| Killing of Gabby Petito | |
|---|---|
| Location | Bridger–Teton National Forest, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Date |
|
| Target | Gabby Petito |
Attack type | Homicide by blunt trauma and strangulation Murder-suicide |
| Weapon | Hands |
| Deaths | 2 (including the Perpetrator) |
| Victim | Gabby Petito |
| Perpetrator | Brian Laundrie |
| Motive | Unknown |
In August 2021, 22-year-old American vlogger, Gabrielle "Gabby" Venora Petito was killed by her fiancé Brian Christopher Laundrie, while they were traveling together across the United States. The trip was planned to last for four months and began on July 2, 2021, but Petito disappeared on August 27.
After Petito's disappearance, Laundrie became a suspect when he drove the van from Wyoming back to his parents' Florida home and did not want to talk with the police or press. He left his home on September 13 and was reported missing four days later.
On September 19, Petito's remains were found in Wyoming's Bridger–Teton National Forest. An autopsy found that she was killed by blunt-force injuries to her head and neck and manual strangulation.
After a month of going missing, Laundrie's skeletal remains were found in Florida's Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park on October 20.
Petito was traveling across the United States with her fiancé. Her family lost contact with her in late August when she was in or near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, was also missing and wanted by law enforcement for questioning in her disappearance and death.
On September 19, 2021, authorities said they found a body that matched Petito's. It was discovered in Bridger–Teton National Forest, Wyoming. Two days later it was confirmed that the remains were Petito's and, based on reports from an autopsy, it was reported that her cause of death was homicide. In October, her death was determined to have occurred three to four weeks before her body was found with the cause being homicide by strangulation.
Police officials searched for Petito's ex-fiance, Brian Laundrie, who went missing beginning on September 14. He was the main suspect in her death. On September 22, the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a warrant for Laundrie's arrest on charges of debit card fraud.
On October 20, Laundrie's remains and some of his belongings were found at a park in North Port, Florida, which had recently been underwater due to flooding.