The FBI continues to investigate the killing of Gabby Petito, the Florida woman discovered dead following a cross-country car trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, despite public interest waning drastically in recent months.
- Petito’s bones were recovered at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming on September 19.
- The cause of death, according to Dr. Blue’s report, was manual strangulation/throttling.
- During the September hunt for his whereabouts, Laundrie was charged with using unauthorized access devices for allegedly using Petito’s debit card illegally.
- The cause of death was determined to be suicide.
- Because the remains discovered were skeletal, including a partial human head, dental records were used as the initial identification method.
- The medical examiner’s report later confirmed that DNA tests also matched the remains.
- “Petito’s family stated their attorney on Tuesday, stating that they were aware of the autopsy results.
- According to the statement, they requested the family to remain silent and allow the FBI to complete their investigation.
- Will the FBI’s probe of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie ever be made public?
- The FBI is notorious for withholding almost all information during a federal inquiry.
- There have been few specifics in this case from the start.
Since November 23, when the Florida District 12 Medical Examiner’s office reported Laundrie’s cause of death as a gunshot wound to the head, authorities haven’t offered an update. The end of Laundrie was deemed a suicide. Query to the FBI’s Denver office on December 31 has yet to respond.
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What happened to Gabby Petito?
Petito’s bones were recovered at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming on September 19. The FBI opened a murder inquiry after her death two days later.
Petito’s body had been “outside for three to four weeks” before being discovered. The cause of death, according to Dr. Blue’s report, was “manual strangulation/throttling,” which means the young woman was strangled using her hands or another body part.
The hunt for Laundrie was a multi-agency operation that concluded on October 15, when his remains were recovered in the Carlton Reserve in Sarasota County, Florida. His remains were positively identified, first by dental comparisons and then by DNA testing.
Laundrie was identified as a “person of interest” in Petito’s disappearance early in the FBI’s investigation, although he was never deemed a suspect. During the September hunt for his whereabouts, Laundrie was charged with using unauthorized access devices for allegedly using Petito’s debit card illegally.
The FBI stated that the Petito homicide investigation is still underway in a statement to the media. They have advised that anyone interested can check the FBI Denver and FBI Tampa Twitter feed for updates.
What was the cause of death for Brian Laundrie?
The District 12 Medical Examiner’s Office reported on November 23 that it had concluded its investigation and decided Petito died from a gunshot wound to the head. The cause of death was determined to be suicide.
Because the remains discovered were skeletal, including a partial human head, dental records were used as the initial identification method. The medical examiner’s report later confirmed that DNA tests also matched the remains.
According to a news release from the medical examiner’s office, the investigation included a scene reaction by medical examiner officials and an assessment of the collected skeletal remains.
“Chris and Roberta Laundrie have been advised that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head and that the manner of death was suicide,” said Steven Bertolino, the Laundrie family’s attorney. “Chris and Roberta are still grieving the loss of their son and hope that these discoveries will provide both families closure.”
On Tuesday, Petito’s family stated their attorney stated that they were aware of the autopsy results.
“The United States Attorney’s Office and the Teton County Prosecutor’s Office have requested that Petito’s family not make a statement at this time.” they requested the family to remain silent and allow the FBI to complete their investigation, according to the statement.
Will the FBI’s probe of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie ever be made public?
The FBI is notorious for withholding almost all information during a federal inquiry. This is why there have been few specifics in this case from the start.
However, as years – or perhaps decades – pass, history teaches us that a trickle of knowledge will ultimately leak out through various channels, such as reporter requests for public information.
“I’m curious as to what kind of information the FBI needs to move Petito from a person of interest to suspect after his death,” said 8 On Your Side Senior Investigative Journalist Walt Buteau.
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