Gabby Petito 'World's Daughter' Has Followers All Over Shaken

BLUE POINT, NY — Joseph Petito could not have described his daughter better.

The heartbroken dad of Gabrielle Petito posted a photo of her, standing and smiling in front of a mural of multi-colored angel wings with a rainbow motif, to his Facebook page on Sunday night.

"She touched the world," he wrote in the caption.

The post was later shared on her family's page, Find Gabby, which has over 200,000 followers, along with another photo that features the 22-year-old former Long Islander resting on a rock while looking into the distance.

And one Alberta, Canada woman's reaction has sparked support for her family from around the globe. The woman suggested leaving messages and telling Petito's family where they are from.

"Let's let her family know where we are from because this has captured the world," she suggested. "Fly high, beautiful young woman."

"Fly high ‘America's daughter,’’ wrote one woman from Connersville, IN, adding, “Prayers to the family. Let’s get justice!!"

And well-wishers from England chimed in, one calling her the 'world's daughter.'"

Another “sending love” from Oxford.

In addition to Canada and England, people have shown solidarity with the family of Petito from Nova Scotia, Scotland, Sweden, and Chile, but also as far away as South Africa and New Zealand.

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• Gabby Petito 'World's Daughter' Has Followers All Over Shaken
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• Gabby Petito's Father Makes Public Plea For Info On Her Location
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• Where Is Gabby?: Police Search On For Missing Long Island Woman

The photo of the angelic-looking Petito was posted close to the announcement by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Sunday night that remains consistent with those of her description were located in Grand Teton National Park, but investigators could not be 100 % certain that they belonged to her.

Petito, who had lived in North Port, FL, for the past two years, disappeared on a road trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie. She was reported missing last week after her family had not heard from her in over a week.

Laundrie, a person of interest in her missing person case, has now been reported missing by his own family in Florida where the couple lived.

The North Port police department, which has taken over as the lead agency in Petito's missing person case, said it was "saddened and heartbroken" to learn that "Gabby" had been found dead.

"Our focus from the start, along with the FBI, and national partners, has been to bring her home," the statement read. "We will continue to work with the FBI in the search for more answers."

In his address of media on Sunday, FBI Special Agent-In-Charge Charles Jones noted, "every parent can imagine this is an incredibly difficult time for the family and friends."

"Our thoughts and prayers are with them," he said. "We ask that you all respect the privacy as they mourn the loss of their daughter."

Rick Stafford, a friend of Petito's family, asked members of the press to stand down and give her family space to grieve and refrain from reaching out to them directly for comment.

"I will be in contact with you when Gabby's family is ready to make a public statement," he wrote.

Back home in the community of Long Island, where Petito was raised and attended school, the community-at-large is grieving.

"Prayers from Long Island, NY," wrote one woman.

And closer to home in the Bayport-Blue Point area, people in the tight-knit, family-oriented suburb are reeling from the news.

Bayport-Blue Point Superintendent of Schools Timothy P. Hearney wrote parents on Monday, telling them it was "with a heavy heart" and district officials recognize the announcement "is upsetting, difficult, and unimaginable."

"This news can have a profound and lasting impact on an individual, school, and community – especially one as tightknit as ours," he said. "It is the greatest strength of our community, during times of darkness, to come together and provide support to each other. The partnership between the district and home has always been strong and it is in times such as these that we need to lean on each other."

He went on to say that the district's support team of counselors, psychologists, social workers, and other professionals are available to help students, families, and staff members "navigate these challenging times and conversations."

"In the coming days or weeks, should your child express any questions or concerns over the recent news, please reach out for support, suggestions, and guidance," Hearney wrote. "Members of our team are here to assist you to navigate these conversations. We are here to support you – now and any time in the future."

"Together, we remain one BBP community and we will continue to support each other," he added.

Petito started on her road trip touring the national parks system in July. In a previous interview with Patch, her mother said it had been a dream she had from her early teenage years and she had saved her money working as a pharmacy technician in Florida. The trip was due to end in Oregon around Halloween.

She had been documenting her journey on YouTube and Instagram, and she was building a website to feature her travel blog highlighting her experiences on the road. Social media followers have continued to post messages after her photos on Instagram. One follower wrote, "Rest in peace, Gabby."

Since she was reported missing, the plight of her family generated several Facebook groups, as well as Twitter hashtags aimed at raising awareness that she was missing.

On another Instagram account that has been dedicated to Petito and her family, there is a photo of her stepping onto sand through a crevasse between a pair of large boulders. The image features a photographic imperfection — a streak of light that stretches across the top of the image like an almost surreal ray of sun.

"Today, we honor #GabbyPetito and her family. We still need questions answered," wrote the administrator before adding, "Justice for Gabby."