DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN ON NOVEMBER 3RD SO NEW INFORMATION THAT MAY BE UNCOVERED AFTER NOVEMBER 3RD WILL NOT BE IN THIS ARTICLE.
The Roadtrip of Death
This past month, the disappearance of a 22-year-old woman from New York, Gabby Petito, has taken the internet by storm. The tragedy came during her cross-country road trip with her fiancé, and the top suspect in the case, Brian Laundrie. Petito was last seen in Salt Lake City with Laundrie and was said to be headed to the Grand Tetons National Park in Wyoming. Soon after Petitio’s disappearance, Laundrie went missing or into hiding; there is now a nationwide search ongoing for him.
The Timeline of Events
June 2, 2021 - Petito and Laundrie departed New York for a four-month road trip across the US.
August 12, 2021 - Police in Moab, Utah encounter the couple and are described to be involved in a physical “altercation” caused by an argument. Despite this Officer, Eric Pratt reported that: "both the male and female reported they are in love and engaged to be married and desperately didn't wish to see anyone charged with a crime.”
August 27, 2021 - Petito and Laundrie are seen being involved in a “commotion” in Jackson, Wyoming by a Louisiana couple in a family diner. The couple described that Petito was in tears and Laundrie looked very angry, and was entering and exiting the restaurant multiple times and was expressing his anger towards the staff.
August 30, 2021 - Petito sends her last message to her family which read: “No service in Yosemite.” Her family speculates that the text was not written by Petito herself as it wasn’t how Petito would usually word her messages.
September 1, 2021 - Laundrie returns to their home in North Port, which they shared with Laundrie’s parents.
September 6, 2021 - The Laundrie family heads to a campground that is located around 75 miles away from their North Port home.
September 11, 2021 - Petito’s family reports Petito missing to the Suffolk County, New York police, after not being able to get in contact with her.
September 11, 2021 - Laundrie was pulled over driving Petito’s white van without her inside.
September 19, 2021 - A corpse is found in Bridger-Teton National Forest that match the description of Petito
September 21, 2021 - The body found is confirmed to be of Petito’s by the Teton County coroner
September 23, 2021 - Authorities continue to search for Laundrie and a federal arrest warrant is set for him by the US District Court of Wyoming.
October 12, 2021 - After further forensic investigation, Petitos cause of death is determined to be strangulation.
Laundrie Missing!
Shortly after Petito was reported missing, Laundrie lawyered up and refused to speak to anybody. But things took a turn on the 18th of September when Laundrie was reported missing or in hiding. This came after Laundrie was named a person of interest by the FBI in the case which does not make him a suspect but rather a person that would hold information that could help solve the case.
UPDATED NEWS FROM OCTOBER 21 2020: A body was found in T Mabry Carlton Jr Memorial Reserve and Myakkahatchee Creed Environmental Park which was confirmed to be Brian Laundrie's through comparison of dental records. Some reports suggest the cause of death is suicide but nothing has been confirmed yet with the cause of death coming back as inconclusive from the official autopsy report but some people suggest an attempted suicide or an attack by a wild animal such as an alligator that lived in the reserve that Brian's body was found in.
The investigation is still ongoing and there is more and more information being uncovered every day regarding this case. But as it stands, there are 2 bodies, one road trip, and no clear explanation. The writers from Panther Nation send our condolences to the family and friends of the victims hope that justice is served for whoever is responsible for this tragedy.
Work Cited
Maxouris, Christina. “Drone Footage Shows Immense Scale of Search Area in Brian Laundrie Hunt.” CNN, 16 Sept. 2021, edition.cnn.com/2021/09/16/us/gabby-petito-timeline-missing-case/index.html. Accessed 3 Nov. 2021.
BBC News. “Brian Laundrie: Remains of Gabby Petito’s Fiancé Found - FBI.” BBC News, BBC News, 22 Oct. 2021, www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59004831. Accessed 3 Nov. 2021.
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