FBI Says That Brian Laundrie Admitted To Murdering Gabby Petito In Notebook

Jan 22, 2022 by apost team

Gabby Petito, a 22-year-old Instagram blogger, was declared missing on Sept. 11, 2021, while traveling across the U.S. in a van with her fiancé, 23-year-old Brian Laundrie. Two weeks later, authorities discovered her body in northwestern Wyoming, classifying her death as a homicide. This week, the FBI confirmed that Laundrie killed Petito in a press release.

The Petito case caught the internet by storm in 2021, especially as authorities searched for Laundrie, law enforcement’s only person of interest. That search came to an end in October 2021 when the FBI identified Laundrie’s human remains with the help of dental records, according to the Associated Press.

The FBI found Laundrie’s body in a Florida nature preserve, along with what appeared to be the 23-year-old’s backpack and notebook. Another breakthrough in the case came on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, as investigators announced that they discovered a confession in Laundrie’s notebook in which he admitted to killing Petito.

“All logical investigative steps have been concluded in this case,” FBI Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider said in a statement. “The investigation did not identify any other individuals other than Brian Laundrie directly involved in the tragic death of Gabby Petito.”

In addition to what they found in the journal, investigators announced that they had evidence that Laundrie sent text messages to intentionally deceive authorities into believing that Petito was still alive.

“The timing and content of these messages are indicative of Mr. Laundrie attempting to deceive law enforcement by giving the impression that Ms. Petito was still alive,” the FBI’s Jan. 21 statement read.

As of Friday, Jan. 21, neither Petito nor Laundrie’s lawyers got back to the Associated Press for comment in the wake of the FBI’s announcement.

Prior to finding Laundrie’s remains in October 2021, law enforcement officials had been searching the 24,000-acre Carlton Reserve — where they found the notebook — with the help of drones, dogs and all-terrain vehicles, but the area had been underwater during earlier searches.

On Sept. 24, 2021, Gabby Petito’s family, friends and community members from Long Island, New York, held a public memorial service to mourn the loss of the 22-year-old as the search for Laundrie continued into its second week.

“I want you to take a look at these pictures, and I want you to be inspired by Gabby," said Gabby Petito’s father, Joe Petito. "If there’s a trip you guys want to take, take it now. Do it now while you have the time.”

Gabby’s father also hinted at his daughter’s troubled relationship with Laundrie, adding, “​​If there is a relationship that you’re in that might not be the best thing for you, leave it now."

Since investigators looked into Gabby Petito’s disappearance, authorities have released police body camera footage from Aug. 12 of Gabby Petito shortly before her disappearance.

Police were called after a witness reported a domestic violence dispute.

"We drove by and the gentleman was slapping the girl," the caller said, according to CNN. "Then we stopped. They ran up and down the sidewalk. He proceeded to hit her, hopped in the car and they drove off."

Gabby Petito’s story has caused a media frenzy, as outlets from across the world cover the 22-year-old’s case. Users on social media — where Gabby Petito has more than 1.2 million followers — have also started entire accounts dedicated to her search and are using the hashtag #JusticeForGabby.

apost.com

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