Seven dead bodies discovered during search for Brian Laundrie
At least seven bodies have been discovered in the searches for Gabby Petito, who was found dead in September, and Brian Laundrie, who has been missing for nearly five weeks.
The seventh body of a woman who reportedly went missing in Colorado near where the couple had visited in early July was found this week.
The sudden rise in body count has some people wondering if the cases could be connected, with others arguing it's due to a higher police presence in the area and authorities receiving more tips than usual, due to the high profile nature of Gabby's case.
Two bodies that were found were initially flagged as being possibly linked to the case because they were discovered near where the couple had been road tripping.
According to The Sun, the other bodies found included a married couple found murdered in Utah, a man who died by suicide in a Wyoming swamp, and the remains of a woman who disappeared in a California desert in June.
A Reddit thread dedicated to discussing Ms Petito's case had users questioning the body count, some arguing that it is not "statistically significant" to find that amount of bodies in a state that contains four national parks.
“This is all coincidence,” user Keregi wrote.
“People here are hyper-focused on certain parts of the country right now so they think anything that happens is relevant.”
The seven bodies found
Sara Bayard
55-year-old Sara Bayard was reported missing on July 4, last seen at a convenience store in Parker, Colorado, on June 28.
The Denver Channel reported that details surrounding the cause of Ms Bayard's death have not yet been released.
Have you seen Sara Bayard? Last seen 06-28-21 at gas station in Parker, CO, driving a blue 2001 Buick Park Ave w/ CO plate BWE-652. It is believed she might be in Aurora, CO. 5’6”, 250 lbs. If you know of her whereabouts call 719-520-6666. @9NEWS @ParkerPolice @DenverChannel https://t.co/bxALXtqrgT pic.twitter.com/OWxBQLZFNL
— EPCSheriff (@EPCSheriff) September 24, 2021
Lauren Cho
30-year-old Lauren Cho went for a walk by herself in the Yucca Valley desert in California but tragically never returned.
Authorities announced they had found human remains on October 12, though they are yet to be identified.
Ms Cho's disappearance was compared to Ms Petito's.
Robert Lowery
Robert Lowery, 46, was visiting Wyoming's Bridger-Teton National Forest when he disappeared on August 20.
His family spent a week searching for the father of two before his body was found on August 27. A coroner confirmed his death was a suicide.
Josue Calderon
The Charlotte Observer reported that the remains of 33-year-old Josue Calderon were found on October 9 in North Carolina.
The remains caused a stir with people thinking they could belong to Mr Laundrie. The FBI soon released Mr Calderon's name, dispelling the rumours.
The death was ruled a homicide.
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Kylen Schulte and Crystal Turner
24-year-old Kylen Shulte and 38-year-old Crystal Turner were found shot dead in the La Sal mountain range in Utah on August 18.
According to Fox13, the newlyweds, who were living in a camper van, were last seen at a tavern on August 13. The outlet also reported that the couple reportedly complained about a man “creeping them out” before they were found dead.
Alabama man
A homeless man — who the public initially suspected to be Brian Laundrie — was found near a bin near a Walmart on September 20.
Authorities confirmed that the body was not connected to Brian Laundrie's disappearance.
Gabby Petito's parents claim 'they know'
Gabby Petito's mother Nichole Schmidt spoke to Australia's 60 Minutes on Monday, along with Gabby's father Joseph Petito and step-father Jim Schmidt.
Ms Petito's remains were found in Teton County in Wyoming On September 19. The coroner later determined the cause of death was strangulation.
The coroner estimates Gabby died about three to four weeks before her body was discovered, while Brian has been missing since he took off for a hike on September 13.
Ms Schmidt spoke of the Laundrie family's silence on the horrific situation, saying it speaks "volumes" about them.
"Because I believe they know, probably if not everything, they know most of the information,” Ms Schmidt said.
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