Body Matching Gabby Petito's Description Found In Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park

Updated: 1 a.m., Monday

WYOMING — A body found in a Wyoming national park Sunday afternoon matches the description of 22-year-old Gabrielle "Gabby" Petito, who went missing while on a cross-country trip with her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, at the end of August.

While the body’s identity hasn’t been confirmed, the human remains found Sunday were “consistent with the description of Gabrielle,” Charles Jones, a senior agent with the FBI’s Denver officer, said during a news conference.

The cause of death is unknown and forensic identification will be done to confirm the body's identity, he added.

Jones offered Petito’s family, who has been contacted by the FBI about the body found, “heartfelt condolences."

“As every parent can imagine, this is an incredibly difficult time for the family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with them,” he said.

The FBI and local law enforcement partners have been searching the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area in the Bridger-Teton National Forest on the east boundary of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming since Saturday.

The investigation in the area is ongoing and the campsite remains closed to the public, Jones said.

In a statement released Sunday night, attorney Richard Stafford, a friend of Petito's family, asked the media “to refrain from contacting the Schmidt and Petito family.”

"Due to today's developments, we are asking the press and news media to have some decorum and sensitivity for Gabby's family and allow them to grieve," he said. "I will be in contact with you when Gabby's family is ready to make a public statement."

Anyone who used the camping area between Aug. 27-30 and may have had contact with Petito or Laundrie, or who may have seen her 2012 white Ford Transit van, which was converted into a camper, is asked to contact the FBI at 800-CALL-FBI, which is 800-225-5324, or tips.fbi.gov. Photos and videos may also be uploaded at fbi.gov/petito.

A search is also underway for Laundrie, a person of interest in Petito’s disappearance, who went missing in Florida. The FBI, North Port police and other partner agencies are searching a Sarasota County nature reserve for Laundrie, who hasn't been seen since Tuesday.

A team of more than 50 law enforcement personnel are combing the Carlton Reserve in Sarasota County for signs of Laundrie Sunday, North Port police tweeted. They started the second day of their search in the Mykkahatshee Creek Environmental Park.

“Saddened and heartbroken to learn that Gabby has been found deceased. Our focus from the start, along with the FBI, and national partners, has been to bring her home. We will continue to work with the FBI in the search for more answers,” North Port police tweeted Sunday evening.

Laundrie’s parents told authorities Friday evening that they haven’t seen their son for days, and they believe he may have entered the wildlife reserve.

His family said that their son drove a Ford Mustang, which isn't registered in his name, to the preserve Tuesday, and they picked it up and brought it back home later that day, NBC 2 reported.

The nearly 25,000-acre park sits on the state-protected Myakka River, according to the Friends of Carlton Reserve's website. It has more than 90 miles of trails and nearly 40 square miles for wilderness recreation.

With Laundrie’s camping experience and outdoor survival skills, he could survive in the reserve for “months,” Josh Taylor, North Port’s city public information officer told the New York Post. He entered the reserve with only a hiking backpack.

The search could potentially take “a long time,” Taylor added. “I don’t know how frequently if (Laundrie) would come out here and do day-long hikes or whatever, you could be out here for months if you wanted.”

After a few rainy days, the conditions at the preserve have made the search difficult, Taylor told the Post.

“It’s muddy. It’s wet. There are a few unpaved dirt roads that are out there basically running along the power lines,” he said. “You know, it’s a place that people hike. There are mountain biking trails out there.”

The search, led by the FBI and North Port police, at the reserve launched Saturday morning, though nothing was found, police said. Authorities have used drones, K-9 dogs and other tools in their hunt for Laundrie.

The Laundrie family spoke with North Port police Friday evening after refusing to meet with investigators throughout the week as the search for Petito, and demands for Laundrie to talk to authorities, became a national news item.

Petito's family issued a statement through their attorney overnight Friday, ABC 7 reported.

"All of Gabby's family want the world to know that Brian is not missing, he is hiding. Gabby is missing," the statement read.

Taylor told CNN's Chris Cuomo, "We've been trying all week to talk to his family, to talk to Brian, and now they've called us here on Friday, we've gone to the home, and they're saying now they have not seen their son. So we are working through those details as we speak. It is another twist in this story."

North Port police tweeted Friday evening that investigators were speaking with the Laundrie family at their request, but that Brian Laundrie wasn't present.

Related:

• Gabby Petito's Father Makes Public Plea For Info On Her Location
• Missing NY Woman Argued With Boyfriend Body Cam Shows: Report
• Missing NY Woman's FL Boyfriend A Person Of Interest: Official
• Gabby Petito: Laundrie Search Will Resume Sunday, No Body Found

"We understand the community's frustration; we are frustrated, too. For six days, the North Port Police Department and the FBI have been pleading with the family to contact investigators regarding Brian's fiancée, Gabby Petito," police said. "Friday is the first time they have spoken with investigators in detail."

The agency added, "It is important to note that while Brian is a person of interest in Gabby's disappearance, he is not wanted for a crime. We are not currently working a crime investigation. We are now working multiple missing person investigations."

Laundrie stands 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 160 pounds. He has brown eyes, short brown hair and trimmed facial hair, police said. He was last seen wearing a hiking bag with a waist strap.

Anyone with information about either Laundrie or Petito should submit them by calling 800-CALL-FBI, which is 800-225-5324.

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Petito, a New York native who had been living in North Port with Laundrie and his family before they left for a summer road trip, vanished while they were visiting national parks in the western United States in her van.

Her family on Long Island last heard from her at the end of August and filed a missing person report with the Suffolk County Police Department Sept. 11. Her last believed location was the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, North Port police said.

Laundrie, who has refused to cooperate with police, returned to his family's home Sept. 1 alone in Petito's van, which was recovered there by North Port police Sept. 11.

When investigators tried to speak with him, he refused. Instead, detectives were handed information for the family's attorney, Taylor said. "That is the extent of our conversation with him."

Since then, North Port police, as well as Petito's friends and family have begged him to come forward with any information he might have about her whereabouts.

Her father also made an impassioned public plea for information about his daughter during a news conference in North Port Thursday afternoon.

"I'm asking for help from everyone here," Joe Petito said. "I'm asking for help from everyone at home. I'm asking for help from the parents of Brian, and I'm asking for the help of the family members and friends of the Laundrie family, as well."