Gabby Petito timeline: From road trip with Brian Laundrie to active criminal investigation

Multiple law enforcement agencies across the country are searching for a missing 22-year-old woman who was reported missing after setting out on a cross-country trip in a converted van with her fiancé.

Gabrielle, or Gabby, Petito and 23-year-old Brian Laundrie documented the trip on their Instagram and YouTube pages.

The FBI announced Sunday during a news conference that a body found near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming matches Petito's description.

Forensic investigations have yet to confirm the body as Petito's.

Petito and Laundrie were childhood sweethearts on Long Island before moving from Blue Point, New York, in 2019 to live with his parents in North Port, Florida.

The van that the two were traveling in has since been recovered at Petito's residence in North Port. Laundrie was at the home, but he refused to speak with authorities.

Laundrie has been named a person of interest in the case. 

Gabby Petito:What we know about missing Florida 22-year-old

Who is Brian Laundrie?:What we know about Gabby Petito's fiancé

Social media reaction:Tweets, TikTok true crime videos, podcasts emerge

Here's a timeline of events so far:

July: Couple departs from New York on a cross-country trip

Petito and Laundrie started their drive across Long Island in a white 2012 Ford Transit van with Florida license plate QFTG03. The van had been converted so the two can live and travel comfortably, social posts from Petito said.

Aug. 12: Traffic stop in Moab City, Utah

A video released by the Moab Police Department shows an officer pulled over the van on Aug. 12 after it was seen speeding and hit a curb near the entrance to Arches National Park.

The body camera video shows Petito visibly upset when an officer approached them.

“We’ve just been fighting this morning. Some personal issues,” she tells him, adding that she suffers from an obsessive-compulsive disorder that affects her behavior.

“Yeah, I don’t know, it’s just some days, I have really bad OCD, and I was just cleaning and straightening up, and I was apologizing to him saying that I’m so mean because sometimes I have OCD and get frustrated,” she said.

Laundrie says on the video the couple got into a minor scuffle that began when he climbed into the van with dirty feet and said he didn't want to pursue a domestic violence charge against Petito, who officers decided was the aggressor.

“I’m not going to pursue anything because she is my fiancée and I love her. It was just a squabble. Sorry it had to get so public,” Laundrie says.

Ultimately, Moab police decided not to file any charges and instead separated the couple for the night, with Laundrie checking into a motel and Petito remaining with the converted sleeper van.

Aug. 19: 'VAN LIFE' vlog posted online

The first — and only — video was posted on the couple's joint YouTube page, "Nomadic Statik," which was created the same day. 

The eight-minute video titled “Van Life: Beginning our Van Life Journey” features happy and romantic scenes from the couple’s trip.

Aug. 25: Last seen 

According to a verified GoFundMe page set up to raise funds to aid in the search for Petito, she was "last known to be in Grand Teton, Wyoming on 8/25/21 heading towards Yellowstone National Park."

Aug. 30: Text to mom

According to Petito's family, they were last in contact with her during the last week of August. Prior to the last communication, Petito is believed to have been in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

“The last text I got from her was on Aug. 30. I don’t know if that was her texting me or not,” Petito's mother Nichole Schmidt told WFLA-TV.

Sept. 1: Laundrie returns to Florida

Petito was not with him, police said.

Laundrie drove the Ford Transit van back to Florida on Sept. 1 alone, police said. He returned to the home he shares with his parents and Petito.

Authorities located the van at the North Port home on Sept. 11, according to local police.

More:Missing North Port woman Gabby Petito's vehicle recovered, woman still not found

Sept. 11: Petito's family reports her missing

Petito's family filed a missing persons report with the Suffolk County Police Department in New York.

Sept. 14: Laundrie's lawyer makes statement

“This is understandably an extremely difficult time for both the Petito family and the Laundrie family.

It is our understanding that a search has been organized for Miss Petito in or near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. On behalf of the Laundrie family it is our hope that the search for Miss Petito is successful and that Miss Petito is re-united with her family.

On the advice of counsel, the Laundrie family is remaining in the background at this juncture and will have no further comment.” 

Sept. 15: Laundrie named person of interest by North Port police

A “person of interest” refers to someone who police believe could have information pertinent to a crime. 

Laundrie, person of interest:Gabby Petito's fiancé named, Florida officials say

North Port Police Chief Todd Garrison called out Laundrie's lawyer on Twitter, saying investigators need help in their search of finding Petito.

"Two people left on a trip and one person returned!"

Sept. 16: North Port Police Department holds press conference 

Gabby's father, Joe Petito, pleaded for any assistance or clues to find his daughter during a press conference Thursday at North Port City Hall. 

"What I need from everybody here is help," said Joe Petito, who lives in Vero Beach. 

Sept. 17: Authorities, protestors gather at Laundrie's home

Protestors gathered outside the home of Brian Laundrie on Friday night, instead of a scheduled vigil at nearby North Port City Hall. With several police cars on the block, authorities have been inside the home for more than a hour.

Detectives carried what appeared to be small brown paper evidence bags into the house and searched cars at the property.

Vigil for Gabby:North Port community gathers at vigil for Gabby Petito as search continues

Sept. 17: Brian Laundrie is missing

North Port Police spokesman Josh Taylor told the Herald-Tribune on Friday night that Laundrie's family filed a missing person report around 5 p.m. on Brian Laundrie.

Authorities earlier this week named Laundrie as a person of interest in the disappearance of his fiancé, but he has refused to speak to police. 

Sept. 18: Search for Brian Laundrie at Carlton Reserve

At least 50 law enforcement officers combed through a massive nature preserve in southern Sarasota County on Saturday in search of Brian Laundrie. The search was called off due to darkness just before 8 p.m.

His family says they believe he entered the area earlier this week. They notified police Friday that they had not seen him since Tuesday.

Sept. 19: Search for Brian Laundrie continues Sunday

"The search for Brian Laundrie continues Sunday morning in the Carlton Reserve," North Point Police tweeted.

"A team of more than 50 looking for anything of note after his parents say this is where he went. We continue to corroborate all info in the search for him and Gabby."

Sunday updates:Body found 'consistent with' Gabby Petito's description, FBI says

Sept. 19: Body found that is 'consistent with' Gabby Petito's description

A body found near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming is consistent with the description of missing North Port woman Gabby Petito, and her family has been notified, officials said in a news conference Sunday evening.

Forensic investigations have yet to confirm the body as Petito's, and a cause of death has not yet been determined. 

Sept. 20: FBI executes search warrant at Brian Laundrie's North Port home

The FBI has executed a search warrant Monday morning at the home of Brian Laundrie in North Port, and his parents were seen getting into a van with law enforcement officials.

Meanwhile, police will stop searching the swampy preserves in southern Sarasota County for the fiancé of Gabby Petito as the case turns to a criminal investigation.

Laundrie's parents were seen getting into a van with law enforcement officials after a search warrant was executed Monday morning.

About 30 minutes later, his parents were seen being brought back into the home by officials.

Sept. 20: Active criminal investigation

In response to a records request from the Herald-Tribune, the North Port Police Department released redacted missing person's reports for Laundrie and Petito on Monday. 

For the first time, law enforcement has classified the case as an active criminal investigation, citing this as the lone reason for the heavy redactions to the missing person's reports.

Monday updates: FBI executes search warrant at Brian Laundrie's home

Sept. 21: North Port police, FBI resume search for Brian Laundrie

Authorities in Florida returned Tuesday to a sprawling wilderness preserve, wetlands and recreation area, searching for the fiancé of blogger Gabby Petito.

Law enforcement searched the 25,000-acre swampy woods of Carlton Reserve with drones, police dogs, ATVs and helicopters, noting the rough terrain was flooded with waist-deep waters, infested with snakes and alligators.

As of 1 p.m., no sign of Laundrie had been found.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis weighed in on Tuesday.

"I have directed all state agencies under my purview to continue to assist federal & local law enforcement as they continue to search - we need justice for Gabby Petito," a tweet from the governor said. 

Tuesday updates:North Port police, FBI resume search for Brian Laundrie

Sept. 21: Autopsy reveals Gabby Petito's cause of death is homicide

An autopsy confirmed that the remains found Sunday at a campground near Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park are those of Petito.

Latest:Autopsy confirms body is Petito

Do you have information about the case?

The FBI has set up a national hotline to receive tips at 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324). It is the primary line for all information on Petito. They are asking for anyone with information to reach out.

Contributing: Patricia McKnight, Sarasota Herald-Tribune; Associated Press

Grace Pateras is a digital producer for the USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter at @gracepateras.