*UPDATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON
A body has been discovered in Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area in Grand Teton National Park. The remains have not been identified as Gabby Petito, but the FBI says they match her description. They have notified Ms. Petito’s parents.
We will update this as more details emerge.
*UPDATE SATURDAY EVENING
Police searched the 24,000-acre Carlton Reserve in the Sarasota, Florida area of the Gulf Coast on Saturday for Brian Laundrie. The search concluded after dark but will continue again Sunday morning. Across the country, the FBI hunted for clues about Gabby Petito in and around Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. North Port, Florida police are now treating the investigation as a “multiple missing person” case.
Attorneys for the Petito family released a statement earlier saying that Brian is not missing, he is hiding.
See video below — police bodycam footage of Gabby and Brian after a fight they had near Moab, Utah.
The FBI and multiple law enforcement agencies are searching for 22-year old Gabby Petito, who was last heard from near Grand Teton National Park at the end of August. She had spent the last couple of months traveling the country with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, in their converted van, a white 2012 Ford Transit with Florida plates. They had documented most of their journey through their Instagram and YouTube accounts.
Brian Laundrie returned to their Florida home in their van on September 1st, 10 days before Petito’s family reported her missing. Laundrie has not cooperated with police, and is now considered a person of interest.
The van has since been acquired by investigators and is under inspection for any clues.
As of late Friday night at the time of this writing, Laundrie has been missing from his Florida home since Tuesday.
Gabby and Brian’s van was spotted at the Jenny Lake parking area in Grand Teton National Park on August 25th. This is the last known location of Gabby. Gabby was supposed to meet a friend in Yellowstone on August 29th, but never called or showed up.
A text message from Gabby’s phone to her mother on August 30th read, “No service in Yosemite,” even though that was 800 miles or so from where the couple said they’d be. She (if that actually was her) has not been heard from since.
True crime aficionados are scouring Gabby and Brian’s social media outlets, including Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Spotify accounts to gather any clues. Gabby’s accounts have been restricted, while Brian’s accounts are still active and allowing comments. His most recent post, a photo of him in Moab, UT, from August 13th has nearly 40,000 comments, and counting. Most read, “Where is she, Brian??” and, “Do the right thing. Bring her home.”
Gabby Petito is white, 5-foot-5, about 110 pounds, and has blonde hair and blue eyes. She has several tattoos: one on her right forearm that reads “let it be,” flowers in a triangle on her left arm, and one on her finger.
The Investigative Services Branch of the National Park Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Teton County Sheriff’s Office and Jackson Police Department are all asking for any reports of sightings. Anyone with possible information on Gabby Petito’s whereabouts is encouraged to call the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324).
Grand Teton National Park is also asking that visitors to the park between August 24-30 look through their photos and see if Gabby, Brian or their van appear in any of the backgrounds.
Gabby’s family is using the Facebook page “Find Gabby” to update the public with any info. You can donate to their GoFundMe to help aid in the search for Gabby.
BELOW: Police bodycam footage near Moab, Utah.
I think Police who pulled them over did a fine job, this is a tragic story, I sure wish if Brian knows anything to find her, he would go to Police and tell them. Please get Gabby home.
Well, if he left Grand Tetons on Aug 26, that is long travel days to Florida in 6 Days. If she was in Yosemite on Aug 30, and he was with her, that would have been almost impossible to get to Florida in 2 days.
It’s a 35 hour drive straight. Obviously you need to stop for gas every 300 miles. 10 stops, just for fun say 20mins each. Add 4 hours just for fun. 39 hours of driving in 2 days is still possible. I’ve driven from New York to Texas in a little over a day just stopping for gas and bathroom. Approximately 2,400 plus miles from Yellowstone, a little less from Grand Tetons. Still completely doable.