Gabby Petito's tattoos 'identified her in autopsy' as decomposition may make it hard to find how she died, experts say

GABBY Petito's tattoos will help to identify her in the autopsy as decomposition might make it hard to find how she died, experts claim.

Although the initial findings were that the vlogger died as a result of homicide, details are expected to be revealed by the final autopsy results.

Earlier this week the body that was found in Wyoming, was confirmed to be that of the beloved YouTuber.

The FBI said they will likely get the identity of the remains confirmed by Tuesday.

Former New York Chief Medical Examiner Michael Baden told Fox News the FBI may also have a cause of death if signs of trauma are "obvious," such as a gunshot wound.

The autopsy results are expected to reveal the cause and time of death, whether the person died at the location where remains were discovered, and a DNA match.

"Most people want to hear about DNA," he said before adding that the 22-year-old's tattoos would have been a telltale sign.

Teton County Coroner Dr Brent Blue said on Tuesday that Petito's official cause of death is still pending final autopsy results but that the initial manner of death is homicide.

An now an expert says it is highly unlikely an autopsy will provide quick answers in determining Gabby's time and cause of death.

Speaking to Fox & Friends First, forensic pathologist Dr Priya Banerjee said: "You just never know what can be found with further testing.

Read our Gabby Petito live blog for the very latest news and updates…

"Then even with decomposition, sometimes the bugs found on the body and other tissue changes can even tell you help you along the lines for dating -bugs, soil elements that can actually, if a forensic entomologist gets involved, they can work backwards to try to deduce a better timeline for when she was killed."

It comes as her fiancé Brian Laundrie remains missing.

The pair were on a cross-country road trip back in July.

Petito was reported missing earlier this month after Laundrie returned home without her.

Authorities found her body in Grand Teton National Park on September 19 while Laundrie vanished and is being hunted by cops.

His parents claim he left home to go hiking in Carlton Reserve, near Venice, Florida.  

He has been named as a "person of interest in the case."

His disappearance has sparked a frantic search at the Carlton Nature Reserve but to no avail.

A private investigator said the 23-year-old "may be heading to the Appalachian Trail."

Meanwhile, cops searched the home of Laundrie and bundled his parents into a police van after declaring the area a "crime scene."

The FBI announced a "search warrant" twice before they removed Chris and Roberta Laundrie from the home.

Bizarre conspiracy theories by web sleuths have been circulating on social media based on everything from Gabby's hair color to linking her death to another couple's murder.

Gabby Petito timeline

Gabby Petito, 22, was last seen on August 24, leaving a hotel in Utah. Here is a timeline of Gabby Petito’s disappearance:

• June 2021 – Gabby Petito and her fiancé Brian Laundrie set off on a cross-country trip across the US.
• July 4 – Gabby posts photos of herself barefoot in Gove County, Kansas.
• July 8 – Gabby posts photos of herself at the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.
• July 18 – Gabby and Brian post photos of themselves at Utah's Zion National Park.
• August 12 – Body camera footage was released in September showing an encounter Brian and Gabby had with police in Utah. Police confirmed that no significant injuries were reported.
• August 19 – Gabby and Brian post a video on their YouTube channel chronicling their trip. The video receives more than 200,000 views.
• August 24 – Gabby is spotted leaving a hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah.
• August 25 – Gabby Facetimes her mom, Nichole Schmidt, for the final time. In a later police report, Schmidt said her conversations with her daughter revealed "more and more tension" between her and Brian.
• August 25 – Gabby also posts her last Instagram. No location is given.
• August 27 – Gabby is seen for what's believed to be the final time. Witnesses claim they saw Brian in an explosive argument with staff at a restaurant in Jackson Hole, leaving Gabby in tears.
• August 27 – Four hours later, travel bloggers driving through Grand Teton National Park drive past the couple's van "abandoned" on a dirt road.
• September 1 – Brian returns home to Florida without Gabby.
• September 11 – Gabby's parents report her missing to Suffolk County police.
• September 14 – Brian's family issues a statement saying he has retained an attorney and will not be cooperating with investigators.
• September 14 – Brian is allegedly last seen by his family. He reportedly told them he was going hiking in Cartlon Reserve but failed to return.
• September 15 – Florida's North Port police announce Brian is a person of interest in the case. He is not charged with any crime.
• September 16 – Utah police release body camera footage of the police encounter with Brian and Gabby.
• September 17 – Brian's parents say they have not seen their son in a couple of days and report him missing.
• September 18 – Police announce they were searching Carlton Reserve in Florida for Brian. Police announce they have not found anything.
• September 19 – Authorities in Wyoming say they found a body in Grand Teton National Park. The FBI announces the body was believed to be Gabby's but a full forensic identification needs to be completed first to confirm.
• September 20 – Police execute a search warrant on Laundrie's home, seizing his silver Mustang and a hard drive that may contain "evidence relevant to proving that a felony has been committed."
• September 21 – Officials announce they will be conducting an autopsy on the remains found in Wyoming to confirm whether or not they belong to Gabby. Police also resumed their search for Laundrie, this time on the Venice side of Carlton Reserve.
• September 21 – The FBI announced the body found in Wyoming was identified as Gabby's. The cause of death was not yet revealed.
• September 21 – The Teton County Coroner's office said Gabby's official cause of death was still pending but the initial manner of death is homicide.
• September 22 – Police continue to scour Carlton Reserve for a trace of Laundrie but yield no leads. A specialist dive team is called in to assist with the hunt.

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