The body found in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Wyoming, over the weekend has been confirmed to be that of Gabby Petito.
On Sunday, September 19, the FBI confirmed in a news conference that human remains were located in a campsite in Teton County. The body was said to be "consistent with the description" of the missing 22-year-old travel blogger.
The authorities had been awaiting full forensic identification of the body and, yesterday (September 21), it was confirmed that the remains belonged to Petito.
The FBI's Denver office tweeted: "Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue confirmed the remains are those of Gabrielle Venora Petito, date of birth March 19, 1999."
Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue ruled the tragedy a homicide in his preliminary findings. However, the exact cause of death will be determined once the final autopsy results are obtained.
Also included in the tweet was the following plea from Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider: "Anyone with information concerning Mr. Laundrie's role in this matter or his current whereabouts should contact the FBI."
Brian Laundrie, Petito's 23-year-old fiancé - who returned home without her after they went on a cross-country road trip - is a person of interest in the case, Schneider reiterated.
He said: "The FBI and our partners remain dedicated to enduring anyone responsible for or complicit in Ms. Petito's death is held accountable for their actions."
On July 2, Petito and Laundrie had set off from New York in a white Ford van for what was supposed to be a four-month-long road trip, visiting national parks, BBC News reports.
However, during the trip, their relationship was far from plain sailing. The following month, they were stopped by police after a 911 caller reported seeing Laundrie "slapping" Petito. They were told to separate for the night and would later reunite.
On September 1, Laundrie returned on his own to his parents' North Port, Florida home, where he had lived with Petito. Ten days later, Petito was reported missing, with Laundrie being named a "person of interest" in the case soon after.
Choosing not to cooperate with the police, he later went missing himself. His parents told officials that they had not seen him since September 14.
The police are still searching for Laundrie, whose parents revealed that he had left with a backpack with the intention of heading to the T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve near Venice.
Police have searched the home that Laundrie lived in with his parents in order to locate any material that might help them with the case.
Our thoughts are with Gabby's family and friends at this time.
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