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The cause of death for Gabby Petito was strangulation and her case is now confirmed as a homicide, as Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue delivers his findings about the young woman killed in Bridger-Teton National Forest.
Her body was found at a backcountry campsite at the national forest adjoining Grand Teton National Park after a multiway search focused on the area. Petito, 22, was living the van life and traveling across the United States when she disappeared either in or near Grand Teton National Park in late August. She was traveling with boyfriend Brian Laundrie, and the plan was to chronicle the trip on social media. But she made only one Instagram post regarding her adventures, and since her last contact with her family Laundrie and their van made their way back to North Port, Florida, arriving on Sept. 1. Since then Laundrie has gone missing after telling his parents he was going for a hike through a local nature reserve.
According to Blue, his autopsy report included contributions from both a forensic pathologist and a forensic anthropologist, including a whole body CT scan and a toxicology analysis. Also covered: analysis of DNA from her body, as well as testing that indicated she was not pregnant. His finding confirm the early tentative ruling of death by homicide. It was estimated that she was killed three to four weeks before her body was found, or before her parents filed a missing person report on her on Sept. 11; her body was found on Sept. 19.
Photo from Gabby Petito (@gabspetito) Instagram account.
RELATED STORIES: Coroner confirms remains are those of Petito; Possible Petito remains recovered in Bridger-Teton National Forest; Authorities ask for help in Gabby Petito case
