(HorizonPost.com) – Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs sang the song “The Story of Bonnie [Parker] and Clyde [Barrow],” and maybe someone will write another about Gabby [Petito] and Brian [Laundrie] so she’ll live on in America’s collective memory. The sordid case has had a major breakthrough in the past few days.
A Little Background
The events of this case have been like something out of a TV crime drama. The story begins on July 2, when the couple left on their trip to see the country from Blue Point, New York, in Gabby’s remodeled camper van.
Fast forward to August 12, when police responded to a call about an altercation between the two. Bodycam video from a Moab City, Utah police officer shows he separated them for the night, leaving Gabby with the van. A few days later, on the 17th, Brian flew back to Tampa reportedly to pick up some stuff and close down their storage unit “to save money.”
Here’s where it gets interesting. Between August 30 and September 1, Laundrie used Petito’s debit card to take money from two separate linked accounts. The timing here could be of vital importance. Then, on September 1, Laundrie ended up at his parents’ house in Florida, driving the camper van, but without Gabby.
The Plot Thickens
The actions of the families involved play a role in the continuation of the story.
- September 6-7 Laundrie’s family reportedly decided it was appropriate to go camping.
- September 11 Gabby Petito was reported missing by her family and Suffolk County, New York. Police in Florida recovered the van and asked to speak to Brian, to which the only answer they received was from a family attorney. Brian and his family refused to answer questions or cooperate with the authorities.
- September 13 Laundrie’s parents claim this is when they last saw their son, who indicated he was going for a hike.
The FBI Takes Charge
On September 15, the FBI declared Brian Laundrie was a “person of interest” in the disappearance of Petito. Two days later, he was reported missing.
Sadly, four days later, on September 19, the earthly remains of Ms. Gabby Petito were discovered in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming. An autopsy report released on October 5 listed the cause of death as “manual strangulation/throttling.” The medical examiner also noted that the state of the body’s decomposition indicated it had been in the wild three or four weeks before being found. That put the probable time of death before Laundrie’s use of her debit card.
The Latest Developments
Brian Laundrie is no longer a missing person. Responding to a tip from his parents, where they pointed out a trail their son favored when he would hike through the Carlton Reserve area, human remains were found. Dental records confirm the remains belonged Brian.
Going Forward
In addition to his remains, authorities found a backpack and notebook that appeared to belong to Brian. The hope is they can shed some light on what happened to Gabby Petito.
With the discovery, law enforcement has officially ended the manhunt and will turn to the process of trying to answer some questions and, hopefully, close the case. A New York Post article lays out some of the questions they’ll be looking to answer, such as how much, if anything, the parents know and when did they learn it, and whether or not they could face charges for their actions.
Copyright 2021, HorizonPost.com
