Authorities in Wyoming discovered human remains at Grand Teton National Park, where a search for Gabby Petito is underway, Teton County coroner Brent Blue told Fox News Sunday. During a press conference after the discovery, authorities said the body was “consistent” with a description of Petito, and her family was notified. However, the forensic identification of the body has not been made in full to ensure 100% certainty. The cause of death has not been determined.
Petito, 22 years old, visited Wyoming’s park on August 27. The FBI and local police began searching the area on Saturday. As the investigation continues, the area where the remains were found is still closed to the public. Authorities also asked the public to continue sharing tips if they saw Petito or the white van she was traveling in.
The remains were found to correspond to Gabby’s description.
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 19, 2021
Petito and her fiance, Brian Laundrie, 23, began a trip across the U.S. in their white 2012 Ford Transit. She was reported missing by her parents on September 11, just weeks after Petito had last spoken to her parents. Six days after Petito disappeared from Grand Teton National Park in Montana, Laundrie arrived at the North Port home of his parents, Florida, without Petito. Authorities named Laundrie a person of interest after he refused to speak to the police.
Florida police were criticized nationally for their handling of Laundrie. Still, North Port Police Department spokesman Josh Taylor told Fox News early Sunday they had not determined if a crime connected to Petito’s disappearance. “The North Port Police Department has no authority to execute a possible federal search warrant on our own,” Taylor explained. “I don’t see how anyone without all the facts, in this case, can come up with a reasonable conclusion and opinion on the matter.” Authorities seized the couple’s white van, but the results were not public.
In an interview with CNN’s sister network HLN, Petito’s father, Joe Petito, said he thought “something bad” may have happened. “My gut tells me that something bad happened. And I am never, I am never going to be able to hold my baby girl again,” He said. “But my head tells me that if I focus on that, I’m not going to be able to do the job that needs to be done, that her boyfriend or fiancé should be doing.”
Petito is one of three people to go missing in the area this summer. Robert Lowery, 46, was last heard from on Aug. 23 and last seen on video on Aug. 19. Cian McLaughlin, 27, was last seen hiking in the park on June 8 and was reported missing four days later.