Just a day after the one-month mark from when Gabby Petito's parents formally reported her missing, we're learning more about how she died.
The 22-year-old van-life enthusiast's remains were discovered on September 19, 2021. At the time, the manner of death was revealed to be homicide, but investigators held out on further details. Many believe those details would not come to light until later in the investigation, but an October 12 press conference by the Teton County coroner changed that.
In a press conference, Dr. Brent Blue revealed just how Petito was killed. The details made many true-crime enthusiasts and others touched by Petito's story even more suspicious of person-of-interest and current fugitive Brian Laundrie. The search for Laundrie is nearing its fourth week.
On October 12, the Teton County coroner held a press conference revealing Gabby Petito's cause of death. Dr. Brent Blue revealed that their examination of Petito's body led them to determine that she died by strangulation.
"In a situation like this, nothing is obvious. Because of that, the cause of death required investigation," Dr. Blue noted in his explanation of why the autopsy results took close to a month to complete. He also noted that despite reports to the contrary, Petito was not pregnant at the time of her death.
With the examination complete, Petito's remains have been transported to a mortuary so she can be laid to rest by her loved ones.
Dr. Blue also shared the estimation that Petito's body was outside for three to four weeks from the time of her death to the time that her remains were discovered. The coroner declined to comment on what condition the body was found in and what indications led them to that conclusion.
Steve Bertolino, the Laundrie family attorney, issued a statement following the press conference. "Gabby Petito's death at such a young age is a tragedy," he shared via text message to reporter Brian Entin.
"While Brian Laundrie is currently charged with the unauthorized use of a debit card belonging to Gabby, Brian is only considered a person of interest in relation to Gabby Petito's demise. At this time Brian is still missing and when he is located we will address the pending fraud charge against him."
The attorney's statement confirms that it was Petito's card specifically that Laundrie used without authorization, though speculation indicated as much previously. It also leaves many wondering what it will take to move Laundrie from person of interest to suspect.
Some following the case noted that the new findings are in line with Dog the Bounty Hunter's recently shared theory.
"Of course he murdered her. I think he called the mom and dad right from the scene and said 'omg,'" Dog told The Sun.
"Now we have to remember that they lived — Gabby and Brian — with his mom and dad for almost two years," he continued.
"And the house, I was there, it's not a huge house so I'm sure they heard, the parents probably heard Gabby screaming."
"I was told by a very close source that he was a gentleman," Dog noted.
"I think he said, 'mom, she was screaming, she was screaming so I put my hand over her mouth, and I held my hand and she was screaming and when I took it away she wasn't breathing and I tried CPR'."
Dog believes that the Laundries would help their son if they believed it to be an accident.
"If it had been an accident like that, the parents would have said, 'listen, this is Wyoming. [It's] one of the only states that still have the death penalty,'' he noted.
That said, Dog doesn't think he'd be put to death if he was responsible if there wasn't really a history of abuse.
"The only sentence is the death penalty, it's not a judge it goes to a jury," he noted.
"I don't think a jury would put a man to death if he went to keep his woman quiet and he suffocated her but woe unto him if he did anything else. That jury in Wyoming is going to hang him."
