“After our first cross nation journey in slightly Nissan Sentra, we each determined we to needed downsize our lives and journey full time,” Petito wrote within the caption of a video weblog posted to YouTube in July. The video documented the “starting of our van life journey,” displaying the 2 kissing, tenting, working on the seaside, and different idyllic scenes. The couple speak about sleeping of their tent and present their each day routines.
The 2 posted extensively on social media about their journey, and had began an internet site (which is at present password protected) to doc their travels.
In accordance with police, Petito had stayed in common contact together with her household till the tip of August, when she abruptly stopped speaking with them.
Petito and Laundrie are stopped by police after having a bodily altercation
On August 12, a police report obtained by USA Immediately reveals the couple was pulled over by police in Moab, Utah, after they’d a combat exterior a neighborhood retailer. In accordance with the police report, witnesses noticed Petito and Laundrie combating. Once they have been pulled over after driving away from the scene of the combat, Petito advised police that she was struggling together with her psychological well being, which had brought on her and Laundrie to have arguments all day. Laundrie mentioned he and Petito each have comparable psychological well being points, and that stress had been rising between them. After an argument, Laundrie mentioned Petito tried to slap him, and he pushed her away because of this. Laundrie advised police, in accordance with the report, that Petito was scared he was going to depart her in Utah and not using a experience.
In accordance with the report, police mediated the state of affairs, and Laundrie and Petito agreed to spend the night time aside — her within the van and Laundrie in a resort room police helped him discover. All through their encounter with the couple, police wrote within the report that Petito didn’t cease crying.
Physique digicam footage launched by Moab police on September 16 reveals a distressed Petito speaking about her efforts to start out a weblog, and her psychological well being strains. “We have simply been combating all morning,” a tearful Petito advised officers.
Of their report, police wrote that neither Petito nor Laundrie needed the opposite charged with against the law, noting that they love one another. Police concluded it appeared much less like a case of assault than a “psychological well being disaster.”
Petito stops speaking together with her household and Laundrie returns house
Across the finish of August, police mentioned Petito’s household stopped listening to from her. Their final communication was on August 30, however their legal professional mentioned in a information convention in accordance with CNN that they do not consider the messages have been from Petito. He did not share why they do not assume the messages got here straight from her.
Earlier than she stopped speaking together with her household, Petito was believed to be in Grand Teton Nationwide Park in Wyoming, police mentioned.
On September 1, North Port police say Laundrie returned to his mother and father’ house within the van the couple was touring in, which has now been recovered by police. In accordance with police, they have not been in a position to communicate to Laundrie since he returned house, and as a substitute have been directed to his legal professional. Chief Garrison has pleaded with Laundrie’s legal professional, Steven Bertolino, on Twitter, asking him to arrange a gathering together with his shopper.