The worst fears have come true: Gabby Petito is not only dead – she was probably killed too. The case of the 22-year-old from the United States is haunting people across the country.
North Port / Moose / Washington – In the mysterious case of Gabby Petito, the US investigators assume a homicide after the forensic medical examination.
The cause of death has not yet been clearly clarified, “since the final autopsy results are still pending,” said the FBI on Tuesday evening (local time). However, it has been confirmed beyond any doubt that the body found on Sunday in the state of Wyoming is 22-year-old Petito. There was still no trace of her 23-year-old boyfriend.
Case receives international attention
The case is making waves in the USA and is also attracting international attention – not least because the Florida couple shared numerous pictures and videos from their trip on social networks. The two had set off on a trip through the USA in the summer. On September 1, the boyfriend came back home to Florida alone, according to police, ten days later Petito’s parents reported their daughter as missing.
Investigators suspected that Gabby was last in the Grand Teton National Park area of Wyoming. They had looked for her there over the weekend – and finally found her body. Why the journey of the couple, who looked happy in pictures, came to a fatal end is open.
Petito’s friend only communicated through a lawyer
The investigators are hoping for answers from Petito’s friend. The 23-year-old was also reported missing by his parents last Friday. He had not spoken to investigators before and only communicated through his lawyer. He had actually announced a press conference for Tuesday – but then canceled it again. The investigators had also searched the house of the 23-year-old’s parents. This is where he and Petito lived before their trip through the United States. Pictures showed investigators carrying large boxes out of the house.
Gabby’s father, Joe Petito, blamed the boyfriend’s parents on US television. He asked how it could be that the 23-year-old had returned without his girlfriend and that the parents had not acted earlier. After all, Gabby lived there too. In his opinion, they are currently complicit. “That’s not how you raise a child,” he said. He understands that one wants to protect his son, but for him the parents are “cowards”.
Meanwhile, numerous hobby detectives are trying to solve the case online. They investigate photos and videos that Gabby shared on social networks. Many hope that this great attention might help track down Gabby’s boyfriend. dpa
