Teton County Coroner: Remains found are Gabby Petito’s, manner of death homicide

Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue identified remains found Sept. 19 as Gabrielle Venora Petito’s Tuesday. He’s determined the initial manner of death to be homicide, FBI Denver tweeted. The cause of death remains pending.

Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue confirmed the remains are those of Gabrielle Venora Petito, date of birth March 19, 1999. Coroner Blue’s initial determination for the manner of death is homicide. The cause of death remains pending final autopsy results. pic.twitter.com/JoHenMZ9UU

— FBI Denver (@FBIDenver) September 21, 2021

The Spread Creek campsite in Wyoming is now a crime scene.

“The objective going into a scene like this, recover the body with dignity, but collect every bit of evidence that they can, because that’s the evidence that is critical if this case makes it into a courtroom,” said Rich Kolko, WINK News Safety & Security Specialist. “One of the other important things that the investigators want to find out is how far did somebody travel with the body, or did the person die there at the scene.”

FBI, FWC, police continue search for Brian Laundrie in Carlton Reserve

The North Port Police Department has confirmed it is no longer the lead agency in this investigation in a press release: “This is an FBI-led criminal investigation and North Port police are assisting our federal partner in any way we can to bring this investigation to a close.”

It put out a statement Monday saying it would have nothing more to say about the search for Laundrie.

NPPD said in the release that it would join the FBI, Florida Wildlife Commission, Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, Sarasota Police Department, Venice Police Department, K9 search and rescue teams and other government partners in searching the Carlton Reserve (where Laundrie reportedly visited last Tuesday to go hiking), moving in from the Venice side of the area, along with adjoining lands.

“A weekend ground search and aerial search Monday of the 25,000-acre preserve (39 square miles) has yet to yield any answers, but we must press on,” wrote Joshua Taylor, NPPD public information officer.

For context, the land area in the City of Fort Myers is also 39 square miles.

This morning’s briefing in the Carlton. pic.twitter.com/GodNENyt2b

— North Port Police (@NorthPortPolice) September 21, 2021

Investigators deal with tough terrain in Laundrie search

It was a long day for law enforcement out braving the heat and the tough terrain they had to traverse at Carlton Reserve in Sarasota County in the search for Brian Laundrie.

Investigators began using ATVs, K-9-unit dogs and drones Tuesday morning, but there was no sign of him. It’s been exactly a week since Laundrie’s parents say they last saw him.

North Port PD estimates 75% of the terrain is underwater. Police prepared for the conditions by bringing in high-rise vehicles, but they’re worried about the unexpected, as they comb through acres infested with snakes and gators.

From tree roots to the tree tops, investigators took their search to new heights in Carlton Reserve.

Lee County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the search by operating drones that can fly at higher altitudes.

“That has more advanced technology to zoom in to see areas that are difficult to access on foot or wheeled vehicles as well,” said Police Commander Joe Fussell with North Port PD.

Their search comes with a growing number of disadvantages. Crews must maneuver through muddy pathways, flooded trails and — the most troublesome — waist-deep water with lots of wildlife.

“We’re expecting to get wet by the end of the day and check the entire area for Brian Laundrie,” Fussell said.

Detectives have been relying on their meticulous sight and a K-9 unit’s strong scent detection, hoping to provide answers and a sense of security.

Tuesday was the third day law enforcement searched Carlton Reserve.

Millions of eyes were on the North Port home of Brian Laundrie and his parents Monday as it was searched by the FBI. The Bureau is not saying much about the search warrant it served at the Laundrie home, with agents taking out bag after bag and eventually towing Laundrie’s Mustang, but WINK News has learned about a search warrant issued by North Port police last week.

The warrant shows there were multiple text messages from Gabby Petito to her mom, Nicole Schmidt. The conversations appear to show more and more tension between Petito and Laundrie on their cross-country trip. It also shows the last time anyone heard from Petito was Aug. 27. Schmidt says the text was odd.

It read, “Can you help Stan, I just keep getting his voicemails and missed calls.”

Stan is Petito’s grandfather, but Schmidt says her daughter never called him that before. Petito stopped posting on social media after that.

For people in this area, this story strikes uncomfortably close to home

“I have a deep, sincere connection to this,” said Venice resident Jeff Daughtry. “I mean, imagine if this were my own daughter, just how hurtful that would be.”

“It’s crazy, because, you know, we used to… I used to walk with my dog, like, every morning, and it’s so quiet,” said North Port resident Gretchen Endicott. “Yeah, and suddenly our neighborhood is like this.”

Governor Ron DeSantis said in a tweet, “I have directed all state agencies under my purview to continue to assist federal & local law enforcement as they continue to search – we need justice for Gabby Petito.”

Brian Laundrie’s attorney has canceled a press conference originally scheduled for Tuesday after speaking with the FBI following the search of the house. It isn’t known what he planned to say, but it had been scheduled before the FBI’s sudden arrival at the home.

TIPS: If you have any information on the disappearance of Gabby Petito or Brian Laundrie, call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or you can submit a tip online at fbi.gov/tips.

TIMELINE

Sept 1 – Brian Laundrie returned to North Port alone.

Sept 14 – Laundrie named a person of interest.

Sept 14 – Laundrie reportedly went to Carlton Reserve in Sarasota County for a hike.

Sept 14 – Last day Laundrie’s family reportedly saw him.

Sept 17 – Parents report Laundrie missing.

Sept 18-19 – Police search Carlton Reserve in Sarasota County.

Sept 19 – Human remains found in the Spread Creek area in Wyoming consistent with the description of Gabby Petito.

Sept 20 – FBI searches the home of Brian Laundrie.

Sept 21 – FBI, FWC, and police resume search for Laundrie in the Carlton Reserve.

Sept 21 – Coronor confirms body found in Wyoming is Gabby Petito and manner of death is homicide.