The boyfriend of slain cross-country traveler Gabby Petito admitted killing her in a pocket book discovered close to his physique in a Florida swamp, the FBI mentioned Friday.
It was the primary time authorities squarely pinned the blame for Petito’s loss of life on Brian Laundrie, although he was the prime suspect all alongside.
Investigators in the meantime introduced that Laundrie, 23, had despatched textual content messages to deliberately deceive people who Petito, 22, was nonetheless alive after he beat and strangled her in late August, based on a press release launched by the FBI in Denver.
“All logical investigative steps have been concluded on this case,” Michael Schneider, FBI Denver Division particular agent in cost, mentioned within the assertion. “The investigation didn't establish every other people aside from Brian Laundrie instantly concerned within the tragic loss of life of Gabby Petito.”
Petito’s physique was discovered Sept. 19 at a campground close to Grand Teton Nationwide Park in northwestern Wyoming. A coroner decided that she died about three weeks earlier of “blunt-force accidents to the pinnacle and neck, with guide strangulation.”
Laundrie returned residence to Florida in early September and went lacking quickly after. In October, his mother and father discovered an merchandise belonging to him in a nature protect close to their home.
Additional looking turned up Laundrie’s stays, a revolver, backpack and the pocket book. Medical experts decided that Laundrie died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The FBI didn't specify what Laundrie had written within the pocket book and within the texts he’d despatched to mislead. The texts had been despatched between Laundrie’s and Petito’s telephones, based on the assertion.
“The timing and content material of those messages are indicative of Mr. Laundrie making an attempt to deceive regulation enforcement by giving the impression that Ms. Petito was nonetheless alive,” the assertion mentioned.
Grand Teton was the final place the couple visited throughout a cross-country van journey final summer season that ended with Laundrie mysteriously returning residence alone within the car.
The couple documented their journey on Instagram. They crossed Colorado and on Aug. 12 had been stopped by police in Moab, Utah, after the 2 received right into a scuffle.
Police video confirmed Petito describing a battle that escalated. Authorities concluded that Petito was the aggressor, and officers determined to separate them for the night time reasonably than file prices.
Attorneys for the Petito and Laundrie households didn't instantly reply Friday to emails and textual content messages looking for remark concerning the FBI’s conclusions.
Related Press reporter Curt Anderson in St. Petersburg, Fla., contributed to this report.
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