Gabby Petito case: What medical examiners will be looking for during autopsy
Fox News' Laura Ingle reports from outside the Teton County coroner's office in Wyoming.
As the FBI confirms Gabby Petito's death in Wyoming, Fox News is learning who she was, from the people who knew her best.
"Gabby made a mark on anyone she came in contact with. Even [if] it was a quick interaction. She not only sees the light in everyone but spreads her light with everyone. At my lowest, she managed to help me keep my chin up," Petito’s best friend in Florida told Fox News.
On her Instagram account that now has more than 922,000 followers, Petito described herself in her bio as someone who loved "art, yoga, & veggies."
Gabby Petito's best friend said she "made a mark on anyone she came in contact with."
LIVE UPDATES: HUNT FOR BRIAN LAUNDRIE IN GABBY PETITO MYSTERY
The social media account showcased how the young woman enjoyed traveling, hiking and documenting journeys along the way. Her TikTok and YouTube accounts also shed light on her life.
"She's a very artistic, creative, free spirit," Petito’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, told Patch.com, noting that her daughter loved living life. "She wanted to just get on the road and go. She wanted to see everything and do everything."
Schmidt described Petito as healthy and normal, with a flair for art that led her to express herself with tattoos and a navel piercing.
"She's just one of those fun kids," Schmidt told the online publication.
Petito was said to enjoy traveling, art and yoga. (@petitojoseph/Instagram)
TIMELINE OF GABBY PETITO'S ROAD TRIP, DISAPPEARANCE
Petito's family reported her missing Sept. 11, months after she'd embarked on a cross-country road trip with fiancé Brian Laundrie, whom investigators were seeking and have called a person of interest in her disappearance. The family said she and Laundrie met while they were students at Bayport-Blue Point High School in New York.
A former coworker told Fox News both Petito and Laundrie worked at a Publix supermarket in Florida in the lead-up to their road trip, saving up money while fixing their van. The ex-coworker said Petito worked in the pharmacy while Laundrie worked in groceries. Petito also had taken jobs at a juice bar and cafe, and described herself as a nutritionist.
Petito embarged on a cross-country road trip before she disappeared.
DETAILS OF GABBY PETITO'S FIGHT WITH BRIAN LAUNDRIE REVEALED IN WITNESS STATEMENT TO POLICE
Investigators found remains believed to be Petito on Sept. 19 in Wyoming; the FBI confirmed her death two days later, announcing that preliminary autopsy results showed the cause of death to be homicide.
A longtime friend of Petito's on Long Island, Nikki Passannante, described her to Insider as "sweet, free-spirited and selfless."
Petito's mom told local media, "She's just one of those fun kids."
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"There’s always been a warmth about her. When people meet her, they instantly love her."
Her younger brother, TJ Schmidt, posted, "She touched the world #justiceforgabby," in his most recent Instagram post.
Fox News' Paul Best, Audrey Conklin and Jordan Early contributed to this report.
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