MOOSE, Wyo. — A body discovered in northern Wyoming is believed to be that of missing 22-year-old Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito, the FBI announced on Sunday.
Petito disappeared while on a cross-country trip with her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, who is now been identified as a person of interest in the case. Laundrie’s current whereabouts are unknown but he was last seen Tuesday by family members in Florida.
Petito’s body was found Sunday by law enforcement, who spent the weekend searching campsites around the border of Grand Teton National Park.
“Full forensic identification has not been completed to confirm 100% that we found Gabby, but her family has been notified,” FBI Supervisory Special Agent Charles Jones said. “This is an incredibly difficult time for (Petito’s) family and friends.”
A cause of death has not been determined but an autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday. Details about where and how the body was found were not released to the public.
Both Petito and Laundrie were on a cross-country vacation in a van to visit national parks across the west coast. Police said Laundrie drove the van back to Florida on September 1 but was alone. Video released by the Moab Police Department in Utah shows the van being pulled over on August 12 for speeding and hitting a curb near the entrance to Arches National Park.
Petito’s family filed a missing person report on September 11 after not hearing from the 22-year-old YouTuber for two weeks. Petito’s family begged the Laundrie family to tell them where she was last seen but they claim to not know. Petito and Laundrie were childhood sweethearts, meeting in New York before his parents later moved to North Port.
Over 50 law enforcement officers searched for Laundrie at the Carlton Reserve in Sarasota County, Florida. Laundrie is not wanted for a crime but his family said he left their home Tuesday with a bag and said he was going to the reserve.
This story will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
