Body found near Grand Teton confirmed to be Gabby Petito, death declared homicide

Authorities have confirmed that the body found this weekend near Grand Teton National Park belonged to Gabby Petito, the 22-year-old woman who went missing on a trip across the country with her boyfriend, the coroner said. from Teton County in a statement.

The initial determination is that she died by homicide, but the cause of death is pending final autopsy results, Teton County Coroner Dr Brent Blue said.

Authorities said a body “as described” Petito was discovered Sunday in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming. At the time, a full forensic identification had not been made and the cause of death was undetermined.

Petito’s parents reported his disappearance on September 11 after not speaking to him for two weeks. Her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, was named a person of interest by police last week.

Petito, from New York, had left Florida with Laundrie in a van in July for their trip, which they documented on social media.

On August 12, Moab, Utah, police responded to an “incident” involving the couple, but “there was insufficient evidence to support criminal charges,” Moab Police Department chief Bret said. Edge, in a statement last week.

Petito was last seen leaving a Utah hotel with Laundrie on August 24. The next day, she spoke to her mother, Nichole Schmidt, informing her that their next stops would be Grand Teton and Yellowstone, Schmidt told ABC News, and this was the last time Schmidt spoke to her.

On Friday it was announced that the whereabouts of Laundrie were unknown. His family told police they last saw him last Tuesday. They said he had a backpack and told them he was heading to the Carlton Reservation north of Laundrie’s home in North Port, Fla. Where he had been on hikes before.

FBI Denver Special Agent Michael Schneider said in a statement that Laundrie had been named a Person of Interest.

“The FBI and our partners remain committed to ensuring that anyone responsible for or complicit in Ms. Petito’s death is held accountable for their actions,” he said in a statement.

This is a developing story. Please check for updates.