Gabby Petito's unusual 'last text' as autopsy result revealed
Authorities have revealed the "odd" final text message Gabby Petito sent to her mother, as the coroner confirmed her death and determined it to be a likely homicide.
On Tuesday (local time) the FBI in Denver, released the autopsy results confirming the body found on Sunday belonged to the missing 22-year-old.
"The initial determination for the manner of death is homicide," the FBI said.
"The FBI and our partners remain dedicated to ensuring anyone responsible for or complicit in Ms Petito's death is held accountable for their actions,' FBI Special Agent in Charge, Michael Schneider said.
"Mr Brian Laundrie has been named as a person of interest. Anyone with information concerning Mr Laundrie's role in this matter or current whereabouts should contact the FBI."
Mum recalls last phone call with daughter, 22, who vanished on road trip
Boyfriend of woman, 22, who vanished during van trip breaks silence
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
Text message signalled 'something was wrong'
Recently released documents confirm the last text message Ms Petitio had with anyone before she went missing.
On August 27, she sent a text message to her mother, Nichole Schmidt, in reference to her grandfather, Stan.
"Can you help Stan, I just keep getting his voicemails and missed calls," the text message said, according to the search warrant obtained by WFLA.
The warrant notes Ms Schmidt said her daughter never referred to her grandfather as Stan and she was concerned "something was wrong".
"This was the last communication anyone had with the subject [Gabby]," the warrant said.
"Her cellphone was no longer operational, and she stopped posting anything to social media about their trip. Per her family, this was not normal behaviour for the subject, and they became worried about her."
The warrant allowed for police to search all storage devices, disk drives and computers.
The warrant also states in text messages between Gabby and her mother, it appeared there was "more and more tension between her and Laundrie".
In an interview broadcast Monday on TV’s “Dr Phil” show, Joseph Petito said Laundrie and his daughter had dated for two and a half years, and Laundrie was “always respectful".
During the interview, which was recorded before his daughter’s body was found, Petito said the couple had taken a previous road trip to California in her car and there were no problems.
Mr Petito said the family began worrying after several days without hearing from their daughter.
“We called Brian, we called the mum, we called the dad, we called the sister, we called every number that we could find,” he said.
“No phone calls were picked up, no text messages were returned.”
Search for boyfriend Brian Laundrie continues
Gabby's boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, has been missing since last week.
The two set off on their trip in July in a converted van, however Laundrie returned home to his parents home alone on September 1, in the van.
Authorities are continuing their search for Laundrie at a swampy preserve near his home in Florida.
Investigators started scouring the area after his parents told them it is where he may have gone after he disappeared.
A photo shared to social media and with the authorities showed a man which matched Laundrie's appearance. It resulted in authorities searching an area 700km away from the preserve near his parent's house.
The image was shared to Facebook by a man named Sam Bass.
"I’m not saying this is the guy but whoever was on my trail camera this morning in Baker, Fl strongly fits the description of Brian Laundrie, authorities have been contacted, but people in the North West Florida area be on the look out," Bass wrote on Facebook,
However, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted an "extensive" search in the Baker area and 'no one - and nothing - of note was located".
"There are no known possible past or current connections between Laundrie and anyone in this area at this time to follow up on," OCSO said on Facebook.
"In the meantime we will remain vigilant and if anything new of significance develops we will share."
Mr Petito said he wants Laundrie to be held accountable for whatever part he played in his daughter’s disappearance, along with his family for protecting him.
“I hope they get what’s coming, and that includes his folks,” Mr Petito said. “Because I’ll tell you, right now, they are just as complicit, in my book.”
The FBI said investigators are seeking information from anyone who may have seen the couple around Grand Teton.
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