Coroner Responds To Theory That Gabby Petito Was Pregnant After Possible Sonogram Photos Circulated
He set the record straight.
Facebook The Wyoming coroner who performed the autopsy on Gabby Petito's body has responded to viral theories that she was pregnant before her death.
Across social media, the case of Gabby Petito is being debated and investigated as followers search for clues about what may have happened to the 22-year-old.
Evidence found online has already been crucial in finding her body and tracking the possible whereabouts of her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, 23.
But one theory that seems to be gained traction online is that Petito was pregnant prior to her disappearance.
Now, Dr Brent Blue, the coroner of Teton County, has addressed the claims.
Was Gabby Petito pregnant before she went missing?
Blue confirmed that Petito was not pregnant before her death in a press conference in which he revealed that she died by strangulation.
Information from Petito’s Pinterest account, her odd final texts to her family and suggestions that there was a sonogram photo near the couple's van had led some to believe she and Laundrie were expecting a baby.
Petito was reported missing on September 11 by her family who had not heard from her since late August. Laundrie had returned to his Florida home without Petito on September 1.
Here are the reasons people wrongly believed Petito was pregnant.
Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie shared a baby-themed Pinterest board.
The board is titled “Oh Baby” and is a subsection of a larger board called “Life Goals.”
Laundrie also has access to the board alongside his mother, Roberta Laundrie, and another user who may be Petito’s mom.
The board features images of mothers and toddlers, baby clothes, and pregnancy photos.
The board may have been an expression of Petito’s desire to become a mother which makes her life being cut short all the more tragic.
People think there may have been a sonogram near Laundrie and Petito’s van.
In footage from a YouTube vlog that is believed to have helped police locate Petito’s body, the van that Laundrie and Petito were traveling in is seen parked in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
Credit: YouTube / Red White & Buthane
A couple of yards away from the van there appears to be some discarded items lying on a log which some have speculated could be a series of sonogram images.
We now know this was likely not the case.
Gabby posted a photo of ‘Lullaby’ by Chuck Palahniuk.
Prior to her death, Petito posted a photo holding the book, though it’s unclear if she or Laundrie were reading it.
‘Lullaby’ is about a man who unintentionally kills his wife and infant child by singing them a lullaby. He then goes on a cross-country roadtrip with other characters who are attempting to take advantage of the song's killing powers.
Gabby Petito’s final text about ‘Stan’ may have been a code word.
A search warrant has reveal an odd final text that caused her parents to be concerned for her safety.
“Can you help Stan, I just keep getting his voicemails and missed calls,” the Aug. 27 text message reads.
Stan is the name of Petito’s grandfather. However, this still bewildered her family.
Petito’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, called it an “odd text” because Petito had never called him Stan and “was concerned that something was wrong with her daughter,” the warrant states.
Online, some have speculated that Petito was trying to communicate that she was in danger without Laundrie noticing.
“Stan” is the name of an Eminem song about a man who shuts out his pregnant girlfriend and obsessively tries to contact his idol for advice.
The results of the autopsy now confirmed that Petito was not pregnant and the crime in the case has not been upgraded to a double homicide.
Laundrie is not a suspect in Petito's death but is wanted for unauthorized use of her bank card.
Alice Kelly is a senior news and entertainment editor for YourTango. Based out of Brooklyn, New York, her work covers all things social justice, pop culture, and human interest. Keep up with her Twitter for more.