Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has said the body found in Teton County, Wyoming, US State, matches the description of the 22-year-old Gabby Petito whose family said is missing since September 11.
Gatekeepers News reports that Charles Jones, FBI Denver’s supervisory senior resident agent in Wyoming, said “full forensic identification has not been completed to confirm 100% that we found Gabby, but her family has been notified of this discovery.”
What led to the death of the body found on Sunday, is yet to be ascertained.
An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday, according to Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue, who noted that officials would confirm the identity through photographs, personal identification or DNA.
It was gathered that authorities launched a search around the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area in Bridger-Teton National Forest on the eastern edge of Grand Teton National Park during the weekend for any sign of Petito.
Similarly, authorities in Florida were looking for Petito’s fiancé, Brian Laundrie. On Friday, his family told police that they had not seen him since last Tuesday, which prompted a search of a local nature reserve that has so far yielded no results.
Gatekeepers News reports the couple, before Petito’s disappearance, had travelled on a road trip through several Western states. Officials have noted that Laundrie is not wanted for a crime.
North Port police spokesperson Josh Taylor on Saturday said Laundrie’s family said he left home with his backpack on Tuesday and told them he was going to the reserve.
According to Taylor, the police had visited Laundrie family home after Petito was reported missing, but his family refused to talk, and instead gave authorities the information for their attorney.
Meanwhile, Petito’s family has alleged that Laundrie is not missing, saying “he is hiding.”
On Sunday, FBI agent, Jones, started the news conference at Grand Teton National Park with condolences to Petito’s family.
“As every parent can imagine, this is an incredibly difficult time for the family and friends,” Jones said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them.”
Jones stated that the campsite authorities searched during the weekend will remain closed to the public.
“This is an active and ongoing investigation,” the FBI said in a news release, “so we ask the public to maintain distance from any law enforcement personnel, equipment, vehicles, and their related activity for the safety of the public in these remote areas, to respect the privacy of Gabby’s family, and to protect the integrity of our work.”
Officials are still asking for tips from anyone who might have seen Petito, Laundrie, or their vehicle — a 2012 Ford Transit van with a Florida plate and stickers on the back, according to the FBI’s Missing Person poster for Petito.
“We continue to seek information from anyone who utilized the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area between the dates of August 27th and August 30th,” said Jones who noted that the public’s response to officials’ requests for tips has been “remarkable”.
