In early September of 2021, Brian Laundrie returned back home to Florida, without completing his cross country road trip, and without his Fiancé Gabby Petito. What was a simple cross country road trip turned quickly to a tense homicide investigation. 

It all began in June of 2021, when a twenty-three year old, Brian Laundrie, the primary suspect set off with his fiance, Gabby Petito, who was twenty-two at the time, started their road trip in Florida. However, they made an abrupt stop in late August, when they exchanged words with the Utah State Police.

The state police received multiple phone calls about a man allegedly hitting a woman and then the two got back in their car and took off. The state police tracked the couple down miles later and questioned them separately. Petito was on the body cam footage of Officer Daniel Robbins stating she was hit by Laundrie but she was the one who hit him first. 

“After evaluating the totality of the circumstances, I do not believe the situation escalated to the level of a domestic assault as much as that of a mental health crisis.” Officer Daniel Robbins wrote in his police report. Officer Robbins let them on their way after the couple both agreed they didn’t want any charges pressed.

Days later on August 27th, eyewitnesses spotted Laundrie and Petito arguing in a restaurant near Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Nina Angelo, a photographer who was eating in the restaurant on that day, described Brian Laundries’ body language as “aggressive,” noting how he left and returned to the table multiple times.   

On September 1st, Brian Laundrie returned back home to Florida, without completing his cross country road trip, and without his Fiancé Gabby Petito. 

Within a few days of Brian Laundries’ return Gabby Petito’s parents worried as their daughter didn’t return any of the family’s calls in weeks. The last text they received from her was on August 30th reading “No service in Yosemite.” 

The Petito parents reported her as missing on September 11th, several days after her failed return with her fiance. The police attempted to question Laundrie and the family a few days after the report, on September 14th, however, Brian Laundrie was nowhere to be found. The Laundrie family claimed ignorance of their son’s whereabouts, but would share his location if they knew it. 

After his disappearance, Brian Laundrie was further investigated as a potential suspect, since he was the last person in contact with Petito at the time of her disappearance. 

The FBI started investigating in Laundrie’s hometown and the 25,000-acre Carlton Reserve close by. Although there was little trace of Laundrie’s presence, they felt it was the most probable spot for him to camp out.

After weeks of searching, Gabby Petito’s body was identified by Denver’s FBI field department. Found in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. It was found she was strangled to death, it was later ruled a homicide.

On September 23rd, Brian Laundrie was a wanted man in all 50 States. 

The search for Brian Laundrie came to a surprising end when he was found dead in North Port, Florida. No official cause of death has been publicly revealed at this time.

Perhaps one day, both families can get closure.