Petito was a ‘free spirit’ says mom of boy she babysat who reveals how Gabby’s ‘tight-knit’ hometown was rocked by death
THE mother of a boy babysat by Gabby Petito has described the 22-year-old vlogger as a "free spirit," adding that her "tight-knit" hometown has been rocked by her death.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun from Blue Point, New York, Jennifer McNamara shared what Gabby was like.
"She was a free spirit. Very much a free spirit. She was adventurous, she did things to the beat of her own drum," said McNamara, 54, whose 14-year-old son Jack was babysat by Gabby.
"You know, she didn't want to be like everyone else. She was incredibly artistic. She was fun. She was really really fun."
McNamara, who is close friends with Gabby's mom Nicole and stepdad Jimmy Schmidt, also said the community has been mourning together.
"This is a community that grieves together. They do everything together.
"It's a very tight knit community and I know that everyone here is grieving, you know, for Gabby and for what's happened and what [the] family is going through, and so we just want to show support," added Mcnamara.
Jack, on his part, said Gabby was "someone just living with rainbows."
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"She was a happy person. And as babysitter, I says most of the time she had no role so she was always the most fun person out there," Jack shared.
"She had a very fun personality and I want people to remember her by being a fun and outgoing person.
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and Patito were when Laundrie returned to his home with their van on September 1.
reported her missing on September 11, and since an outpouring of support has come for the young vlogger.
An autopsy performed on Tuesday had been found in .
Residents across Bayport-Blue Point, Long Island, placed candles at the base of their driveways to remember Gabby.
The , September 26, from 12pm to 5pm, at Moloney's Holbrook Funeral Home in Holbrook, New York.
as her family prepares for a memorial to say a final farewell to the 22-year-old vlogger.
The Sun understands the family planned for the cremation to take place in Wyoming before the service in New York.
The memorial will be open to the public, and could also be streamed online after Gabby's case made international news.
Gabby's stepdad, James Schmidt, while visiting the Wyoming campground where her body was found over the weekend.
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Laundrie remains a 'person of interest in the case' and is still missing - as the search for him at the Carlton Nature Reserve entered a sixth day Friday.
He is now being for the 23-year-old.
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