On September 28, a body was found in the same area where Gabby Petito's body was discovered. The identity of the man who was found on the Black Canyon Trail was revealed to be Robert "Bob" Lowery of Houston. Now, the Teton County coroner has determined that the 46-year-old father of two died by suicide.
Lowery had gone missing while on a hiking trip in Wyoming. He left Texas for the trip on August 19 and hadn't been spotted since the August 20.
There hadn't been any leads in his disappearance until the search for Petito spurred major media coverage. The search for Petito ended up leading authorities to not just her body, but also the body of Robert Lowery.
Lowery died by a gunshot to the head. His family is now grieving the loss. A GoFundMe has been started to help support the two children he left behind.
The GoFundMe page reads, "Bob, a loving father, is survived by two beautiful children, Meredith and Luke, and their mother, Christelle. The children will have the unconditional love and support our full extended family; however, in the wake their father’s unexpected death, we want to ensure that they are best set up for their future."
Lowery's body was found about 45 miles away from where Petito's body was found. While a lot of people believe the death is suspicious, the coroner's report should give some sense of closure to his loved ones. Still, some are coming up with their own theories about what they believe may have happened to him.
Some people believe that Petito's boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, could be responsible for Lowery's death. Others wonder if Lowery killed Petito. The fact that his and Petito's bodies were found so close to one another, and right around the same time, is certainly odd. But there isn't any evidence to support those theories.
Robert Lowery's family says he was "a wonderful father, son, brother and friend." They are asking for privacy as they continue to grieve.
