BREAKING: Human Remains Found in Wyoming Are ‘Consistent With the Description’ of Gabby Petito, FBI Confirms

Sarah RumpfSep 19th, 2021, 6:29 pm
 

Breaking news: the FBI Denver office has confirmed that the body found in Wyoming is “consistent with the description” of 22-year-old Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito, who was reported missing on September 11.

Charles Jones, Supervisory Special Agent for the FBI Denver office, read a statement to the press, “extend[ing] sincere and heartfelt condolences to Gabby’s family.”

“As every parent can imagine, this is an incredibly difficult time for the family and friends,” said Jones. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them. We ask that you all respect the privacy as they mourn the loss of their daughter.”

Jones continued, mentioning the search that the FBI, National Park Service, Forest Service, Teton County Sheriff’s Office, and Jackson Police Department had been conducing in the camping area where Petito and her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, were known to have been.

“Earlier today, human remains were discovered consistent with the description of Gabrielle ‘Gabby’ Petito,” said Jones. “Full forensic identification has not been concluded to confirm 100 percent that we found Gabby, but her family has been notified. Cause of death has not been confirmed at this time.”

Jones thanked the public for their “continued support and patience” as the investigation continued, and the “remarkable” effort to send in tips:

We continue to ask anyone who used the Spread Creek Camp area from August 17 to August 30, anyone who may have had contact with Gabby or her boyfriend, or seen their vehicle in that area, please share any new information with the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. Or 1-800-CALL-FBI. And finally the Denver field office is 303-629-7171. Videos and photos can also be uploaded at fbi.gov/photos. 

UPDATE 6:40 pm ET: The North Port Police Department, which has been searching for Laundrie, posted a tweet that they were “saddened and heartbroken to learn that Gabby has been found deceased.”

Petito’s father, Joseph Petito, posted a photo of her on his Twitter account along with a broken heart emoji and the message, “she touched the world.”

Watch the video above, via CNN.

This is a breaking news story and has been updated.

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Sarah Rumpf - Contributing Editor

Sarah Rumpf joined Mediaite in 2020 and is a Contributing Editor focusing on politics, law, and the media. A native Floridian, Sarah attended the University of Florida, graduating with a double major in Political Science and German, and earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the UF College of Law. Sarah's writing has been featured at National Review, The Daily Beast, Reason, Law&Crime, Independent Journal Review, Texas Monthly, The Capitolist, Breitbart Texas, Townhall, RedState, The Orlando Sentinel, and the Austin-American Statesman, and her political commentary has led to appearances on television, radio, and podcast programs across the globe. Follow Sarah on Threads, Twitter, and Bluesky.