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'MURDERED'

What did Gabby Petito’s autopsy reveal?

GABBY Petito's body was found in Wyoming on September 19, 2021, and an autopsy found she died from strangulation.

Almost one month later, the autopsy results were finally revealed by the coroner.

The body found was confirmed to be that of missing Gabby Petito
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The body found was confirmed to be that of missing Gabby Petito

When was the autopsy on Gabby Petito carried out?

Human remains were found in Grand Teton National Park on September 19, 2021, where the 22-year-old had been camping with her fiancé when she disappeared.

The coroner's van was seen leaving the national park after FBI and National Park Service officials held a press conference regarding the remains.

The body was confirmed as Petito's on September, 21, 2021. with the autopsy carried out the same day.

Authorities located human remains in the Carlton Reserve in Florida that were identified as belonging to Gabby's fiance on October 21.

What did the autopsy reveal?

The Teton County Coroner D. Brent Blue said initial findings were that Petito died as a result of being strangled

On October 12, more details were released revealing she died by strangulation.

At this time, only the cause and manner have been released due to the state's laws.

The YouTuber's case was listed among  as the agency hunts for information on the young woman's final movements.

On October 3, 2021, Gabby's family announced that they had launched the Gabby Petito Foundation in honor of their late daughter.

"The Gabby Petito Foundation is up and running!," a post on the foundation's Twitter page read. "We have a lot of work to do, website is just starting out so be patient with us, we will get there. Thank you for all the support and love!"

The family then repeated a phrase coined by Gabby's dad in an Instagram post after her remains were found at a Wyoming campsite on September 19: "She touched the world."

When was Gabby Petito's family on Dr. Phil?

Gabby's family sat down with Dr. Phil on October 6, 2021 to talk about the case and revealed a shocking discovery.

The family said that her body was found near a campsite about five-minutes from where Brian would have parked their van.

Gabby's stepdad told Dr Phil that Gabby's remains were discovered just in front of the area where the tent and fire would have been.

He added that it would have been only a short walk from where the van would have been parked but was off the beaten path.

Jim said: "Where their van was is alongside a creek bed ... on the other side is some trees and a lot of low brush on the borderline of Teton National Park.

"There's an area where there was a few trees, remnants of a fire ring, and a clearing where I would place my tent, facing out over the mountain range.

"Her body was found in front of the tent or in front of the fire ring."

Laundrie's body with a gunshot wound to the head nearly a month later after going on the run from the authorities.

How are autopsies conducted in the US?

An autopsy is an examination of a body by dissection to determine the cause of death.

During the autopsy, a doctor, usually a pathologist examines the human remains inside and out while they collect samples of tissue or body fluids.

During the procedure, they might remove internal organs for testing.

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The extent of the autopsy varies, it might be focused on a single body part or be more extensive.

Once the autopsy is finished the doctor will report on the cause of death and how they think it happened.

Gabby Petito timeline

Gabby Petito, 22, was last seen on August 24, leaving a hotel in Utah. Here is a timeline of Gabby Petito's disappearance:

  • June 2021 - Gabby Petito and her fiancé Brian Laundrie set off on a cross-country trip across the US.
  • July 4 - Gabby posts photos of herself barefoot in Gove County, Kansas.
  • July 8 - Gabby posts photos of herself at the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.
  • July 18 - Gabby and Brian post photos of themselves at Utah's Zion National Park.
  • August 12 - Body camera footage was released in September showing an encounter Brian and Gabby had with police in Utah. Police confirmed that no significant injuries were reported.
  • August 19 - Gabby and Brian post a video on their YouTube channel chronicling their trip.
  • August 24 - Gabby is spotted leaving a hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah.
  • August 25 - Gabby Facetimes her mom, Nichole Schmidt, for the final time. In a later police report, Schmidt said her conversations with her daughter revealed "more and more tension" between her and Brian.
  • August 25 - Gabby also posts her last Instagram. No location is given.
  • August 27 - Gabby is seen for what's believed to be the final time. Witnesses claim they saw Brian in an explosive argument with staff at a restaurant in Jackson Hole, leaving Gabby in tears.
  • August 27 - Four hours later, travel bloggers driving through Grand Teton National Park drive past the couple's van "abandoned" on a dirt road.
  • September 1 - Brian returns home to Florida without Gabby.
  • September 11 - Gabby's parents report her missing to Suffolk County police.
  • September 14 - Brian's family issues a statement saying he has retained an attorney and will not be cooperating with investigators.
  • September 14 - Brian is allegedly last seen by his family. He reportedly told them he was going hiking in Cartlon Reserve but failed to return.
  • September 15 - Florida's North Port police announce Brian is a person of interest in the case. He is not charged with any crime.
  • September 16 - Utah police release body camera footage of the police encounter with Brian and Gabby.
  • September 17 - Brian's parents say they have not seen their son in a couple of days and report him missing.
  • September 18 - Police announce they were searching Carlton Reserve in Florida for Brian. Police announce they have not found anything.
  • September 19 - Authorities in Wyoming say they found a body in Grand Teton National Park. The FBI announces the body was believed to be Gabby's but a full forensic identification needs to be completed first to confirm.
  • September 20 - Police execute a search warrant on Laundrie's home, seizing his silver Mustang and a hard drive that may contain "evidence relevant to proving that a felony has been committed."
  • September 21 - Officials announce they will be conducting an autopsy on the remains found in Wyoming to confirm whether or not they belong to Gabby. Police also resumed their search for Laundrie, this time on the Venice side of Carlton Reserve.
  • September 21 - The FBI announced the body found in Wyoming was identified as Gabby's. The cause of death was not yet revealed.
  • September 21 - The Teton County Coroner's office said Gabby's official cause of death was still pending but the initial manner of death is homicide.
  • September 22 - Police continue to scour Carlton Reserve for a trace of Laundrie but yield no leads. A specialist dive team is called in to assist with the hunt.
  • September 23 - Officials announced a federal arrest warrant for Brian was issued.
  • September 26 - Gabby's funeral was held on Long Island, New York.
  • October 12: Gabby's autopsy results were made public. Teton County Coroner Dr Brent Blue confirmed Gabby died by strangulation.
  • October 20: Laundrie's personal items were found at the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. A medical examiner was called to the scene.
  • October 21: The FBI confirmed the remains found have been identified as Laundrie's.
  • November 23: Laundrie's autopsy reveals he died from a gunshot wound to the head

 

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