Investigators reported that they discovered a body in Bridger-Teton National Forest on Sunday. They believe it to be Gabrielle Petito (22-year-old #vanlife blogger who disappeared while she was on a cross-country roadtrip)
According to BuzzFeed News, a deputy coroner was dispatched to the scene Sunday afternoon. Charles Jones, FBI's chief of operations, stated that while it was impossible to confirm 100% the discovery until a full forensic analysis is completed, the body was consistent with Petito's descriptions.
On Sunday, the North Port Police Department of Florida said that they were "saddened" and "heartbroken" to hear that Gabby had been declared dead by the FBI. "Bringing her home has been our focus since the beginning, together with the FBI and national partners. They said that they will continue to collaborate with the FBI in their search for more answers.
Petito was reported missing on Sept. 11, and last seen in Wyoming's national forest, Grand Teton National Park. According to her family, they last spoke with Petito in August's final week.
Brian Laundrie, Petito's fianc, returned to North Port without her on Sept. 1 driving her van that she had driven across the country. They had vlogged their journey to hundreds of thousands of people on social media. According to the New York Suffolk County Police Department, Petito's family is located in New York, Laundrie did not attempt to contact them to find his fiance. Police officially identified Laundrie as a person in interest last week.
His whereabouts were not known as of Friday. North Port police released a statement via Twitter that "the family now claims they haven't seen Brian since Tuesday this week."
