Gabby Petito: What did her Autopsy Reveal & what Happened to her body?

Gabby Petito’s case gripped the nation in 2021 when the 22-year-old travel blogger went missing during a cross-country road trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie. After weeks of searching, authorities discovered her remains in Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest on Sept. 19, 2021. Her autopsy later provided crucial insights into what happened to her. So, what did Gabby Petito's autopsy reveal? In this article, we will discuss that.

Discovery and Gabby Petito Autopsy Findings

On September 19, 2021, the FBI discovered the remains of 22-year-old Gabby Petito at a campsite near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. She had been missing for weeks after embarking on a cross-country road trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie. 

According to Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue, the autopsy confirmed that Petito died of “manual strangulation/throttling,” ruling the manner of death a homicide. The examination estimated that she had been dead for three to four weeks before her body was found. (via CNN)

Further analysis revealed that Petito had also suffered blunt-force trauma to her head and neck. (via FBI.gov). FBI agents noted that her body was found in a fetal position, suggesting she was moved postmortem. Authorities also collected DNA samples from her remains to aid the investigation. (via CNN)

The autopsy also indicated that there was no evidence of drugs or alcohol in her system. Dr. Blue refrained from disclosing further details about the nature of her injuries, citing Wyoming state law.

Brian Laundrie: Prime Suspect and Confession

Suspicion quickly turned to Brian Laundrie, who had returned to his Florida home alone in early September, declining to cooperate with authorities. Shortly after Petito was reported missing, Laundrie himself vanished, prompting a nationwide manhunt. 

On October 20, 2021, his skeletal remains were discovered in Florida’s Carlton Reserve, alongside a backpack containing a notebook in which he confessed to Petito’s murder. The coroner ruled his death a suicide caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Laundrie’s account claimed he killed Petito out of mercy, but his version of events did not align with the coroner’s findings. His mother, Roberta Laundrie, later came under scrutiny when a letter she wrote to Brian surfaced, stating, “If you need to dispose of a body, I will show up with a shovel and garbage bags.” She insisted the letter was written months before Petito’s death and had no connection to the case. (via E News)

What Happened to Gabby Petito’s body?

The autopsy revealed that her body had undergone partial decomposition due to exposure to the elements. While authorities did not provide specific details, they noted that her remains were intact at the time of discovery.

Following the autopsy, her remains were released to her family for burial. Her parents have since become vocal advocates against domestic violence and established the Gabby Petito Foundation in her memory.

The three-part docuseries American Muder: Gabby Petito is now available for streaming on Netflix. It offers a deeper look into the circumstances surrounding her death and the nationwide response that followed.