Body Found In Wyoming National Park Identified As Gabby Petito

An autopsy has confirmed that the body found in Bridger-Teton National Park on Sunday is that of 22-year-old Gabby Petito.

The FBI said in a statement: "Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue confirmed the remains are those of Gabrielle Venora Petito, date of birth March 19, 1999.

"Coroner Blue's initial determination for the manner of death is homicide. The cause of death remains pending final autopsy results."

The post mortem hasn't provided any details yet of how the influencer died, according to the BBC.

The FBI had previously confirmed that the body found was 'consistent' with that of Ms Petito, but the coroner in Teton County, Wyoming has now confirmed that it is, indeed, the missing young woman.

After the discovery of the body on Sunday, Ms Petito's family released a statement through their lawyer that said: "I am making a personal request to members of the press and news media to refrain from contacting the Schmidt and Petito family,

"Due to today's [Sunday's] developments, 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."

Today, he added: "I want to personally thank the press and news media for giving the Petito and Schmidt family time to grieve.

"We will be making a statement when Gabby is home."

Meanwhile, police and FBI agents are still searching for her missing boyfriend Brian Laundrie, who remains a 'person of interest' in the case.

Petito and Laundrie set out from New York to travel the country together in their converted van, taking in America's vast national parks.

However, after Petito was last heard from by her mother in late August, Laundrie returned alone to his parent's house with the van on September 1.

Since then, he said he was heading out to take a hike alone at the Carlton Reserve in Florida, near to his parents home in North Port, Florida, but has now been missing for a week.

North Port Police then called off their search of the reserve after 'exhausting all avenues' to find Mr Laundrie there.

His parent's house has also now been declared a 'crime scene' and the FBI and police have been searching the property, as well as vehicles, since yesterday.

Petito was last seen alive on August 24 outside a hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah. The following day she shared her last ever photograph on social media.

Her family believes that she was heading for the Grand-Teton National Park in Wyoming when they last made contact with her.

Then, on Sunday, her body was found inside the park, 1,000 feet from where a pair of travel bloggers had filmed their van on a dirt road near an area called Spread Creek on August 27.

Police in Moab, Utah, has also since released body camera footage from August 12 that shows an encounter they had with Petito and Laundrie after a traffic stop.

A sobbing Petito could be heard describing an argument with Laundrie that she says became physical.

Whilst the police officers did not detain the pair, they did order them to spend the night separately, with Petito remaining in the van and Laundrie booking into a hotel.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@gabspetito

Topics: World News, US News

Tom Wood

Tom Wood is a LADbible journalist and Twin Peaks enthusiast. Despite having a career in football cut short by a chronic lack of talent, he managed to obtain degrees from both the University of London and Salford. According to his French teacher, at the weekend he mostly likes to play football and go to the park with his brother. Contact Tom on [email protected]

@TPWagwim