The disappearance of online personality, Gabby Petito, has become an internet obsession, as videos related to her case have generated over a half-billion views on TikTok. This case has created a craze for amateur sleuths who often post unconfirmed theories, clues, and discussion threads across major social media platforms. Jessie Cooper has the story.
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Officials announced an autopsy confirmed Gabby Petito died of a homicide. But no further details were given about how she was killed.
This weekend, the FBI announced the discovery of human remains “consistent with the description,” of missing 22-year-old Gabby Petito. The remains were found on Sunday in Bridger-Teton National Forest, near the vicinity of where Petito was believed to be last seen. Petito had been on a cross country camping trip with her fiance and documenting their journey on social media.
He returned home to Florida—alone—on September 1st. Her family reported her missing on September 11th.
Authorities named Petito’s fiance, Brian Laundrie, a “person of interest.” And now he has been reported missing since last Tuesday.
Petito’s case became a national sensation after comedian and social media influencer, Paris Cambell posted 40 videos analyzing about Petito’s case to her 150,000 TikTok followers. The hashtag #gabbypetito has gained over 650 million views on the app so far.
Before Petito went missing, she actively posted Youtube videos, documenting her cross-country journey with Laundrie. But it wasn’t until social media influencers and Youtubers, Kyle and Jenn Bethune, realized they had also been traveling in the same national park at the same time and happened to capture Petito’s white van on video. They posted theire video and talked with the FBI.
That also helped fuel the growing social media sleuthing with ameutuer dectectives and true crime enthusiasts circulating internet theories.
Like most people, USC sophomore Emma [no last name given] used social media to follow the Petito story.
EMMA: I first heard about it through TikTok and Instagram...I’ve been keeping up with the updates and stalking different pages.
Petito’s case is also sparking debates about racial double standards in media coverage. Many online users claiming the case is another example of “missing white woman syndrome” — a phrase used to describe the media fascination with missing white women.
Data from the FBI shows that women of color make up 40% of missing cases. But research done by Northwestern University found the media covers nearly 14% of missing Black women cases, compared to about 33% of missing white women cases.
USC sophomore, Yamini Kumar has seen these facts play out in her t.v. screen
YAMINI: We do tend to neglect, like women of color who have similar situations and are experiencing domestic abuse. So, like, maybe one of the focuses that like she’s a white woman.
While most people know Gabby Petito as a character in a missing person case or a social media personality, Petito’s family is still missing their daughter. In a media conference last week, Petito’s father pleaded for the public’s help.
MR. PETITO: I am asking for help from everyone here, asking for help, everyone at home asking for help from the parents of Brian. And I’m asking for help of the family members and friends of the Laundrie family as well.
Officials are searching for Laundrie in a 25-thousand acre nature reserve near his Florida home and the investigation is ongoing.