22-year-old Gabby Petito and her boyfriend Brian Laundrie went on a cross-country trip, Laundrie returned without her and police are still investigating.
AUGUST
In June 2021 Petito and Laundrie went on a cross-country road trip to visit the states and national parks in the western states. “She maintained regular contact with her family members during her travels; however, that communication abruptly stopped around the end of August,” North Port Todd Garrison police chief adds. On August 12 a police officer had an encounter with the couple. They were arguing and then were seen getting into a physical fight, but after the fight, the couple said they were “in love” and didn’t want anyone to be charged with a crime. The couple separated for the night and no charges were filed. A 911 call from that same day said they wanted to report a domestic violence dispute. As they were driving by, the caller said a man was hitting a girl. “The gentleman was slapping the girl. Then we stopped,” the caller added. “They ran up and down the sidewalk. He proceeded to hit her, hopped in the car and they drove off.” On August 17 Laundrie flew from Salt Lake to Tampa, Florida. “Flew home to obtain some items and empty and close the storage unit to save money as they contemplated extending the road trip,” Bertolino told CNN. On the 23 he flew back to rejoin Petito. On August 27 a Louisiana couple on vacation in Jackson, Wyoming reported seeing Petito and Laundrie involved in “commotion.” “Nina Angelo, who was at the restaurant with her boyfriend, said Petito was in tears and Laundrie was visibly angry, going in and out of the restaurant several times and showing anger toward the staff around the hostess stand.” The last week of August was the last time the Petito family was in touch with Gabby. On August 24, Petito FaceTimes with her mother and tells her she is leaving Utah and heading to the Teton range in Wyoming. “On August 25, there were multiple texts between Petito and her mother. The young woman’s family believes she is in the Tetons on this date. On August 27, there were more texts between Petito and her mother, during which her family believes she remains in the Tetons. On August 30, her family received their last text from Petito. They doubt she wrote that text. According to Stafford, the message read, “No service in Yosemite.” “ Also in the last week of August a woman claims she gave Laundrie a ride, but once he found out they were going to Jackson Hole and not Jackson he got irritated and got out near Jackson Dam. A few minutes later a Wyoming resident Norma Jean Jalovec picked Laundrie up and gave him a ride to Spread creek.
SEPTEMBER
On September 1st Laundrie returns to their North Port home, where the couple lives with Laundries parents. On September 6 the Laudrie family went to a campground 75 miles away from their home and stayed there from the 6 to the 7. On September 11 the Petito family, not being able to get in touch with Gabby, reported her missing. Authorities go to the Laundrie’s house asking to speak to him and his family. Taylor the police spokesperson says “we were essentially handed the information for their attorney, that is the extent of our conversation with them.” On September 16 the Petito family begs the Laudrie family to help them in their search for Gabby. “Please, if you or your family have any decency left, please, tell us where Gabby is located,” Stafford says. “Tell us if we are even looking in the right place. All we want is for Gabby to come home. Please help us make that happen.” The Laundrie family refuses to answer and give any information on where Gabby is. Finally, on the 17 the Laundries requested a private visit with the police. In this visit, the police learned that the Laundries hadn’t seen their son since September 14. On the 18 police are searching for Laundrie and on the 19 Gabby’s remains were found in Teyton Country. The next day Laundries’ parents are questioned at their home by the FBI. On September 23 there was a federal arrest warrant for Laundrie.
OCTOBER
On October 12 after investigation Petito’s cause of death was determined to be strangulation. On October 20 investigators found human remains and some personal items that belonged to Laundrie. “The items were found in an area that had been underwater until recently,” McPherson said. On the 21st FBI confirms that the remains belong to Brian Laundrie. The remains had been out there for a long time and when they were found were “skeletal remains” as well as some clothing Laundrie was believed to be wearing.
