Why Gabby Petito murder case isn’t closed as expert says fight over notebook & new evidence could blow probe open
GABBY Petito's murder case will remain open while the FBI documents every step of the investgiation, every interview and every piece of evidence in case a future discovery contradicts the FBI's findings.
In mid January, the FBI concluded that Gabby's boyfriend Brian Laundrie claimed responsibility for her death in his notebook that was found next to his body after he shot himself.
It seemed at the point the case was closed, but the FBI told The Sun in an email this week that "the case is still open pending administrative actions prior to closing."
The Bureau declined to comment further.
But David Shapiro - a retired FBI agent and distinguished lecturer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice - peeled back the curtail and explained what happens before a case is officially closed.
"After this young woman went missing, they conducted an investigation and talked to people and whatever else was done. All that was documented, and that becomes the investigative file," Shapiro told The Sun in exclusive interview this week.
"The investigative file is then stored electronically and in a paper file ... It’s essentially dotting the i's and crossing the t's, but it' an essential process to protect the integrity of the investigation.
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"Just because the case is closed, the issue is not dead. Newly discovered evidence in the future can change things."
This process takes at least three months - and many times more - depending on the complexity of the case, Shapiro said.
Gabby Petito timeline
Gabby Petito, 22, was last seen on August 24, leaving a hotel in Utah. Here is a timeline of Gabby Petito's disappearance:
- June 2021 - Gabby Petito and her fiancé Brian Laundrie set off on a cross-country trip across the US.
- July 4 - Gabby posts photos of herself barefoot in Gove County, Kansas.
- July 8 - Gabby posts photos of herself at the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.
- July 18 - Gabby and Brian post photos of themselves at Utah's Zion National Park.
- August 12 - Body camera footage was released in September showing an encounter Brian and Gabby had with police in Utah. Police confirmed that no significant injuries were reported.
- August 19 - Gabby and Brian post a video on their YouTube channel chronicling their trip.
- August 24 - Gabby is spotted leaving a hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah.
- August 25 - Gabby Facetimes her mom, Nichole Schmidt, for the final time. In a later police report, Schmidt said her conversations with her daughter revealed "more and more tension" between her and Brian.
- August 25 - Gabby also posts her last Instagram. No location is given.
- August 27 - Gabby is seen for what's believed to be the final time. Witnesses claim they saw Brian in an explosive argument with staff at a restaurant in Jackson Hole, leaving Gabby in tears.
- August 27 - Four hours later, travel bloggers driving through Grand Teton National Park drive past the couple's van "abandoned" on a dirt road.
- September 1 - Brian returns home to Florida without Gabby.
- September 11 - Gabby's parents report her missing to Suffolk County police.
- September 14 - Brian's family issues a statement saying he has retained an attorney and will not be cooperating with investigators.
- September 14 - Brian is allegedly last seen by his family. He reportedly told them he was going hiking in Cartlon Reserve but failed to return.
- September 15 - Florida's North Port police announce Brian is a person of interest in the case. He is not charged with any crime.
- September 16 - Utah police release body camera footage of the police encounter with Brian and Gabby.
- September 17 - Brian's parents say they have not seen their son in a couple of days and report him missing.
- September 18 - Police announce they were searching Carlton Reserve in Florida for Brian. Police announce they have not found anything.
- September 19 - Authorities in Wyoming say they found a body in Grand Teton National Park. The FBI announces the body was believed to be Gabby's but a full forensic identification needs to be completed first to confirm.
- September 20 - Police execute a search warrant on Laundrie's home, seizing his silver Mustang and a hard drive that may contain "evidence relevant to proving that a felony has been committed."
- September 21 - Officials announce they will be conducting an autopsy on the remains found in Wyoming to confirm whether or not they belong to Gabby. Police also resumed their search for Laundrie, this time on the Venice side of Carlton Reserve.
- September 21 - The FBI announced the body found in Wyoming was identified as Gabby's. The cause of death was not yet revealed.
- September 21 - The Teton County Coroner's office said Gabby's official cause of death was still pending but the initial manner of death is homicide.
- September 22 - Police continue to scour Carlton Reserve for a trace of Laundrie but yield no leads. A specialist dive team is called in to assist with the hunt.
- September 23 - Officials announced a federal arrest warrant for Brian was issued.
- September 26 - Gabby's funeral was held on Long Island, New York.
- October 12: Gabby's autopsy results were made public. Teton County Coroner Dr Brent Blue confirmed Gabby died by strangulation.
- October 20: Laundrie's personal items were found at the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. A medical examiner was called to the scene.
- October 21: The FBI confirmed the remains found have been identified as Laundrie's.
- November 23: Laundrie's autopsy reveals he died from a gunshot wound to the head
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WHAT HAPPENS TO THE NOTEBOOK?
Evidence - particularly something as vital as Laundrie's notebook - may never be released, even to the family, Shapiro said.
The FBI said in its highly-anticipated report, which was released in mid January, that Laundrie admitted to killing Gabby in a suicide note in his notebook before he shot himself.
The Sun filed a Freedom of Information request for the notebook, which was denied by the FBI.
"The records responsive to your request are law enforcement records," FBI said in response to The Sun's public records request.
"There is a pending or prospective law enforcement proceeding relevant to these responsive records, and release of the information could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings."
During the interview with Shapiro, which was days before the FBI's response, Shapiro said the notebook "is probably going to be under lock and key because it's a vital piece of the case.
"His parents can try to get, but it might be too important to give back to them, unless a court decides differently," he said.
CAN THIS PROCESS DETERMINE THE NATURE OF GABBY'S DEATH?
The cause of death was revealed by about a month after Gabby's body was found in a Wyoming state forest on September 19, 2021.
Her autopsy revealed that she was strangled up to four weeks before her body was found, but law enforcement never said if her murder was premeditated, sudden passion or self defense.
That likely won't ever be known, Shaprio said.
"You need people with evidence to prove that, and honestly, some issues can’t be resolved," he said.
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"If there’s surveillance, maybe you can, but there’s only so much law enforcement can do.
"You can try to make links. You call this person who knows this and has this piece of evidence. Absent that, sometimes we just don’t know."
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