A makeshift memorial dedicated to missing woman Gabby Petito near City Hall in North Port, Florida. AFP
A makeshift memorial dedicated to missing woman Gabby Petito near City Hall in North Port, Florida. AFP
A makeshift memorial dedicated to missing woman Gabby Petito near City Hall in North Port, Florida. AFP
A makeshift memorial dedicated to missing woman Gabby Petito near City Hall in North Port, Florida. AFP

Body found in US national park identified as missing Gabby Petito


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A body found in a US national park in Wyoming was identified as Gabby Petito, 22, the "van life" traveller who went missing during a road trip with her fiance, the FBI said on Tuesday.

A local coroner had ruled her death a homicide, the bureau said.

"Teton County Coroner Dr Brent Blue confirmed the remains are those of Gabrielle Venora Petito, date of birth March 19, 1999," the Denver office of the FBI said.

"Coroner Blue’s initial determination for the manner of death is homicide. The cause of death remains pending final autopsy results," the FBI said.

Petito's body was discovered on Sunday in a remote area of Bridger-Teton National Forest, in western Wyoming.

It was less than 300 metres from where a pair of travel bloggers filmed what appeared to be the couple's white van parked along a dirt road near Spread Creek on the evening of August 27.

"The FBI and our partners remain dedicated to ensuring anyone responsible for or complicit in Ms Petito's death is held accountable for their actions," FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider said.

FBI agents are searching for her fiance, Brian Laundrie, 23, as a “person of interest”.

His parents told agents they last saw him a week ago, when he told them he was planning to hike alone in the 9,710-hectare Carlton Reserve wilderness area near North Port.

North Port Police called off their search of the swampy reserve on Monday after “exhausting all avenues” to find Mr Laundrie there.

Investigators spent much of Monday searching the Laundrie home, loading cardboard boxes into a van and towing away a silver Ford Mustang.

The couple left her home state of New York in late June or early July, heading west in her white van with plans to visit America's national parks and document the trip on social media.

Mr Laundrie returned home to North Port alone in the van on September 1.

Ten days later, members of Petito's family reported her missing. Before disappearing, Mr Laundrie had refused to speak with investigators and retained a lawyer.

Witnesses last saw Petito on August 24 as she left a Salt Lake City hotel. She posted her final photo of the trip on social media the next day.

Petito's family believes she was headed to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming when they last heard from her.

An FBI spokesman said the body was “consistent” with the 167-centimetre, 50-kilogram Petito.

The post mortem examination scheduled for Tuesday is expected to identify the remains and determine a cause of death.

In seeking search warrants, investigators have cited an August 27 text purportedly sent by Petito to her mother, Nicole Schmidt, which describes receiving repeated calls and voice messages from “Stan”, her grandfather.

Ms Schmidt told investigators that message was odd because she would not usually refer to her grandfather by his first name.

Petito's family said a second text message also seemed suspicious.

Last week, police in Moab, Utah, released body camera footage of an August 12 encounter that two of their officers had with Petito and Mr Laundrie during a traffic stop.

Petito sobs in the video as she describes a quarrel with Mr Laundrie that she says became physical at times.

The officers did not detain the couple but insisted they spend that night separately, Petito in the van and Mr Laundrie at a hotel.

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How being social media savvy can improve your well being

Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.

As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.

Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.

Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.

Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.

However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.

“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.

People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.

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Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
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* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10

Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Updated: September 22, 2021, 12:35 AM