# Van lifer goes missing on cross country trip with fiancee **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 13, 2021, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604 "2021-09-13T13:48:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/281 "2021-09-20T03:33:53Z")
Look at the thread - lots of “_Well, how do we know it’s murder?!_” This thread has 280 posts, many of which have posts of the crap CT variety. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/282 "2021-09-20T03:36:18Z")
I’ve read the thread. Don’t worry, we all think you’re special and deserve a gold star. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/283 "2021-09-20T03:42:21Z")
We didn’t need 282 posts to figure out this was a murder, did we? Seems like a lot of low IQ posting going on. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/284 "2021-09-20T03:54:48Z")
The criminal investigation is just getting started. Police have a crime scene and body to process. Police said a few days ago that Laundrie’s actions have made him a person of interest. He’s made the situation worse by disappearing. Laundrie already has an attorney. It’s only a matter ot time and Laundrie will be found. AFAIK he’s still considered a person of interest. The decision to press charges will come after a complete criminal investigation. Let’s hope Laundrie is found alive. This is already a tragedy for one family. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/285 "2021-09-20T03:58:15Z")
It’s quite likely murder, but it could also be either an accident or suicide and he panicked and did a lot of stupid things in response. I don’t feel any pressing need to reach a definitive conclusion, myself. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/286 "2021-09-20T03:59:27Z")
But then how can you claim to be superior to other people? ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/287 "2021-09-20T04:00:38Z")
Easily! By not jumping to conclusions, I prove I’m superior to those who pass judgement on scant evidence. :smug: ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/288 "2021-09-20T04:06:56Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Um, I fuckin told you all it was a murder. Most of us were saying it was probably a murder. But we didn’t say it was a murder. Unless you are confessing to the crime, you didn’t have any more information than the rest of us. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/289 "2021-09-20T04:18:58Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Look at the thread - lots of “ _Well, how do we know it’s murder?!_ ” This thread has 280 posts, many of which have posts of the crap CT variety. I mean, really, you’re making a stronger claim than even investigators are at this point. I’m seeing a lot of headlines describing remains “consistent with” Gabbie Petito. It’s almost as if even though it’d be a really obvious conclusion to jump to that the remains are in fact those of Gabbie Petito, those with the most up to date information—being in the best position to evaluate the evidence—realize that there is _less_ than zero value in jumping to the conclusion that _these are the remains of Gabbie Petito, and she was murdered by Brian Laundrie_ at this point. It’s actually counterproductive. If these are in fact the remains of Gabbie Petito and she was in fact murdered by Brian Laundrie, it’s double plus unfortunate that so many people with less access to evidence and zero need to do so have jumped to the conclusion of “he murdered her” that he has apparently felt compelled to flee. I mean, wouldn’t it be really cool if all this time the whole world had just withheld judgment, the police had done their job in an atmosphere of “let’s just see what we find and hold off on pointing any fingers until we have the evidence to back it up,” and upon finding remains but before making the find public, had been able to swoop in and arrest the unsuspecting “person of interest” before the pressure built for him to the point he decided to do… whatever it is he’s done since Tuesday? I say again, there is no credit for being “right” on insufficient evidence. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/290 "2021-09-20T04:22:26Z")
How do we know she was murdered? She could have been devoured by, um, chipmunks! ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/291 "2021-09-20T04:22:52Z")
“How do we know she was murdered? She could have been devoured by, um, chipmunks!” Quoting for posterity. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/292 "2021-09-20T04:23:40Z")
You guys are missing the beauty of asahi’s clever plan. The rest of us are liable for extended jury duty. But all asahi has to do is show the judge this thread and he’ll be allowed to go home. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/293 "2021-09-20T04:27:03Z")
I’m a resident of Texas, physically in Michigan. I think I’m safe. Wherever this crime occurred—if indeed there was a crime—I don’t think it’s anywhere that I might be subject to being called as a potential juror. Plus, if the prosecution reads this thread, I’ll never survive voir dire. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/294 "2021-09-20T04:33:16Z")
In the video in which the van was spotted, one can see the door to the van close at 1:30. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/PBp3aNAGuFM/maxresdefault.jpg "Is this Gabby Petito's Van caught on Youtuber's Camera? READ DESCRIPTION") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBp3aNAGuFM) ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/295 "2021-09-20T04:35:56Z")
You can see her sandal behind the van. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/296 "2021-09-20T04:39:14Z")
Can’t see that. Where? ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/297 "2021-09-20T04:44:21Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > In the video in which the van was spotted, one can see the door to the van close at 1:30. I see what you’re describing, but it’s hard to tell if that’s the door closing, or just the effect of the camera focus changing, the range, and the fact that there is a black ladder on the back that intermittently becomes invisible as the focus changes. The water droplet (or whatever is causing the blur) on the camera at that moment doesn’t really help. As for the “sandal”… it looks like maybe a rock to me. If I’m seeing what **JohnT** is seeing. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/298 "2021-09-20T04:48:36Z")
Grand Teton National Park is home to gray wolves, cougars, black bears, grizzlies, bison, and moose, all of which are quite capable of killing humans. Of course, the number one macroscopic killer of humans is other humans, so that’s the way I’d bet, but it’s not a sure thing at this point. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/299 "2021-09-20T04:51:50Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > Can’t see that. Where? It’s a sandal. [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51494797281_4710522b35_z.jpg "20210919\_235049") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/68782016@N08/51494797281/) Here she is, wearing it: [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51494808821_8d91450308_b.jpg "SmartSelect\_20210919-235620\_Twitter") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/68782016@N08/51494808821/) ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/300 "2021-09-20T04:53:37Z")
I mean… the ground is strewn with rocks about the same size and color, and it’s in shadow… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604.md?page=16)