Coroner Determines the Cause of Death of Gabby Petito Was Manual Strangulation

The story of Gabby Petito’s death has gone viral around the world. She and her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, went on a trip to tour the country while Gabby filmed it for her social media accounts. Something went wrong along the way. After a fight, Laundrie wound up going home alone and Petito never made it home. Her body was later found and Laundrie took off and is still in hiding. Dog the Bounty Hunter also joined the hunt for him.

Gabby Petito died by “manual strangulation” at least 3 weeks prior to her body being found, according to a Wyoming coroner who gave a statement on Tuesday, while the nationwide manhunt continues for Laundrie, Petito’s missing fiancé.

Petito’s remains were discovered at the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area in Bridger-Teton National Forest on September 19.

Dr. Brent Blue, Teton County Coroner had ruled her death a homicide, but the official cause of death wasn’t revealed until Tuesday, Dr. Blue saying that state law doesn’t permit him to reveal certain types of information.

On October 5, Blue noted in a memo he filed on Tuesday that Petito’s manner of death was homicide with the cause of death being “Death by manual strangulation/throttling.”

“Our initial determination is the body was in the wilderness for three to four weeks” before prior to being found, Blue told reporters, which would place her time of death somewhere between mid to late August.

The good doctor evaded certain questions by reporters about who he thinks strangled Petito, but he did say he believes she was a victim of domestic violence.

“This is only one of many deaths around the country of people who are involved in domestic violence and it’s unfortunate that these other deaths do not get as much coverage as this one,” Blue said.

Laundrie’s family lawyer, Steven Bertolino, reminded everyone that Brian Laundrie is not a suspect in Petito’s death or disappearance.

“Gabby Petito’s death at such a young age is a tragedy,” Bertolino said in a statement on Tuesday.

“While Brian Laundrie is currently charged with the unauthorized use of a debit card belonging to Gabby, Brian is only considered a person of interest in relation to Gabby Petito’s demise. At this time Brian is still missing, and when he is located we will address the pending fraud charge against him.”

When someone is on the lam prior to police even speaking to the person, they aren’t going to refer to them as a suspect.

Laundrie and Petito were on their trip around the country filming their travels and posting to social media before Laundrie arrived back at his parent’s home in North Port, Florida on September 1 and Petito was not with him, according to police.

Petito’s family reported her missing on September 11 and not long after that Laundrie disappeared.

His family told authorities he went hiking on September 14 in the Carlton Reserve in Florida and never came back. Police looked for him, but since it’s a 25,000 acre wildlife refuge, they didn’t find him.

Numerous sightings of Laundrie were reported on all up and down the east coast ever since.

In September, the Grand County Sheriff’s Office in Utah released 911 audio from a witness who claimed he saw a man slap a woman and then saw a white Ford Transit van with Florida license plates driving away. The witness later admitted he wasn’t totally sure of what he saw.

The man’s 911 call led Moab police to stop the van when they came upon it. Laundrie was driving and Petito was sitting on the passenger side. This was August 12. Petito is filmed crying while sitting in the vehicle while the other officer was questioning Laundrie.

Laundrie told the officer questioning him that Petito slapped him, which she admitted to the police. They told the couple to separate for the night to avoid a domestic assault charge against Petito.