Topline
Gabby Petito, 22, disappeared last week. There has been intense speculation and media scrutiny. Here are the facts.
The Moab Police Department's video of Gabrielle Gabby Petito [+] speaking to a cop after pulling over her van, which she was travelling in, near Arches National Park's entrance on August 12, 2021. (The Moab Police Department via AP). ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Key Facts
Petito was reported missing in September 1110 days, after her fiance, Brian Laundrie (23 years old), returned to Florida alone from a four-month cross-country trip that Petito and Laundrie had started from New York City on July 2. They were documenting the journey on YouTube and Instagram with thousands of followers. Police in Moab, Utah responded to a domestic dispute between the couple on August 12. However, no charges were filed. In his report, Officer Daniel Robbins stated that Petito appeared to be in extreme distress and could not "compose an sentence without having to wipe away tears" as he spoke to her. Petito claimed she was experiencing a mental illness. The police recommended that the couple spend the night apart. However, it is not clear what exactly happened. Petito and the couple uploaded a YouTube video on Aug 19, and Petito last spoke to her mother on Aug 24, when she told her that they were heading to Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. Her last Instagram post was on August 25th, and she has not been seen on Instagram since.
What we don't know
It's not only unclear what happened to Petito but it is also now unclear where Laundrie is. His family reported him missing in Florida on Friday. They said he hadn't been seen since Tuesday. Authorities are currently searching for Laundrie at a nature reserve 13 miles from his family's home. Petito's location and the reason he went on his solo trip to Mexico have not been publicly discussed by Laundrie. In her disappearance, he has been identified as a "person-of interest". Petito's family attorney insists that he is hiding.
Surprising Fact
Petito's family received texts between August 25-August 30, but her family denies that she sent the messages.
Important Background
Petito and Laundrie were childhood sweethearts. They grew up in Suffolk County, Long Island, east side of New York City. In 2019, Petito moved to Florida to live with Laundrie. Petito posted an Instagram photo in which she was holding what appeared to be a crochet pumpkin and wrote: Happy Halloween! Petito and Laundrie had a large following on Instagram and had created a YouTube channel, "Nomadic Statik", for their trip. The channel only posted one video, an eight-minute montage from Petito and Laundrie's travels. It was uploaded on August 19. The video shows Petito and Laundrie kissing and smiling.
Additional viewing
Continue reading
Gabby Petito's family lawyer says that fianc Brian Laundrie is not missing. He is hiding (CNN).
Timeline of the Search For Gabrielle Petito (The New York Times).
