What We Know About Gabby Petito's Official Cause Of Death
The case surrounding the disappearance of Gabby Petito, a 22-year-old influencer, took over the nation (via ABC 7 New York). Her case grew traction online and eventually became a mystery that captivated social media and traditional news outlets alike.
Petito and her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, were on a cross-country road trip together when she went missing (via CBS News). The pair were in Wyoming at the Grand Teton National Park and before Petito's disappearance, the couple had a run-in with the police due to a domestic dispute. Soon after, Laundrie returned home without her, which was a major cause for concern. Once it was clear she had gone missing, a manhunt began for Laundrie, who had since left his parents' home.
Upon finding her body, Petito's death was ruled manslaughter until the autopsy results were in. The Denver FBI shared, "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. Mr. Brian Laundrie has been named a person of interest. Anyone with information concerning Mr. Laundrie's role in this matter or his current whereabouts should contact the FBI."
Now, the results of the autopsy have been released to the public.
Petito's official cause of death was strangulation
According to People, the full autopsy results were revealed three weeks after Gabby Petito's body was discovered. In a press conference performed by a medical examiner, it was shared that she had died of strangulation. It is believed that her body was left in the wooded area for three to four weeks before it was discovered by authorities.
Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue shared that there are aspects of the autopsy that cannot be shared yet due to local laws (via CNN). However, he did say, "All I can really comment on is that is that her body was outside in the wilderness for three to four weeks." When asked, he did not share if her body was bruised or whether she was buried or left above ground after she died. He did note that she was not pregnant at the time of her death.
The Laundrie family spoke out regarding the findings via their attorney. "Gabby Petito's death at such a young age is a tragedy," attorney Steve Bertolino told CNN. "While Brian Laundrie is currently charged with the unauthorized use of a debit card belonging to Gabby, Brian is only considered a person of interest in relation to Gabby Petito's demise," he continued. "At this time Brian is still missing and when he is located we will address the pending fraud charge against him," he said.