The story of Gabby Petito has dominated the news in recent weeks.
The 22-year-old travel influencer recently quit her job to travel across the United States in a van with her fiancé Brian Laundrie, vlogging their travels for their YouTube channel.
But just weeks later, Brian returned home to Florida without his wife-to-be and ten days later, Gabby’s family reported her missing.
On Sunday, a body was found in a Wyoming forest, and a coroner has since confirmed that it is the body of Gabby Petito.
The manner of her death has initially been determined as a homicide, but the cause of death remains pending final autopsy results.
Gabby’s fiancé Brian has been declared a “person of interest” in the case, but his current whereabouts are unknown.
Here is everything we know so far about the lead-up to the disappearance and murder of Gabby Petito, including Brian Laundrie’s recent arrest warrant:
June 2021
Gabby and Brian embarked on their adventures across the US in their white Ford van.
In a press conference, North Port Police Chief Todd Garrison said Gabby had been excited to share her journey with her family and others on social media.
“She maintained regular contact with her family members during her travels; however, that communication abruptly stopped around the end of August,” he added.
July 2021
The couple traveled through Colorado and into Utah.
On July 10, Gabby shared an Instagram post from Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Duncan, Colorado.
Just over two weeks later, she posted a photo from Mystic Hot Springs in Monroe, Utah.
August 12, 2021
Gabby and Brian are pulled over by police in Moab, Utah, following reports of a domestic dispute.
In a 911 audio recording provided by the Grand County Sheriff’s Office, a caller claimed they were driving by a white van with a Florida license plate when they saw “the gentleman was slapping the girl”.
The caller explained: “Then we stopped. They ran up and down the sidewalk. He proceeded to hit her, hopped in the car and they drove off.”
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Moab Police Department Chief Bret Edge said his officers responded to the incident, located the van and pulled the couple over.
The police released the bodycam footage of the traffic stop, which showed Gabby crying in the van before being asked to step out of it.
When asked by police why she was crying, the 22-year-old said: “I’m just crying because we’ve been fighting this morning. Just personal issues.”
Gabby also admitted to slapping her fiancé, who had scratches on his face, but insisted she didn’t mean to harm him.
According to the police report, the couple stated that Brian did not hit Gabby.
Chief Bret Edge said: “Insufficient evidence existed to justify criminal charges.”
The police officers on scene suggested that the couple spend the night apart, organising a hotel room for Brian and advising Gabby – who the report describes as “confused and emotional” – to spend the night in the van. It is understood the couple did so.
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August 19
Gabby and Brian uploaded their first YouTube video on their ‘Nomadic Statik’ channel, entitled: “VAN LIFE: Beginning Our Van Life Journey.”
In the 7 minute and 59 second long video, Gabby vlogs about the couple’s adventures while living in their van, and the couple appear to be very affectionate on camera.
August 24
Gabby was spotted checking out of a hotel in Salt Lake City. This was the last time she was reportedly seen alive.
August 25
Gabby FaceTimed with her mother Nicole and told her she was leaving Utah and heading to the Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks in Wyoming.
This was the last time Gabby spoke to her mother.
Speaking to ABC News about the call, Nicole said: “She sounded good and excited to continue her trip and excited to start her YouTube channel. She seemed OK.”
Nicole received two more texts from her daughter’s phone later in the month, but she is not convinced Gabby sent the messages.
On August 27, she received a text that read: “Can you help Stan, I just keep getting his voicemails and missed calls.”
Stan is Gabby’s grandfather, but Nicole said the message was “odd” because Gabby never called her grandad by his name.
She also received a text on August 30, that read: “No service in Yosemite.”
August 26
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Gabby made her last Instagram post – a series of photos by an art mural and snaps of her holding a mini pumpkin.
She captioned the post: “Happy Halloween 🪰🎃 ”
August 29
A woman named Miranda Baker claims she and her boyfriend gave Brian Laundrie a ride on August 29 in Wyoming.
She said Brian claimed he’d been camping by himself for multiple days while his fiancé was at their van working on social media posts.
In a series of TikTok videos, Miranda claimed Brian told her and her boyfriend he had been camping at a site outside the Grand Teton National Park, near the Snake River.
She also claimed once Brian found out they were going to Jackson Hole instead of Jackson, he got agitated, asked that the vehicle stop, and got out near the Jackson Dam.
North Port police confirmed to CNN that Miranda spoke to law enforcement about the interaction before posting the videos on TikTok.
@mirandabaker_##gabbypetito ##findgabby ##brianlaundrie♬ original sound – Miranda Baker
September 1
Brian returned home to Florida alone in Gabby’s white van.
September 11
Gabby was reported missing by her family to the Suffolk County Police Department in New York.
The family, who live in Long Island, New York, said in the report that Gabby had stopped communicating with her friends and family and that they believed she was near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.
The family’s attorney Richard Stafford said in a statement: “Every day the search for Gabby continues the Schmidt and Petito family becomes more desperate.”
“They are frantically searching for answers and information in their daughter’s disappearance while Brian sits in the comfort of his home.”
September 14
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Brian and his family released a statement saying he will remain silent under the advice of his counsel.
His attorney said: “This is understandably an extremely difficult time for both the Petito family and the Laundrie family. It is our understanding that a search has been organized for Miss Petito in or near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.”
“On behalf of the Laundrie family it is our hope that the search for Miss Petito is successful and that Miss Petito is reunited with her family. On the advice of counsel the Laundrie family is remaining in the background at this juncture and will have no further comment.”
September 15
The North Port Police named Brian a “person of interest.”
The police report states: “As of now, Brian has not made himself available to be interviewed by investigators or has provided any helpful details.”
Steven Bertolino, the Laundrie family lawyer, said he advised Brian not to speak with law enforcement because in his experience, intimate partners are often the first person suspected in a case like this and “the warning that ‘any statement made will be used against you’ is true.”
September 16
The Petito family released a letter to the Laundrie family, pleading with them to cooperate.
The letter read: “We understand you are going through a difficult time and your instinct to protect your son is strong. We ask you to put yourselves in our shoes. We haven’t been able to sleep or eat and our lives are falling apart.”
“Please, if you or your family has any decency left, please tell us where Gabby is located. Tell us if we are even looking in the right place. All we want is Gabby to come home. Please help us make that happen.”
September 17
Brian was reported missing by his family, who claimed they hadn’t seen him in days.
His family told police they last saw the 23-year-old on September 14, when he left with a backpack and told them he was going to the Carlton Reserve near their home in North Port, Florida.
The Petito family’s lawyer said in a statement: “All of Gabby’s family want the world to know that Brian is not missing, he is hiding. Gabby is missing.”
September 18
Police officers, FBI agents, drones, K-9 and bloodhounds began searching the Carlton Reserve area, which covers over 25,000 acres of land, to find Brian.
North Port police spokesperson Josh Taylor said Brian frequently hikes in the area and thanks to his knowledge of the preserve, could “be out here for months if [he] wanted.”
The FBI also announced they would be conducting ground surveys in Grand Teton National Park, where Gabby is believed to have been before her last communication with her family.
September 19
The Teton County coroner announced that a body was recovered in the Bridger-Teton National Park.
In a statement, the FBI said the remains found were “consistent with the description of” Gabby Petito, but a full forensic ID has not yet been completed.
Following the discovery, Gabby’s brother TJ shared a photo of his sister on Instagram, and wrote: “I don’t even know what to say. I’m at a total loss. My heart is shattered #justiceforgabby.”
September 20
Investigators continued searching for Brian Laundrie, who was last seen in Florida.
They searched his home for hours, and the FBI questioned his parents.
September 21
The Teton County Coroner’s Office confirmed that the body found on Sunday was Gabby’s, and that an initial determination showed she had died due to homicide.
The cause of death is pending final autopsy result.
FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider said in a statement: “The FBI and our partners remain dedicated to ensuring anyone responsible for or complicit in Ms. Petito’s death is held accountable for their actions.”
September 22
A federal arrest warrant was issued for Brian Laundrie – who’s whereabouts are still unknown.
The FBI in Denver tweeted: “On September 22, 2021, the U.S. District Court of Wyoming issued a federal arrest warrant for Brian Christopher Laundrie pursuant to a Federal Grand Jury indictment related to Mr. Laundrie’s activities following the death of Gabrielle Petito.”
“The #FBI continues to seek information from anyone who utilized the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area between Aug. 27-30, 2021, who may have had contact with Ms. Petito or Mr. Laundrie, or who may have seen their vehicle.”
According to the indictment obtained by E! News, Brian “knowingly and with intent to defraud, used one or more unauthorized access devices” including a debit card and bank account between August 30 and September 1.
By such conduct, the indictment claims Brian “obtained things of value aggregating to $1,000 or more during that period.”
FBI Denver’s Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider tweeted: “While this warrant allows law enforcement to arrest Mr. Laundrie, the FBI and our partners across the country continue to investigate the facts and circumstance of Ms. Petito’s homicide.”
“We urge individuals with knowledge of Mr. Laundrie’s role in this matter or his current whereabouts to contact the FBI.”
On September 22, 2021, the U.S. District Court of Wyoming issued a federal arrest warrant for Brian Christopher Laundrie pursuant to a Federal Grand Jury indictment related to Mr. Laundrie’s activities following the death of Gabrielle Petito. pic.twitter.com/SSrBVbAeBs
— FBI Denver (@FBIDenver) September 23, 2021
The Laundrie family attorney Steve Bertolino told E! News: “It is my understanding that the arrest warrant for Brian Laundrie is related to activities occurring after the death of Gabby Petito and not related to her actual demise.”
“The FBI is focusing on locating Brian and when that occurs the specifics of the charges covered under the indictment will be addressed in the proper forum.”
