Grassroots Effort To 'Light The Night For Gabby Petito' Friday

BLUE POINT, NY — There is a grassroots effort to honor Gabby Petito during a light the night event in her hometown of Blue Point on Friday, and people are spreading the word in hopes it will not only be an island-wide event, but also one that communities around the country will participate in.

Members of the Bayport-Blue Point community have organized "Light the Night For Gabby Petito," in which luminaries will be placed in the driveways of homes starting at 7 p.m. Organizers are asking that local members of the public pick up the luminaries at the Blue Point Nature Preserve between 2 and 6 p.m.

They are asking for $20 donations that will be given to Petito's family.

"Please join us for a night of shining light, love, and support for Gabby Petito and her family," read a post on Facebook.

Facebook users have been sharing the information, and people are encouraging communities out-of-state to join in honoring Petito this Friday.

"Let's do what we can to spread the word and make this not just island-wide but nationwide," read a post on Facebook.

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Makeshift memorials have sprung up in Florida, as well as in Utah, and the streets of Blue Point are lined with teal ribbon in support of Petito’s family, CBS reported.

Petito graduated from Bayport-Blue Point High School in 2017 and moved to North Port, FL two years ago. She disappeared on a cross-country road trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, who returned home without her. She was reported missing Sept. 11 after her family had not heard from her for over a week.

Investigators conducted a massive search for her, spanning several states, before announcing on Sunday that remains consistent with Petito's description were found in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Investigators initially said they weren't 100 percent sure that the remains were hers, but her family was notified and authorities urged the public to allow the family space to grieve.

Investigators announced Tuesday afternoon Petito’s remains were indeed found and her death has been ruled a homicide, but the cause is pending the finalization of an autopsy.

Laundrie, a person of interest in her case, was reported missing by his family in Florida, and investigators are searching for him with no luck. There have been reports of sighings such as in Mobile, AL. A search of the reptile-infested Carlton Reserve is expected to resume on Wednesday.

Petito's family contends Laundrie is not missing, but "hiding."