Eleven days into the seek for lacking journey blogger Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito, authorities reported Tuesday that human stays recovered two days prior at a nationwide park in Wyoming had been positively identified as Petito and that she had died because of murder.
Petito had been touring together with her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, in a white van, and the 2 had been documenting their cross-country highway journey on a YouTube channel and on Instagram.
“There may be nothing else that issues to me,” mentioned Petito’s father, Joe Petito, during a press conference on Thursday. “This woman is what issues, anything involves second to this.”
Police named Laundrie an individual of curiosity final week, although federal and state authorities proceed to work to piece collectively proof from the final three months.
Here is a timeline of occasions within the ongoing case:
June 2021
Petito and Laundrie left Laundrie’s household house in North Port, Florida, the place the 2 had been residing along with Laundrie’s mother and father for over a yr. North Port Police Chief Todd Garrison mentioned the couple had deliberate on touring west in Petito’s van to go to state and nationwide parks.
July 2021
The couple traveled by Colorado and into Utah.
Petito posted on Instagram on July 10 that they had been at Nice Sand Dunes Nationwide Park and Protect in Duncan, Colorado. Just a little over two weeks later, Petito posted a photograph from Mystic Scorching Springs in Monroe, Utah.
Aug. 12
Police in Moab, Utah, reported responding to an “incident” that concerned a home dispute between Petito and Laundrie.
The Grand County, Utah, Sheriff’s Workplace launched a 911 recording wherein a caller claimed he witnessed Laundrie allegedly “slapping” Petito and chasing her up and down a sidewalk in Moab, hitting her.
Within the recording of the 911 name, the caller, whose identify was not launched, claimed he noticed the obvious home dispute unfold on Essential Avenue in Moab between a younger couple driving a white van with Florida license plates.
“We drove by and the gentleman was slapping the woman,” the caller instructed a 911 dispatcher. “After which we stopped. They ran up and down the sidewalk. He proceeded to hit her, hopped within the automotive, and drove off.”
Moab Police Division Chief Bret Edge mentioned his officers responded to the incident, situated the van and pulled the couple over. Moab police launched body-camera footage of the visitors cease and wrote in a report that the couple, recognized as Laundrie and Petito, admitted to arguing and that Petito had slapped Laundrie.
The couple additionally acknowledged to police that Laundrie didn’t hit Petito, in response to the report.
After talking to Petito and Laundrie individually, the police allowed the couple to proceed on their approach. Edge mentioned, “Inadequate proof existed to justify prison prices.”
Aug. 19
Petito and Laundrie’s YouTube channel, “Nomadic Statik,” uploaded its first video titled “VAN LIFE: Starting Our Van Life Journey.” Within the video, Petito blogs concerning the couple’s adventures whereas residing of their white van and the 2 are seen as very affectionate on digicam.
Aug. 24
Petito was noticed testing of a lodge in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah, police mentioned. That was the final time Petito was reportedly seen alive.
Aug. 25
Petito’s mom, Nicole Schmidt, mentioned she final spoke to her daughter on Aug. 25 and mentioned Petito instructed her that she and Laundrie had been leaving Utah and headed to Grand Teton and Yellowstone nationwide parks in Wyoming.
“She sounded good and excited to proceed her journey and excited to start out her YouTube channel,” Schmidt instructed ABC Information in tears. “She appeared OK.”
Petito, whose household mentioned maintained common contact, “abruptly stopped” communication towards the tip of August, in response to police.
Schmidt mentioned she obtained two textual content messages from Petito’s cellphone since Aug. 25, however there have been no photographs or particulars from the journey, so it’s unclear whether or not Petito really despatched these messages.
The final {photograph} uploaded to Petito’s Instagram was posted on Aug. 25, and not using a geotagged location.
Aug. 27 – 30
Federal and state authorities mentioned that investigators believe Petito disappeared close to the Unfold Creek Dispersed Tenting space in Bridger-Teton Nationwide Forest in Wyoming.
The Denver FBI asked the public for assist by way of Twitter.
“The FBI seeks help from anybody who utilized the Unfold Creek Dispersed Tenting Space between the dates of August 27-30, 2021 who might have had contact with Gabrielle ‘Gabby’ Petito or her boyfriend, or who might have seen their car,” mentioned the discharge.
Aug. 29
Potential witness Miranda Baker claimed in a TikTok put up that she and her boyfriend gave Laundrie a trip in Grand Teton Nationwide Park on Aug. 29.
Police in Florida confirmed to ABC Information that they’ve spoken to Baker, however federal authorities have but to substantiate her assertion.
Baker claimed Laundrie instructed her and her boyfriend that he had been tenting alone for days whereas Petito labored on their social media web page from their van.
In an interview with ABC Information, Baker mentioned that when she instructed Laundrie that they had been headed to Jackson, “He received out and he was grateful and he was sort of in a rush. So he mentioned he was going to go throughout the road into the parking zone and discover another person to present him a trip. However after we look again 10 or 15 seconds after he received out of the car, he was gone.”
Sept. 1
Police mentioned that Laundrie returned by himself to Florida in Petito’s white van.
“Two individuals went on a visit, one particular person returned, and that particular person is not cooperating,” Garrison mentioned throughout a press convention.
Sept. 11
Petito was reported lacking by her household to the Suffolk County Police Division in New York.
The household, who lives in Lengthy Island, New York, mentioned within the report that Petito had stopped speaking together with her family and friends and that she was believed to be close to Grand Teton Nationwide Park in Wyoming.
“Day by day the seek for Gabby continues the Schmidt and Petito household turns into extra determined,” in response to an announcement launched by the Petito household’s lawyer, Richard Stafford. “They’re frantically looking for solutions and knowledge of their daughter’s disappearance whereas Brian sits within the consolation of his house.”
Sept. 14
Laundrie and his household launched an announcement that he will remain silent underneath the recommendation of his counsel.
“That is understandably a particularly tough time for each the Petito household and the Laundrie household. It’s our understanding {that a} search has been organized for Miss Petito in or close to Grand Teton Nationwide Park in Wyoming. On behalf of the Laundrie household it’s our hope that the seek for Miss Petito is profitable and that Miss Petito is reunited together with her household. On the recommendation of counsel the Laundrie household is remaining within the background at this juncture and can have no additional remark,” Laundrie’s lawyer mentioned in an announcement.
Sept. 15
The North Port Police named Laundrie a “particular person of curiosity.”
“As of now, Brian has not made himself accessible to be interviewed by investigators or has supplied any useful particulars,” the police report states.
The Laundrie household lawyer, Steven Bertolino, mentioned he suggested Laundrie to not converse with regulation enforcement.
Bertolino mentioned that in his expertise, intimate companions are sometimes the primary particular person suspected in a case like this and “The warning that ‘any assertion made might be used in opposition to you’ is true.”
Sept. 16
The Petito household launched a letter to the Laundrie household pleading for his or her cooperation.
“We perceive you’re going by a tough time and your intuition to guard your son is powerful,” the letter acknowledged. “We ask you to place yourselves in our footwear. We’ve not been capable of sleep or eat and our lives are falling aside.”
“Please, should you or your loved ones has any decency left, please inform us the place Gabby is situated. Inform us if we’re even wanting in the correct place,” the letter continued. “All we would like is Gabby to return house. Please assist us make that occur.”
In an unique interview with ABC Information, Laundrie’s sister, Cassie Laundrie, mentioned that she hopes Petito returns house safely.
“Clearly, me and my household need Gabby to be discovered protected,” she instructed Good Morning America. “She’s like a sister and my kids love her and all I need is for her to return house protected and sound and this to be only a huge misunderstanding.”
Sept. 17
Laundrie was reported lacking by his household. Based on each the lawyer for the household and the North Port Police Division, Laundrie’s household mentioned they hadn’t seen him in days.
His household instructed police they final noticed the 23-year-old on Sept. 14, when he left with a backpack and instructed them he was going to the Carlton Reserve close to their house in North Port, Florida.
Bertolino mentioned that night time that Laundrie’s whereabouts “are presently unknown.”
“All of Gabby’s household need the world to know that Brian shouldn’t be lacking, he’s hiding. Gabby is lacking,” the Petito household’s lawyer responded in an announcement.
Authorities had been investigating a double murder round Moab, Utah, close to the place Petito disappeared, however decided this was not related to the Petito case, in response to the Grand County Sheriff’s Division.
Sept. 18
Greater than 50 cops accompanied by FBI brokers, drones, Okay-9 and bloodhounds started to search for Laundrie in over 25,000 acres of a nature protect, regulation enforcement mentioned.
North Port police spokesperson Josh Taylor mentioned at a information convention {that a} tip from the household drove regulation enforcement to the Carlton Reserve.
“Our objective is to find him and convey him to North Port,” Taylor mentioned.
Based on Taylor, the Carlton Reserve is an space the place Laundrie often goes for hikes. He mentioned that Laundrie’s information of the realm paired together with his “residing off the grid” abilities may allow him to “be out right here for months if [he] needed.”
Sept. 19
The Teton County coroner introduced {that a} body was recovered within the Bridger-Teton Nationwide Park. The FBI launched an announcement that mentioned that the human stays discovered had been “in step with the outline” of Petito, however a full forensic ID has not but been accomplished.
The reason for loss of life has not been decided.
Petito’s mother and father had been notified of the invention and have since declined any media requests at the moment, in response to their lawyer.
Investigators are still searching for Laundrie, who was final seen in Florida.
Sept. 21
The Teton County Coroner’s Workplace confirmed that the body found on Sunday was Petito’s and that an preliminary dedication confirmed she had died attributable to murder.
The reason for loss of life is pending remaining post-mortem outcomes, Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue mentioned.
“The FBI and our companions stay devoted to making sure anybody accountable for or complicit in Ms. Petito’s loss of life is held accountable for his or her actions,” FBI Denver Particular Agent in Cost Michael Schneider mentioned in an announcement.
In Florida, authorities continued their seek for Laundrie with out success. The North Port Police Division said the day’s search discovered “nothing of word.”
Sept. 22
The U.S. District Courtroom of Wyoming issued an arrest warrant for Laundrie following a federal grand jury indictment.
The warrant is “associated to Mr. Laundrie’s actions following the loss of life of Gabrielle Petito,” FBI Denver mentioned.
The indictment alleges Laundrie “knowingly and with intent to defraud” used an unauthorized debit card and “obtained issues of worth aggregating to $1,000 or extra” between Aug. 30 and Sept. 1.
The investigation into Petito’s loss of life is ongoing, authorities mentioned.
“We urge people with information of Mr. Laundrie’s function on this matter or his present whereabouts to contact the FBI,” Schneider mentioned in an announcement.
