Breaking: Gabby Petito Died of Strangulation An autopsy report confirmed the cause of death for the 22-year-old on Tuesday.

By Emily Rella Edited by Amanda Breen

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Stephanie Keith | Getty Images

An autopsy report confirmed on Tuesday that 22-year-old Gabby Petito died of strangulation.

Her cause of death had previously been declared a homicide but no further details were given at the time on account of waiting for the full coroner's report nearly a month ago.

The latest development was announced Tuesday afternoon by Dr. Brent Blue, Coroner for Teton County, Wyoming where Petito's body had been found after she had gone missing during a cross country road trip with her then-finance Brian Laundrie.

Related: Brian Laundrie Still Missing as Gabby Petito's Death Pronounced a Homicide

Laundrie himself has been missing for nearly a month and is currently wanted as a person of interest in Petito's death and is also facing an arrest warrant for debit card fraud.

"We look at all possibilities when we try to determine cause of death," Blue said in a news conference. "Our determination was that the body was in the wilderness for 3-4 weeks."

In the state of Wyoming, autopsy reports are not public knowledge, and therefore further details on Petito's death and strangulation cannot be released.

The Laundrie family's attorney, Steven Bertolino, made a statement regarding Tuesday's news.

"Gabby Petito's death at such a young age is a tragedy. While Brian Laundrie is currently charged with the unauthorized use of a debit card belonging to Gabby, Brian is only considered a person of interest in relation to Gabby Petito's demise," he said. "At this time Brian is still missing and when he is located we will address the fraud charge pending against him."

Petito's death certificate has not yet been completed at this time.

This is a developing story.

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

You Can Get Paid $18,000 More a Year By Adding AI Skills to Your Resume, According to a New Study

Employers are emphasizing AI skills — and are willing to pay a lot more if you have them.

Leadership

7 Steps to De-Risking Big Business Decisions Before They Backfire

When the stakes are high, these seven steps can help you avoid costly mistakes, eliminate bias and make smarter decisions that actually scale.

Leadership

The Difference Between Entrepreneurs Who Survive Crises and Those Who Don't

In a business world accelerated by AI, visibility alone is fragile. Here's how strategic silence and consistency can turn reputation into your most powerful asset.

Employee Experience & Recruiting

Here's the Real Reason Your Employees Are Checked Out — And the Missing Link That Could Fix It

Most disengaged employees aren't exhausted — they're disconnected, and storytelling may be the key to rebuilding that connection.

Business News

United Airlines Says It Is Adding Extra Flights in Case Spirit 'Suddenly Goes Out of Business'

Rival airlines, including United and Frontier, are adding new routes as Spirit cuts 12 cities from its schedule.