Boyfriend admitted in notebook to killing Gabby Petito, says FBI

On Friday, the FBI announced that they discovered a notebook near the body of Gabby Petito, the cross-country traveler who was admitted to killing her boyfriend in the Florida swamp.

It was the first occasion when authorities firmly placed the responsibility for Petito’s demise on Brian Laundrie, despite him being the main suspect throughout.

As per a statement issued by the FBI in Denver, investigators also declared that Laundrie, aged 23, had sent text messages with the deliberate intention of misleading individuals into believing that Petito, aged 22, was alive even after he assaulted and choked her in late August.

All logical investigative steps have been concluded in this case, said Special Agent Michael Schneider of the Denver FBI Division.”

“The inquiry did not discover any additional individuals besides Brian Laundrie directly implicated in the heartbreaking demise of Gabby Petito.”

The coroner concluded that her death, which occurred approximately three weeks ago, was caused by injuries to the head and neck resulting from blunt force and manual strangulation. Petito’s remains were discovered on September 19th in a campground located near Grand Teton National Park in the northwestern region of Wyoming.

Following his sudden disappearance, Laundrie came back to his residence in Florida in the beginning of September. In close proximity to their dwelling, within a natural sanctuary, his parents discovered an object that belonged to him in October.

Further searching turned up Laundrie’s remains, a revolver, backpack and the notebook. Medical examiners determined Laundrie died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

As per the statement, the messages were exchanged between Laundrie’s phone and Petito’s phone. The FBI did not clarify the exact content of Laundrie’s writings in the notebook and the messages he had sent to deceive.

The content and timing of these messages indicate that Mr. Laundrie was attempting to deceive law enforcement by giving the impression that Ms. Petito was still alive.

The couple visited Grand Teton National Park last summer during a country-crossing trip in their van. Petito and Laundrie grew up on Long Island, NY, but were living in Florida in recent years. Mysteriously, Laundrie returned home alone after their trip.

Following their altercation, the pair was apprehended by law enforcement in Moab, Utah on Aug. 12. They traveled through Colorado and recorded their journey on Instagram.

Instead of pressing charges, the officers opted to separate them for the evening; however, the police determined that Petito was the one initiating the conflict, as evidenced by a police video recounting an escalating altercation.

Last week, an independent report was released criticizing Utah police for issuing a domestic violence citation to Petito, even though she informed them that she had struck Laundrie first.

In addition to witnessing a man striking a girl outside their vehicle, the report also highlighted signs suggesting that Petito was probably a target within their broader relationship. Furthermore, the report criticized investigators for failing to obtain a statement from a 911 caller who observed the couple.

The tragic search for Petito ultimately drew worldwide attention, sparking discussions about dating violence and social media sleuthing, shining a light on the disproportionate coverage of missing white women in the U.S. Compared to other missing persons.