The Tragic Journey of Gabby Petito: A Complete Timeline of Her Relationship with Brian Laundrie and Her Disappearance

Netflix’s true-crime documentary American Murder: Gabby Petito chronicles the search for and subsequent investigation into the murder of Gabby Petito by her boyfriend, Brian Christopher Laundrie, and it takes viewers through every step of the tragedy’s timeline. The disappearance of Gabby Petito and the manhunt for her boyfriend, Brian Christopher Laundrie, dominated news media in America in the summer of 2021. The case developed over the span of months, and the timeline of Petito’s murder isn’t immediately clear.

Gabby Petito and Brian Christopher Laundrie began dating in March 2019, when Petito was almost 20 and Laundrie was 21. They had been described as childhood sweethearts, and they were engaged to be married (via Associated Press). As happy as they seemed, however, Petito and Laundrie’s relationship would end in tragedy over two years after it began. The timeline of Gabby Petito’s murder helps show just how tragic her death was, and why American Murder: Gabby Petito is one of Netflix’s scariest true-crime shows.

Gabby Petito & Brian Laundrie Began A Trip To The National Parks In June 2021

Petito & Laundrie Were Aspiring “Van Life” Vloggers & Chronicled Their Road Trip On Video

Gabby Petito’s aspirations of becoming a van life vlogger led her and Brian Laundrie to embark on a cross-country road trip. The police chief of North Port, Todd Garrison, said that Petito and Laundrie had left Florida in June 2021 to visit the National Parks (via ABC News). They took Petito’s van and began chronicling their journey in video logs that were posted to Petito’s YouTube channel, Nomadic Statik. Petito posted the first of the videos on August 19, 2021, which included several days’ worth of footage of the couple’s travels. Petito also referenced being in Utah in that video, which is near where she would go missing.

Prior to their arrival in Wyoming, another big development occurred in Petito and Laundrie’s relationship. On August 12, while they were in Moab, Utah, Petito and Laundrie had the local police called on them due to reports of a domestic dispute (via ABC News). The police determined that Petito was suffering from a mental health crisis and had physically lashed out at Laundrie, though neither had significant injuries. They were pulled over again at the entrance to Arches National Park after fighting over a phone, and Petito was found in tears (via Associated Press).

Gabby Petito Went Missing On August 27

The Search For Gabby Petito Lasted Almost A Full Month

Petito & Laundrie Were Last Seen Together At A Whole Foods In Jackson, Wyoming

On August 27, Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie arrived at Jackson Hole, Wyoming. There, they had lunch at a local restaurant, The Merry Piglets, and went to a Whole Foods in Jackson to purchase groceries. One witness claimed they had an “explosive” argument at the restaurant. That was the last time Petito was seen alive, though she did have a few more signs of life later that day. Petito texted her mother, Nicole Schmidt, at about 7 p.m. on August 27, and she also used her computer later that evening.

Brian Laundrie Began Posing As Gabby Petito To Text Her Mother & Withdraw Money From Her Bank Account On August 30

In the following days, Brian Laundrie immediately began arousing suspicion. Laundrie began texting Petito’s mother from Petito’s phone on August 30, pretending to be her daughter. Schmidt, however, was wary of the change in the tone of the texts she received. Laundrie also began posing as Petito to send money from her bank account to his, which roused the suspicion of the FBI.

Authorities Began Searching For Petito In Late August, & Petito’s Mother Filed A Missing Person’s Report On September 11

After Laundrie caught the FBI’s attention, the law enforcement agency began tracking his movements. While the FBI and local law enforcement agencies began searching for Petito in late August and early September, Petito’s mother filed a missing person’s report on September 11 after not receiving any texts or calls from her daughter for a significant period of time.

The FBI Received Thousands Of Tips About Petito & Laundrie

The FBI also received thousands of tips from concerned people who claimed to have information about Petito, Laundrie, or both. That was partly due to the media’s intense coverage of Petito’s disappearance and partly due to the nature of social media. Since Petito had a very active Instagram and YouTube presence, many of her viewers and followers attempted to help with the investigation on their own. Many of the tips were unfounded, but the FBI eventually received a call that some hikers had spotted Petito’s van in Grand Teton National Park, which turned out to be actionable.

Gabby Petito’s Body Was Found On September 19, 2021

Petito’s Body Was Recovered In Grand Teton National Park & Her Death Was Ruled A Homicide

After receiving the tip, the FBI found Gabby Petito’s body in Grand Teton National Park on September 19, 2021. Petito was just 21 years old when she died. The FBI then ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of Petito’s death, and Teton County coroner Dr. Brent Blue ruled her death a homicide (via CNN). Blue’s report found that Petito died of a combination of blunt force trauma and strangulation. Unfortunately, due to the length of the search for Petito and the level of decomposition her body had gone through, authorities could only estimate that she died three to four weeks before her body was recovered.

Brian Laundrie Went Missing From September 14 To October 20

Laundrie Went Hiking In Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park & Never Returned

The FBI issued an official arrest warrant for Brian Laundrie on September 23, but he had gone missing prior to that time. Laundrie had taken his family’s car to Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in North Port, Florida, where he lived with Petito. The car was found on September 14, but Laundrie was missing somewhere in the nearby woods. The FBI began searching for him without an arrest warrant, but they couldn’t find him for a full month due to some heavy rain and flooding in the area.

Brian Laundrie’s Body Was Found On October 20

Laundrie Died By Suicide By A Gunshot Wound To The Head

Brian Laundrie was found dead in Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park on October 20, 2021. Laundrie had died by suicide, as he shot himself in the head with a handgun. Since it took so long to find Laundrie’s body, the corpse was described as “skeletal” by North Port, Florida, officials, and Laundrie was only identified via his dental records (via NBC New York). About a year after Laundrie’s remains were recovered, a “burn after reading” letter from Laundrie’s mother also resurfaced, and reignited discussion about the murder.

Brian Laundrie’s Confession Was Made Public On January 21, 2022

Laundrie Confessed To Murdering Gabby Petito In His Suicide Note

Along with other belongings he took into the woods, law enforcement also found Brian Laundrie’s suicide note with his corpse. That note included a written confession by Laundrie where he admitted to murdering Gabby Petito. The FBI read Laundrie’s suicide note when his body was discovered on October 20, but his confession wasn’t made public until January 21, 2022 (via Boston Globe). The case was closed shortly after Laundrie’s confession was found. Now, true crime documentaries like American Murder: Gabby Petito are carrying the facts of Gabby Petito’s murder forward.