Young American traveler Gabby Petito was the victim of a homicide

WASHINGTON | The young American traveler Gabby Petito, who shared on social networks her journey in the vastness of the western United States with her fiancé, and whose mysterious disappearance has moved Americans, was the victim of a homicide, announced Tuesday the FBI.

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The initial analysis of the medical examiner responsible for examining the body found in the state of Wyoming is that the death is a “homicide”, details a statement from the FBI division of Denver in Colorado. The federal police add, however, that the official cause of death will be confirmed by the final results of the autopsy.

The case fascinated American and foreign Internet users, who followed and commented on all the stages of the vast search operation to find the 22-year-old woman, who went missing on September 11 during a traveling trip with her companion. , Brian Laundrie.

Her parents last communicated with her when the couple, who were traveling in a campervan, were in the Grand Teton National Park area.

The 23-year-old fiance was actively wanted by police on Tuesday, who raided his parents’ home the day before, where the couple also lived. Over two weeks ago, Mr. Laundrie walked home alone to this North Port, Florida home with his friend’s van.

He refused to speak to investigators, before disappearing. The police manhunt continued to generate strong interest in the United States on Tuesday.

The hunt, taking place in a marshy reserve in Florida, is complicated by the presence of snakes and alligators, North Port police, in charge of research with the FBI, announced on Tuesday.