Timeline of Gabby Petito's murder as new Netflix documentary recalls brutal death at hands of fiancé Brian Laundrie
Almost four years on from Gabby Petito's murder, Netflix has released a documentary examining the horrific case that shocked the US and beyond.
Gabby and new fiancé Brian Laundrie had set off on a cross-country trip of a lifetime in July 2021, living in a converted Ford transit van.
But their Instagram-perfect relationship was a far cry from reality as the pair went from being young and in love to the center of a criminal investigation.
Gabby went missing just weeks into their trip - only for Brian to be found responsible for her murder.
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As three-part series American Murder: Gabby Petito releases on Netflix, here's a look back at the couple's timeline.
March 2019
At the age of 20, Gabby Petito begins dating Brian Laundrie. They'd first met as students at Bayport-Blue Point High School in Long Island, New York.
December 2019
About nine months into dating, the couple move to Florida from New York to be closer to Brian’s family.
July 2, 2020
Gabby and Brian get engaged after dating for around a year and three months. Gabby posts about the proposal - which didn't include a ring - to Instagram.
Instead of focusing on wedding planning after their engagement, Gabby and Brian decide that they want to purchase a van and travel across the country, with Gabby excited to launch a career as a travel influencer.
July 2, 2021
The couple visit Gabby's family in New York before embarking on their cross-country road trip.
August 12, 2021
Gabby and Brian are pulled over by police after witnesses report a 'domestic violence incident' in Utah.
It's Gabby who is determined as the 'aggressor' and the couple are made to spend the night apart.
Brian is put up in a motel room for domestic violence survivors.
He catches a flight home before reuniting with Gabby back on the open road.
August 19, 2021
Gabby posts her first and only YouTube video under a channel titled 'Nomadic Statik'.
The eight-minute-long video shows their van driving along scenic routes and how the couple sustain themselves in their tiny living space.
The video has now been viewed more than seven million times.
August 22, 2021
Gabby expresses a desire to break up with Brian to an ex-boyfriend, Jackson.
August 25, 2021
Gabby uploads her last Instagram post. It's a photo of herself smiling in front of a large butterfly mural.
August 27, 2021
Gabby makes contact with Jackson once again. She messages him on Snapchat and later rings him, but he's unable to pick up the call.
That same day, Gabby is captured on surveillance footage walking with Brian through a Whole Foods in Jackson, Wyoming.
This would be the last known video footage of Gabby.
August 28, 2021
Brian heads to Colter Bay Village, Wyoming, from the Spread Creek camping area he'd been staying on edge of Grand Teton National Park.
He later calls his mom, staying on the phone to her for around an hour.
August 29, 2021
Brian gets a lift from a woman named Miranda Baker from Colter Bay toward Jackson, Wyoming.
Later, a woman named Norma Jean Jalovec notices Brian hitchhiking on her way out of Grand Teton National Park and gives him a ride to the Spread Creek campsite, where he claims his fiancée is waiting for him.
August 30, 2021
Brian starts his drive back to Florida without Gabby. He uses Gabby’s debit card to pay for gas and transfers $700 from her bank account to himself, with the note 'Goodbye Brian, I’ll never ask you for anything again'.
Gabby’s mother, Nichole, gets a text from Gabby’s phone that refers to her grandfather by his first name, which sends alarm bells ringing.
She suspects Brian is texting from Gabby’s phone.
September 1 to 7, 2021
Gabby’s mother texts Gabby repeatedly and gets no response back.
September 9, 2021
Gabby's mom and dad realize their daughter hasn't responded to their text messages.
They begin calling her, to no avail.
September 10, 2021
Gabby’s mom appears to have been blocked by Brian's mom when she texts her and the message turns green.
Gabby’s family and friends begin posting on Facebook about her disappearance.
September 11, 2021
Police officers visit the Laundrie home to inquire about Gabby’s whereabouts after her parents raise the alarm.
Laundrie’s parents claim Brian is at home, but refuse to answer any other questions.
September 17, 2021
Police visit the Laundrie household after receiving a tip that something odd is going on.
Brian’s parents inform them that he isn’t there and that he’s been missing for days after heading out on a hike in the nearby Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park.
September 18, 2021
Authorities ask the public for help in tracking down Gabby and receive thousands of tips.
September 19, 2021
Gabby’s body is found at the Spread Creek camping area in Wyoming. Her death is ruled a homicide.
An autopsy later found that she was killed by 'blunt-force injuries' to her head and neck and 'manual strangulation'.
September 23, 2021
A federal arrest warrant is issued for Brian Laundrie.
October 20, 2021
The Laundrie family visit the Carlton Reserve in Sarasota County, Florida, where police had been combing, to carry out their own search.
At 8am, an hour after arriving, Brian's father finds his son’s waterproof bag.
Some forty-five minutes later, Brian's decomposed remains are found.
Medical examiners concluded he died from a gunshot wound to the head.
It was also reported he had been in up to three feet and possibly more of water for an extended period of time before being located.
American Murder: Gabby Petito is available to stream now on Netflix.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
Topics: Gabby Petito, True crime, Netflix, Film and TV
Ellie Kemp