The story sounds creepy, the case is currently affecting many people in the USA: A young couple is stopped by the police on their round trip. Shortly thereafter, there is no trace of the woman. But that's not the only puzzle.
The mysterious disappearance of 22-year-old Gabby Petito from Florida is a concern for authorities and the public in the United States. Her boyfriend Brian Laundrie had already returned to his parents in Florida on September 1 – and has been silent about Petito's fate ever since. Her family reported the young woman missing on September 11th. Laundrie remains silent and only communicates with the police through his lawyer.
In June, Petito set out with her fiancé on a road trip through various US states. According to North Port Police, the family was last in contact with her in late August. Officials assume that she was traveling in Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park at the time. The couple traveled in a white Ford Transit. Laundrie had brought the pickup truck home to his parents.
Police arrested couple in Utah
In August, Petito and Laundrie were stopped by a police patrol in Moab, Utah. Gabby was seen again on a "bodycam" (a camera attached to the police officer's uniform). In the conversation with the police officer, she reported an argument with her fiancé. He didn't want to let her back in the van. The policeman advised her that they both spend the night separately. In his police report he writes that she was very emotional and manic.
Laundrie and Petito reportedly got into a physical altercation after the argument. But "both the man and the woman have stated that they are in love and engaged and do not want anyone to be charged with a felony," Officer Eric Pratt's report said.
On August 19, the couple published a video about the trip together on YouTube. It shows a couple in love enjoying togetherness and nature. But what happened afterwards? New recordings released by the police provide information.
You can see the pictures in the video above or here.
In a statement, Petito's parents reported that Laundrie would not tell them where he last saw their daughter and "refuses to explain why he left Gabby all alone and drove her van to Florida." The police describe the circumstances of the disappearance as "strange".
A criminal defense attorney said she expects Laundrie to be arrested in connection with Petito's disappearance soon after police named him a suspect, according to ABC News.
