Gabrielle Petito Case

Gabrielle Petito

Gabrielle “Gabby” Venora Petito was born in Blue Point, New York, on March 19, 1999, to Nicole Schmidt and Joseph Petito. She was the oldest of six siblings. 

Gabby attended Bayport-Blue Point High School in Bayport, New York, graduating in 2017. where she met Brian Christopher Laundrie.

After high school, Gabby moved to Carolina Beach, North Carolina, in September 2017. There, she worked as a hostess and in the kitchen of a restaurant in nearby Wilmington. She expressed an interest in furthering her education and applied to Cape Fear Community College, though she did not attend.

Gabby was Known for her adventurous spirit and passion for exploring, Gabby’s life would later become a symbol for those seeking answers about domestic violence and missing persons.

Gabrielle Petito

Gabby Petito Timeline

March 19, 1999 – August 2021

1999

  • March 19: Gabrielle Venora Petito is born in Blue Point, New York, to Nicole Schmidt and Joseph Petito.

2013

  • Gabby and her stepbrothers appear in a music video promoting gun violence awareness after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

2017

  • June: Gabby graduates from Bayport-Blue Point High School in Bayport, New York. During high school, she meets Brian Christopher Laundrie, and the two begin dating.

2019

  • Gabby and Brian move in together with his parents in North Port, Florida, following a period where Gabby lived in North Carolina.
  • They later become engaged but decide to delay marriage and focus on traveling and adventures instead.

2020

  • Gabby and Brian embark on a series of trips together, frequently sharing their experiences on social media.

July, 2021

Trip

July 2, 2021 Cross-country road trip

Gabby was passionate about travel and adventure, frequently documenting her trips and experiences on social media. Her Instagram posts often highlighted her love for nature, road trips, and discovering new places.

In July 2021, Gabby and Brian set out on a cross-country road trip in a converted van, planning to visit national parks and share their experiences through their social media accounts.

Gabrielle Petito

Gabby Petito Travel, Disappearance and Death Timeline

March 19, 1999 – August 2021

2021

  • July 2: Gabby and Brian set off on a cross-country road trip in a white 2012 Ford Transit van, documenting their journey under the hashtag #VanLife.
  • August 12: Police in Moab, Utah, respond to a call regarding a domestic dispute between Gabby and Brian. The incident, which is captured on body camera footage, shows a visibly distressed Gabby. No charges are filed, and the couple is separated for the night.
  • August 24: Gabby is seen leaving a hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah, with Brian.
  • August 25: Gabby speaks with her mother, Nicole Schmidt, for the last time via video call. She tells her mother that they are in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.
  • August 27: Witnesses report seeing Gabby and Brian involved in an altercation at a restaurant in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
  • August 30: Gabby’s mother receives a final text message from Gabby’s phone. It reads, “No service in Yosemite,” but Gabby’s mother believes the message was not sent by Gabby.

September 2021

  • September 1: Brian Laundrie returns alone to his parents’ home in North Port, Florida, driving Gabby’s van.
  • September 11: Gabby is officially reported missing by her family after ten days of no contact. This marks the beginning of a nationwide search.
  • September 14: BL Left his parents house after Brian’s family releases a statement through their lawyer, claiming that Brian is not speaking to authorities on the advice of counsel.

September 14, 2021

Re: Miss Petito

Statement from counsel for the Laundrie family:

“This is understandably an extremely difficult time for both the Petito family and the Laundrie family.

It is our understanding that a search has been organized for Miss Petito in or near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. On behalf of the Laundrie family it is our hope that the search for Miss Petito is successful and that Miss Petito is re-united with her family.

On the advice of counsel the Laundrie family is remaining in the background at this juncture and will have no further comment.”

  • September 17: Brian’s parents report him missing, stating they last saw him on September 13. A search for Brian in the Carlton Reserve in Florida begins.
  • September 19: Human remains matching Gabby’s description are found at the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area in Bridger-Teton National Forest, Wyoming.
  • September 21: The Teton County Coroner confirms the remains are those of Gabby Petito. Her death is ruled a homicide.

October 2021

  • October 12: The Teton County Coroner announces that Gabby died by manual strangulation, likely 3-4 weeks before her body was found.
  • October 20: Brian Laundrie’s remains are discovered in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in Florida, along with personal items, including a notebook.
  • October 21: The FBI confirms the remains are Brian Laundrie’s, based on dental records.

November 2021

  • November 23: The FBI announces that Brian Laundrie’s cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A notebook found near his remains includes a written confession to Gabby’s murder.

Post-2021

  • Gabby’s family establishes the Gabby Petito Foundation to support organizations helping victims of domestic violence and missing persons. Her story becomes a catalyst for increased awareness and advocacy on these issues.


Investigation Files

Investigation into the disappearance of Gabby Petito was opened on September 12, 2021.
On September 19, 2021, the search team located the remains of Ms. Petito at the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area near where she and Brian Laundrie had been seen together. Ms. Petito was found approximately three weeks after her last known communication. The Teton County Coroner’s Office subsequently concluded Ms. Petito died of “blunt-force injuries to the head and neck, with manual strangulation.” While law enforcement investigated all logical leads, the investigation quickly focused on the last person believed to see her alive—Mr. Laundrie.

Gabrielle Petito

Timeline of the Investigation:

On September 11, after not hearing from Gabby since late August, Petito’s mother Nicole filed a missing person report.
Gabby Petito’s mother Nichole said that she last spoke to her daughter on August 25 and had been told that the couple were traveling from Utah to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. On August 25, the final post was made on Petito’s Instagram account, which consisted of photos of herself taken in front of a butterfly mural outside a restaurant in Ogden, Utah

  • August 29, 2021, Brian contacted his mother to seemingly discuss the van trip. Towards the end of the call, he sounded upset, which his mother then relayed to her husband, and she recommended that he call their son. Brian’s father then called him and during that call Brian advised that “Gabby is gone” and he needed a lawyer. Brian provided no additional details at that time, despite questioning by his father.
  • The FBI investigation revealed that, between August 30 and September 1, 2021, Mr. Laundrie had used Ms. Petito’s debit card without authorization on his drive back to Florida from Wyoming. 
  • September 1, 2021, Brian arrived at his parents’ house in North Port, Florida, driving the van he and Ms. Petito used on the cross-country trip.
  • After Ms. Petito’s death, there were several text messages identified between Mr. Laundrie’s telephone and Ms. Petito’s telephone. The timing and content of these messages are indicative of Mr. Laundrie attempting to deceive law enforcement by giving the impression that Ms. Petito was still alive. 
  • On September 15, 2021, Mr. Laundrie’s Ford Mustang was recovered from the T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve and Myakkahatchee Creek Park in North Port, Florida.  
  • On September 17, 2021, Mr. Laundrie’s parents reported him missing shortly after law enforcement conducted a welfare check at their residence. 
  • On September 18, 2021, law enforcement officials commenced an extensive search of the park where Mr. Laundrie’s vehicle was parked and did not locate Mr. Laundrie. The area where Mr. Laundrie’s remains were later found was part of this search area, but the area was submerged due to recent flooding at the time of this initial search. 
  • On September 22, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming issued a federal arrest warrant for Mr. Laundrie. The warrant was issued pursuant to a Federal Grand Jury indictment for violation of federal statute 18 U.S.C. § 1029(a)(1): “Use of Unauthorized Access Devices” related to Mr. Laundrie’s activities following the death of Ms. Petito. 
  • On October 7, 2021, after law enforcement made a request through Laundrie family attorney Steven Bertolino, the Laundries provided personal effects to law enforcement which were to be used to assist in the search of the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. 
  • On October 20, 2021, after water had receded from the area and the park was reopened, Mr. Bertolino notified law enforcement that Mr. Laundrie’s parents intended to return to the park to search for Mr. Laundrie. Law enforcement officers were present when Mr. Laundrie’s parents located an item in the park later determined to belong to Mr. Laundrie. 
  • Upon further search of the area, investigators found human remains later confirmed to be Mr. Laundrie, along with a backpack, notebook, and a revolver. A review of the notebook revealed written statements by Mr. Laundrie claiming responsibility for Ms. Petito’s death. 
  • On November 23, 2021, the District 12 Medical Examiner’s Office in Sarasota, Florida, released its report on the manner and cause of death of Mr. Laundrie. The report concluded Mr. Laundrie died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.