's cause of a death as homicide, police are on the lookout for Brian as he remains the number one person of interest, in correlation with a range of evidence from their 'van life' road trip. Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram @gabspetito

Legal

Gabby Petito's dad breaks down during eulogy

Gabby Petito has been honoured at an emotional memorial service in her hometown of Long Island, where her tearful father hinted at long-standing relationship troubles with her fiancé. Gabby was farewelled at a funeral home packed with mourners, exactly one week after her body was found at a campsite in Wyoming. “The entire planet knows this woman’s name,” her father, Joe Petito, told the crowd. “And she’s inspired a lot of women and a lot of men to do what’s best for them first. Put yourself first. And do it now while you have time.” “I couldn’t be more proud,” he added. “If there’s a relationship that might not be the best for you, leave it now.” The hint at Gabby and Brian's tumultuous relationship comes after <a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/gabby-petito-s-father-slam-s-her-fianc" target="_blank">Joe slammed Brian Laundrie</a>, who remains on the run after refusing to cooperate with police. Joe went on to tell those at the memorial, “I don’t want you guys to be sad.” “Gabby didn’t live that way. That wasn’t her way,” he said. “As a matter of fact, if you knew Gabby she was always a pretty happy girl. People gravitated toward her. Her nature was always to smile and treat everybody kindly.” He went on to speak of her "ridiculous blue eyes" that managed to keep her out of trouble as a child, as he said “Gabby is the most amazing person I’ve ever met.” Gabby's stepfather James Schmidt shared a tearful embrace with Joe at the service, as he began to speak about Gabby. “I spent a good portion of my life working and trying to earn money to provide for our family and our kids, to give them the best life,” Mr Schmidt said. “And Gabby, at 22 years old, helped teach me that you can always make money, but you can’t make up for lost time,” he said. “Gabby loved life and lived her life every single day, every day.” “She is an example for all of us to live by. To enjoy every moment in this beautiful world as she did. Love and give love to all, like she did.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844433/petito-memorial-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/1e3c0f244d084034920492491138d414" /> Image credits: Getty Images The entire wall of the fun real home was decorated with photos of Gabby, with an urn and candles in the centre. The service was open to members of the public, and was also livestreamed from the Holbrook funeral home and many tuned in to pay their respects. Among those in the crows were more than 100 firefighters to support Mr Schmidt, who is also a firefighter. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844434/petito-memorial-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e5bd39b2ebaf4b0bbd3583c53ad0c980" /> Image credit: Getty Images The exact cause of Gabby's death remains unknown, as coroners have ruled her death a homicide. Gabby's fiancé and number one person of interest Brian Laundrie remains on the run after trying to evade <a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/new-witnesses-in-gabby-petito-homicide-as-fbi-issue-warrant" target="_blank">a warrant for his arrest</a> issued by the FBI. Image credits: Getty Images/Holbrook Funeral Home

Family & Pets

New witnesses in Gabby Petito homicide as FBI issue warrant

As the FBI continue their investigation of the high-profile Gabby Petito case, two witnesses from Louisiana have shared valuable information from an incident they witnessed last month. Nina Angelo and her boyfriend Matt England were vacationing in Jackson, Wyoming, when they witnessed a "commotion" between Gabby Petito and her fiancé Brian Laundrie. The travelling couple were leaving The Merry Piglets Tex-Mex restaurant on August 27th, where Nina noticed that Gabby was in tears and seeming distressed. Brian was also visibly angry, going in and out of the restaurant serval times and being aggressive towards the eatery staff. The berated waitress was also visibly shaken by the incident, who told CNN that she did not see any violence or physical altercation between Petito and Laundrie. Gabby was reported missing by her family on September 11th and <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/tragedy-unfolding-body-confirmed-as-missing-woman-gabby-petito" target="_blank">her remains were found</a> in Grand Tetons National Park on September 19th. Following an autopsy report, FBI and the Teton County Coroner ruled Petito’s death as a homicide, however the cause of death is yet to be determined, pending final autopsy results. Brain Laundrie remains the number one person of interest in the case, after he returned to his home in Florida in Gabby's van without her, and is refusing to cooperate with police. After the witnesses in Louisiana have come forward, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/could-it-actually-be-him-brian-laundrie-potentially-spotted-on-the-run" target="_blank">a potential sighting of Brian in a Florida town</a>, the FBI have issues an arrest warrant. According to the arrest documents issued by the FBI, the warrant is “pursuant to a Federal Grand Jury indictment related to Mr. Laundrie’s activities following the death of Gabrielle Petito.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> On September 22, 2021, the U.S. District Court of Wyoming issued a federal arrest warrant for Brian Christopher Laundrie pursuant to a Federal Grand Jury indictment related to Mr. Laundrie’s activities following the death of Gabrielle Petito. <a href="https://t.co/SSrBVbAeBs">pic.twitter.com/SSrBVbAeBs</a> — FBI Denver (@FBIDenver) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDenver/status/1441155529393389568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2021</a></blockquote> “While this warrant allows law enforcement to arrest Mr Laundrie, the FBI and our partner across the country continue to investigate the facts and circumstances of Ms. Petito’s homicide,” FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider said in a statement. Image credits: Instagram @gabspetito

Legal

Gabby Petito's father slam's her fiancé

Gabby Petito's father has appeared on Dr. Phil to urge her fiancé Brian Laundrie to come forward with information on what took place on their road trip. Joseph Petito appeared in the special episode shortly before it was confirmed that his daughter has died by homicide, as he slammed Brian and his family for refusing to cooperate in the investigation over her disappearance. Brian Laundrie has been identified as a person of interest in the case, and has recently disappeared from his home in Florida after refusing to help the police. “We called every [Laundrie] number we could find and no phone calls were picked up, no text messages were returned,” Joseph told Dr. Phil. “You’d think when someone says ‘we’re about to call the police’ to find your missing kid, you’d return a phone call." "I mean, that’s just what logic would dictate for normal people. You don’t get any response, that just makes it more and more concerning.” Mr Petito slammed his daughter's fiancé for leaving Gabby on the road trip alone and driving back to Florida without her. “It’s not even his van!” he said. “You came home without her, you had her van in your driveway for 10 days.” He added, “You think it’s okay to leave a young 22-year-old in the middle of nowhere?” Joseph went on to quote a statement released by the Laundrie family, as he ripped their words apart. After reciting their statement, in which they wrote that it’s “really hard on the Laundrie family and the Petito family,” Mr. Petito says in response, “Well, my child is nowhere to be found and I’m not getting any answers on where to even start." “So don’t sit there and tell me how difficult it is for you because you’ve got reporters on your block.” The statement also claims that the family "want the search to be successful", to which Joseph fired back saying, "Well, I don’t know about you, but if I want something to be successful, I will assist in making it successful. Not sit in the background.” Becoming emotional, Joseph took his opportunity to address Brian directly and tried to appeal to his daughter's fiancé. “If you love this person and she’s your fiancé, you should turn around and lead the damn charge. You should be number one, and I should be number two,” he said. Dr. Phil then asks Joseph what he would say to his daughter if she was listening, and if she was still alive. Mr Petito said, “Gabby, let me come and get you. I will bring you to my home and I will shelter you from all of this crap until you’re ready.” “I don’t care about anything else but my daughter’s wellbeing.” In the days following the interview, FBI officials and the Teton County Coroner ruled Petito’s death as a homicide, however the cause of death is yet to be determined, pending final autopsy results. Watch the full interview below: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t5_m-6VAmLM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Image credit: Dr. Phil / Instagram @gabspetito

News

"Could it actually be him?”: Brian Laundrie potentially spotted on the run

A deer camera in Florida captured footage of a hiker resembling Gabby Petito's missing fiancé Brian Laundrie on Monday. Authorities in Florida say they are "actively" investigating the footage, after a man was seen with a backpack at 6:17am in the town of Baker, Florida, about 800km from Brian's home in North Port. Sam Bass found the suspicious footage from a deer camera on his property and posted an image on Facebook. “I’m not saying this is the guy but whoever was on my trail camera this morning in Baker, Fl strongly fits the description of Brian Laundrie,” Bass wrote on Facebook. “Authorities have been contacted but people in the North West Florida area be on the look out.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844283/brian-cam.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/155fb8ef725e4120a6a37200777dd214" /> Image credit: Facebook - Sam Bass<img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/155fb8ef725e4120a6a37200777dd214" /> Brian Laundrie is the main person of interest in Gabby's disappearance, and was reported missing by his parents on Friday. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, which has jurisdiction over the town of Baker, confirmed that they were looking into the possible sighting. "We are aware and are actively checking it out," sheriff's spokeswoman Michele Nicholson told the New York Post on Tuesday, adding, "At this point, there is no confirmation." Eagle eye social media users have pointed out that the man's backpack hold several similarities to the one pictured in Brian's Instagram stories. “Looks like the guy from Sam Bass’ video in Baker, Florida has the same backpack as Brian Laundrie. Could it actually be him?” wrote one Twitter user. The possible sighting comes just hours before the autopsy report on Gabby Petito's remains confirmed her death as a homicide. The FBI has released a statement, revealing the Teton County Coroner ruled Petito’s death as a homicide, however the cause of death is yet to be determined, pending final autopsy results. Image credits: Instagram @bizarre_design_ / Moab City Police Department

News

Frightening 911 call about Gabby Petito revealed

Details of the 911 call made to police in Utah regarding a domestic dispute between Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie have emerged. The caller told emergency responder that he had seen a man "slapping" a woman in Moab, Utah on August 12th. “We drove by and the gentleman was slapping the girl,” the caller said. The dispatcher responded, “He was slapping her?” “Yes, and then we stopped. They ran up and down the sidewalk, he proceeded to hit her, hopped in the car and they drove off,” the man replied. The caller informed the authorities that the couple has been driving in a white van with Florida license plates. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844242/gabby.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d0cb0d6b418c4031a2e47c0fdfaf26c3" /> Image credit: Moab City Police Department The disturbing phone call seems to contradict the report by the police in which Gabby was depicted as the aggressor in the situation. “The male tried to create distance by telling Gabbie [sic] to go take a walk to calm down, she didn’t want to be separated from the male, and began slapping him,” the report said. “He grabbed her face and pushed her back as she pressed upon him and the van, he tried to lock her out and succeeded except for his driver’s door, she opened that and forced her way over him and into the vehicle before it drove off,” the report continued. A police officer wrote, “it was reported the male had been observed to have assaulted the female,” but later determined that “no one reported that the male struck the female.” Gabby was officially reported missing by her family on September 11th after her fiancé Brian returned home to Florida 10 days earlier without her. The 911 call comes just one day after Gabby's body was found in the Grand Teton National Part in the US state of Wyoming, where authorities has been looking for the missing 22-year-old. The cause of death is yet to be determined, as police investigations are still on going. Image credit: Moab City Police Department

News

Tragedy unfolding: Body confirmed as missing woman Gabby Petito

US police have found a body believed to be missing woman Gabby Petito. The body was found in the Grand Teton National Park in the US state of Wyoming, where police have been looking for the missing 22-year-old. Though the body has not been formally identified yet, FBI Denver spokesman Charles Jones told reporters that the remains matched a description of Ms Petito. “Full forensic identification has not been completed to confirm 100 percent that we found Gabby, but her family has been notified of this discovery,” Mr Jones said. The cause of death is yet to be determined. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844198/petito1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/377638daf8d94f99bbb4df099c0830bb" /> Image: gabspetito / Instagram “First and foremost, on behalf of the FBI personnel and our partners, I would like to extend sincere, sincere, and heartfelt condolences to Gabby’s family,” Mr Jones said. “As every parent can imagine, this is an incredibly difficult time for the family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. We ask that you all respect the privacy as they mourn the loss of their daughter.” Shortly after the press conference, North Port Police confirmed the body belonged to Ms Petito. “Saddened and heartbroken to learn that Gabby has been found deceased,” the tweet read. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Saddened and heartbroken to learn that Gabby has been found deceased. Our focus from the start, along with the FBI, and national partners, has been to bring her home. We will continue to work with the FBI in the search for more answers. — North Port Police (@NorthPortPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/NorthPortPolice/status/1439717263771422720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2021</a></blockquote> “Our focus from the start, along with the FBI, and national partners, has been to bring her home. We will continue to work with the FBI in the search for more answers.” Ms Petito’s father, Joseph Petito, shared an image of his daughter standing in front of a painted pair of wings. “💔 #GABBYPETITO she touched the world,” he captioned the post. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> 💔<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GABBYPETITO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GABBYPETITO</a> she touched the world. <a href="https://t.co/DukH7UCTPo">pic.twitter.com/DukH7UCTPo</a> — joseph petito (@josephpetito) <a href="https://twitter.com/josephpetito/status/1439716307268739072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2021</a></blockquote> Ms Petito went missing in August while on a cross-country trip with her fiancé, 23-year-old Brian Laundrie. Her last known contact with family members occurred on August 25 from the Wyoming national park, and she was reported missing on September 11. Ms Petito’s Instagram page, where she shared updates on her travels with Mr Laundrie in their van, was last active on August 26. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CTA__ISJZYY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CTA__ISJZYY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Gabby (@gabspetito)</a> </div> </blockquote> Mr Laundrie returned home in Ms Petito’s van on September 1 without her, and has refused to help police with the search. Over the weekend, police were searching for Mr Laundrie, after his family later said he was also missing. Mr Laundrie’s family told investigators they last saw him on Tuesday, September 14, when they believed he travelled to a wildlife reserve. More than 50 law enforcement officers ended their second day of searching for Mr Laundrie in a wildlife area near Florida’s Gulf Coast, after identifying him as a person of interest in her disappearance. “It is important to note that while Brian is a person of interest in Gabby’s disappearance, he is not wanted for a crime,” North Port police said in a statement, adding that the investigation is now a “multiple missing person” case. Ms Petito’s van was reportedly seen by travel bloggers Jenn and Kyle Bethune on August 27, captured in footage they posted to their YouTube channel. After driving past the van twice, the Bethunes said the van seemed “abandoned”. Authorities have been poring over tips, including the footage from the Bethunes, and searching large areas of Wyoming and Utah. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844199/petito2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/35d681fbc0364a349bdefda9462897c2" /> Image: FBI FBI agents in Denver tweeted that they are currently focusing on areas in the Grand Teton National Park, including an undeveloped camping ground near Spring Creek. They have urged anyone who was in the area between August 27 and 30 who had seen Ms Petito, Mr Laundrie, or their vehicle, to contact them. Image: gabspetito / Instagram

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Laundrie lookalike ambushed at gunpoint

Gabby Petito's cause of death finally announced

Major breakthrough in search for Brian Laundrie

"I'd turn him in": Brian Laundrie's sister speaks out

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“They were here”: Dog the Bounty Hunter confirms new Laundrie lead

Gabby Petito's dad breaks down during eulogy

New witnesses in Gabby Petito homicide as FBI issue warrant

Gabby Petito's father slam's her fiancé

"Could it actually be him?”: Brian Laundrie potentially spotted on the run

Frightening 911 call about Gabby Petito revealed

Tragedy unfolding: Body confirmed as missing woman Gabby Petito