[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] A woman in her 20s who was found dead after traveling in a camper van with her fianc? in the United States was revealed to have died from strangulation. The prime suspect, her fianc?, is currently missing.
On the 12th (local time), according to the Washington Post (WP) and others, Brent Blue, the coroner of Teton County, Wyoming, determined the cause of death of Gabby Petito (22) after an autopsy to be strangulation by hand.
Coroner Blue stated, "At the time of discovery, Petito's body had been left in a field for 3 to 4 weeks." However, he did not answer whether the body was found buried or if there were bruises on the body, saying the investigation is ongoing. He also did not disclose the degree of decomposition or toxicology test results at the time of discovery.
Petito's body was found on the 19th of last month at one of the campsites in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in western Wyoming. The autopsy results were released nearly a month after the body was found.
Coroner Blue explained the lengthy autopsy process by saying, "It was because various experts were invited to conduct extensive toxicology tests and others."
Petito had traveled to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming in July this year with her fianc?, Brian Laundrie (23), but never returned home. During the trip, police were called after witnessing the couple arguing. Subsequently, Laundrie returned alone to his home in Florida on the 1st of last month.
Petito's family reported her missing to the police on the 11th of the same month. The family stated they had not been able to contact Petito since August 25. They asked Laundrie about her whereabouts but received no response. Laundrie exercised his right to remain silent during police questioning and disappeared starting from the 14th of last month.
When asked if he suspects Laundrie, Coroner Blue said, "It is up to the police to determine who committed the murder," but added, "Petito's death is one among many deaths related to domestic violence occurring across the United States."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
