Funeral home releases Gabby Petito’s life in pictures
Gabby Petito’s life in pictures show a happy, active and loving young girl who led a life well-lived – until it was cruelly cut short by her murder.
The images are of a happy, active and loving young girl and woman, of a life well-lived – until it was taken from her, cruelly cut short by a murder far away from home.
Gabby Petito’s life in pictures, from her childhood to recent months as a young adult, show an affectionate daughter, sister, and older half-sibling revelling in every pastime and challenge she tackled.
Whether she was scuba diving, sand boarding, being a flower girl, cuddling younger siblings, playing a fairy princess or with her pet dog, Gabrielle Venora Petito looked to be enjoying life to the full.
The Moloney Funeral Home on Long Island has released a video made by her family of Gabby’s life.
The images show her love of nature and the outdoors, hiking at a younger age and photographed recently at America’s iconic national parks on her trip with fiance Brian Laundrie.
On Sunday afternoon, the funeral home is opening to the public for five hours for a visitation memorial.
Then on Monday, her father Joseph Petito, stepmother Tara Petito, mother Nichole Schmidt, stepfather Jim Schmidt, Gabby’s five younger siblings and extended family will farewell her at a funeral.
Ms Petito and Laundrie took off for the western United States in early July, driving in her vehicle and documenting their trip on social media in pictures and video hashtagged #vanlife.
After leaving her family on Long Island, Ms Petito stayed in regular touch via text and phone calls until she abruptly stopped communicating in late August.
Since then, stories have come to light about the couple’s physical altercation on August 12 in Moab, Utah, which was attended by police and Laundrie’s fight with female restaurant staff in Jackson Hole, Wyoming on August 27.
Laundrie arrived home to his parents’ house in North Port, Florida in Gabby’s white Ford Transit van but without her on September 1.
Ms Petito’s parents reported her missing on September 11, and Florida Police who went to the house were repelled in their efforts to interview him by the Laundries’ lawyer.
Chris and Roberta Laundrie later reported their son had left on a hike on September 14, although neighbours report seeing the family leave with a camper van on the day Ms Petito was reported missing.
Ms Petito’s body was discovered a week ago near a remote camping ground in Grand Teton National Park in northwestern Wyoming.
A post mortem determined she had been murdered.
Laundrie has been declared a “person of interest” and a warrant has been issued for his arrest for using Ms Petito’s debit card on his solo drive back from Wyoming.
In Florida, searchers have been scouring the Carlton wilderness reserve near his parents’ home for Laundrie, so far in vain.
On Facebook, mourners posted their messages of condolence to Ms Petito’s family.
One commenter wrote: “Gabby, You are now in the arms of the angels”.
Another wrote that Gabby was “in a beautiful place where there is no more sadness nor sorrow. You are free at last. Rest now in sweet heavenly peace!!”
Tributes from wellwishers came from across the US and from around the world, expressing sorrow for the family with messages like, “I wish I could take away some of the pain you are feeling”.
One person posted: “I have never met Gabby, but how could I not be affected by her passing, as is all of America.”
Qantas pilot named as crash victim
A Qantas pilot has been named as one of three victims who died in a horror mid-air crash in Sydney on Saturday.
Five injured in gas explosion at campground
Five people have been injured in a gas explosion at a campground in South Australia, with two of them in a serious condition.
Seaplane ditches into ocean at holiday hotspot
An investigation is underway after a seaplane carrying five people ditched into the ocean at a popular tourist hotspot.