A RAINBOW was spotted in a forest near where cops believe they found the body of Gabby Petito, prompting social media users to say that it was a “sign” of the vlogger “leaving Earth”.
FBI officials said Sunday that remains discovered in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming was “consistent” with the 22-year-old’s description.
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Gabby was reported missing on the weekend of September 11 – weeks after starting a cross-country trip with her fiancé Brian Laundrie.
A rainbow was spotted in Bridger-Teton National Forest after coroners left the search site, Fox News reports.
Rainbows are believed symbolise hope and peace.
One person, who has known Gabby for 20 years, branded her as “love, light, and rainbows”, News.com.au reports.
A Twitter user said: “The Heaven’s shining down on Gabby.”
Meanwhile, another commented: “This gives me chills.”
Charles Jones, a supervisory senior agent in Wyoming for FBI Denver, said yesterday: “The search revealed human remains consistent with the description of Gabrielle ‘Gabby’ Petito.
“The FBI and our partners extend our heartfelt condolences to Gabby’s family and loved ones. This is an incredibly difficult time for them, and our thoughts are with them as they mourn the loss of their daughter.”
Read our Gabby Petito live blog for the very latest news and updates…
An official cause of death remains unknown but an autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.
Gabby’s dad Joe Petito shared a photo of his daughter on Instagram following the FBI’s announcement.
He posted a picture of his daughter in front of a mural of angel wings, accompanying the snap with the caption: “She touched the world”.
Joe had previously posted several photos of his daughter with the caption “Please help bring Gabby home safe”.
And he had previously issued multiple calls for help in the wake of his daughter’s disappearance.
Gabby’s family released a statement via their lawyer Richard Benson Stafford on Sunday.
She touched the entire world.
Joe Petito, Gabby’s dad
It reads: “We are asking the press and news media to have some decorum and sensitivity for Gabby’s family and allow them to grieve.
“I will be in contact with you when Gabby’s family is ready to make a public statement.”
As they released a statement through their attorney, the Laundrie family stated that they were praying for Gabby’s family.
Gabby’s last known contact with her family was on August 25 as the couple heading to Grand Teton National Park.
Travel bloggers Jenn and Kyle Bethune believe they spotted the camper van belonging to Gabby in the nature reserve on August 27 – two days later.
Jenn said: “We came across a white van that had Florida plates. A small white van.
“We were going to stop and say hi because we’re from Florida too, but the van was completely dark. There was nobody there, so we decided to continue on our way.”
The vloggers said they spotted the van twice – once when they entered the national park, and another when they left.
Kyle said that the van looked “abandoned” and thought Gabby and her fiancé were hiking or “chilling inside” as there were no doors open.
VAN ‘SPOTTED’
He added it was “neat” to see a Florida registration plate – adding “it wasn’t something you see all of the time”.
Kyle said: “It’s kind of freaky for a late Saturday evening. But we just kind of had a brain fart ‘Oh there’s that van’.
This video has received more than one-million hits on YouTube.
Gabby’s mom Nichole Schmidt told the MailOnline: “It’s a very important piece of information as it pretty much starts the timeline.
“This new video of the actual van being seen on the 27th appears legit. That was the last location the van might have been seen. It’s a huge piece of the puzzle.”
The mom says she’s “not entertaining” a TikTok video where a woman claims she picked up a man believed to be Brian on the 29th.
Miranda Baker of Wisconsin claimed that Laundrie approached her and her boyfriend at Wyoming’s national park.
According to the Tiktoker, Laundrie claimed he was alone hiking when he approached Baker and her boyfriend about a ride in their jeep.
Shepublished four videoson Friday explaining what happened and noting that the hitchhiker offered $200 for the ride.
Baker said it struck her as “kind of weird”.
Joshua Taylor, North Port Police Department spokesperson, confirmed that Baker was present.
Schmidt said: “The timeline seems way off. Maybe she thought it was him, but I just know the timeline is off. The van left there the night of the 27th or early on the 28th. The van was in Florida on the first. It’s not possible for it to have been there on the 29th.”
TIMELINE ‘WAY OFF’
Laundrie returned to Florida alone on September 1 where he hired an attorney.
He was named a person of interest in the case last week after being accused by cops of “hindering” the investigation.
He disappeared on Tuesdayafter telling his parents he was going hiking in Carlton Reserve in Florida – an area made up of around 25,000 acres of wilderness.
The FBI and dozens of other local agencies searched the nature reserve with drones and scent-tracking K9s, but failed to find anything.
The search for Laundrie kicked off at the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, a 160-acre park connected to the marshy Carlton Reserve.
Laundrie’s parents told investigators the park had been the last place their son had been seen after they spoke with cops Friday.
Cops said Laundrie “could be out in the wilderness” for months.
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