American Woman Missing After Couple's Trip... Boyfriend Returns Alone and Disappears

Gabriele Gabi Petito (22), who went on a trip to the United States last month, has gone missing.
[Photo by CNN]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] A woman in her 20s who traveled in the United States last month has gone missing. The man who traveled with her returned alone and suddenly disappeared.

According to CNN and other foreign media on the 18th (local time), Gabriele Gabi Petito (22) visited Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie (23), and lost contact with her family at the end of last month.

The two, who started traveling within the U.S. since June, posted videos of their travel stories on social media (SNS) at the time. In the videos, they openly showed their love for each other by kissing and swinging together.

It is reported that Petito continued to keep in touch with her family and acquaintances even during the trip.

Then, at the end of last month, contact with Petito was lost, and on the 1st, Laundrie returned alone by car to his home in Florida. Petito was not with him.

Eventually, Petito's family reported her missing to the police. Immediately after the report, Petito's family asked Laundrie when he last saw Petito and why he returned alone.

However, Laundrie remained tight-lipped. It is said that he also exercised his right to remain silent during the police investigation. Laundrie's lawyer explained, "The authorities first suspect those close to the victim in such cases," and "Laundrie's statement could be disadvantageous in any situation."

The police have seized the vehicle used by Gabriele Petito (22) and her boyfriend Brian Laundrie (23) during their trip to look for clues.
[Photo by CNN]

According to reports, on the 12th of last month, local police received a domestic violence report that Petito and Laundrie were arguing and investigated them. The police report at the time stated that Petito was uncontrollably crying and claimed she had mental health issues.

At that time, Laundrie told the police that he had emotional problems with Petito and that they often argued. After the investigation, the police recommended that the two spend the night separately and did not press charges. Petito disappeared afterward.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other investigative authorities are conducting a large-scale search for Petito, but she has not yet been found.

Meanwhile, Laundrie, who has come under the spotlight of the investigation, has also disappeared. Laundrie's family told the police that they have not seen him for a week.

The police said, "We are not currently conducting a criminal investigation," and "We are searching for the missing person." The police have seized the vehicle they were riding in to look for clues.

Meanwhile, about two weeks before Petito went missing, on the 12th of last month, she was recorded on a police body camera in southern Utah. The bodycam footage shows Petito crying and telling the officer that they often argued and it was difficult.