Remains found near Grand Teton confirmed to be Gabby Petito

Gabby Petito, 22, left Blue Point, New York, on a cross-country trip with her boyfriend of two years on July 2. The FBI confirmed Tuesday that it was Petit's remains that were found Sunday in Teton County, Wyoming.

Gabby Petito, 22, left Blue Point, New York, on a cross-country trip with her boyfriend of two years on July 2. The FBI confirmed Tuesday that it was Petit's remains that were found Sunday in Teton County, Wyoming. (Suffolk County Police Department)


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SALT LAKE CITY — The remains found Sunday in Teton County, Wyoming belong to Gabby Petito, who was reported missing on a cross-country road trip with her boyfriend, the FBI confirmed.

The coroner's initial determination is that she died of homicide, but the cause of death remains unknown pending final autopsy results, the agency said in a statement.

FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider said investigators "remain dedicated to ensuring anyone responsible for or complicit in Ms. Petito's death is held accountable for their actions. Mr. Brian Laundrie has been named a person of interest."

The FBI asked anyone with information about Laundrie's possible role in Petito's death or knowledge of his whereabouts to contact the agency.

Police continued their search Tuesday for 23-year-old Laundrie in the Carlton Reserve, a 25,000-acre nature reserve in Florida, where his parents reported him missing late last week.

Northport, Florida, spokesman Joshua Taylor sent an email to media Tuesday night refuting reports that Laundrie had been located. "We have received a significant amount of requests tonight regarding a possible capture of Brian Landrie," Taylor wrote. "These reports are unfortunately false. Please rest assured that when Brian is found, we will be more than happy to let everyone know."

FBI agents also searched Laundrie's home Monday after securing a court-authorized warrant the morning after searchers found his fiance's body in Wyoming.

Petito, 22, was seen traveling through Utah and Wyoming in her van with Laundrie prior to her disappearance. Petito and Laundrie left from Blue Point, New York, in early July and were in Utah from Aug. 12 to 24 before they drove north to Grand Teton National Park, where Petito was last seen.

While the engaged couple was in Utah on Aug. 12, Moab police were called by a person who witnessed an argument between them. No charges were filed in that case, and officers separated them for the night, sending Laundrie to a hotel as Petito left in her van.

Melissa Hulls, the visitor and resource protection supervisor at Arches National Park, responded to the call and spoke to Petito. On Monday, Hulls said the relationship seemed "toxic."

"I was imploring with her to reevaluate the relationship, asking her if she was happy in the relationship with him, and basically saying this was an opportunity for her to find another path, to make a change in her life," she told the Deseret News.

Laundrie returned home to Florida alone in Petito's van on Sept. 1 and Petito was then reported missing Sept. 11, after her family hadn't heard from her since late August, according to police. Laundrie has, so far, refused to say anything about Petito's whereabouts, with statements coming only from the Laundrie's attorney.

Investigators announced Laundrie's disappearance on Sept. 17 after his family attorney called the FBI and said they had not seen him since Tuesday.

Contributing: Garna Mejia

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Ashley Imlay is an evening news manager for KSL.com. A lifelong Utahn, Ashley has also worked as a reporter for the Deseret News and is a graduate of Dixie State University.

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