A witness has said information she shared with law enforcement helped lead to the discovery of the body of 22-year-old Gabby Petito on Sunday, Sept. 19.
That witness is 38-year-old graphic designer, Jessica Schultz, according to The Daily Mail. She has been living and traveling in her Airstream camper for four years. And, according to what she told authorities, she was at Spread Creek in Wyoming at the same time as Petito’s boyfriend, Brian Laundrie.
Schultz reported that she was at the campsite from Aug. 22 through Aug. 29 with friends. She claimed that she saw Laundrie – but not Gabby Petito – on Aug. 26, Aug. 27, and possibly on Aug. 28. Schultz shared her story on TikTok.
“He was very… kind of awkward and confused. It was just him, there was no Gabby,” the witness said.
Schultz also said she told authorities that she and her friends saw the white Ford van Laundrie and Petito were traveling in. “In that time frame, we all independently noticed that van,” Schultz shared. She also said the van caught her attention because it was in her way when she was trying to park. She also saw the man she is convinced is Brian Laundrie as well. His behavior also caught her attention.
“He was just acting weird. You know, when you’re out in the middle of nowhere, your hackles go up when you see something that’s out of the ordinary,” she said during an interview with The San Francisco Chronicle.
Witness is Gabby Petito Case Said FBI Agents Praised Her for the Information She Shared
Witness Jessica Schultz also said that she believed that Laundrie was alone at the time she reportedly saw him. “I’m pretty sure he got out of the van to like look around or something. There’s definitely nobody in that passenger seat; like he definitely doesn’t have a girl in there,” she explained.
The publicity about the search for Gabby Petito is what prompted Schultz to share her information with authorities. She said she spoke with the FBI on Thursday, Sept. 16. She has also said that FBI agents praised her for the information she shared. “You guys are the ones that really tipped us off to the right place,” Schultz said.
The last time Petito was seen was on Aug. 24. Prior to that, she and Laundrie were reportedly seen arguing. The young couple was traveling out West in their van. Laundrie returned to his Florida residence on Sept. 1. Petito was reported missing on Sept. 11. Laundrie went missing on Sept. 14.
After Gabby Petito’s body was found on Sunday, an autopsy was performed. That autopsy confirmed that the body was that of Petito. The autopsy also ruled that her death was a homicide. As of the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 22, the search for 23-year-old Brian Laundrie continued.
