# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2021, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/61 "2021-09-15T21:23:56Z")
She’s dead, he killed her. Now for the burden of proof. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2021, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/62 "2021-09-15T21:40:44Z")
Maybe he can use the “she died on her own and I was just disposing of the body” defense that the homemade submarine guy (Peter Madsen) used. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/63 "2021-09-16T00:46:48Z")
The AP just picked the story: > **[Search on for Florida woman missing from cross-country trip](https://apnews.com/article/gabby-petito-missing-florida-woman-2eac3f10650fad297444fc3a32433bbf)** > > ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — A Florida woman who vanished while on a nomadic cross-country trip in a converted camper van with her boyfriend is the subject of a nationwide search while authorities labeled him Wednesday as a person of interest in her... ---
**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 16, 2021, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/64 "2021-09-16T01:10:51Z")
I’m guessing the feds will assist at some point if they’ve not already done so. They can, and will, check phones, locations, time stamps, tower transmissions, etc. They’ll look at surveillance cams, license plates, and probably a whole bunch of stuff the perp hasn’t remotely considered. ---
**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 16, 2021, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/65 "2021-09-16T01:14:36Z")
But there’s a missing person’s report and he’s likely to be the last person to have seen her. They can’t detain him, but you can bet your ass that state and federal resources are going to be used to determine her whereabouts, with a watchful eye on him. The family of the presumed victim can also hire a private detective. ---
**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/66 "2021-09-16T01:26:41Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > … state and federal resources are going to be used to determine her whereabouts, with a watchful eye on him. The family of the presumed victim can also hire a private detective. Under the assumption that he knows her whereabouts / fate but has decided to stay silent, what progress can be made by watching him? What might a private detective be able to accomplish? ---
**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 16, 2021, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/67 "2021-09-16T01:31:31Z")
They’re not going to leave him alone. He can refuse to cooperate, but that won’t stop the investigation. ---
**Author:** ![TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thegunismightierthanthepen/32/2981_2.png) [@TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheGunIsMightierThanThePen)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/68 "2021-09-16T01:40:12Z")
They could monitor him to see if he goes back to dispose of the body, or if he enlists someone’s help to do that remotely on his behalf. _Edit to add_: and if they get a warrant, they can wiretap his phone lines in the event he blows his cover to a friend, although if he is using an encrypted end-to-end program like Signal, they might be shit outta luck. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/69 "2021-09-16T02:38:39Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Police in Moab Utah have released a domestic incident report. There’s more information here: > **[Moab PD describe incident between Gabby Petito, boyfriend as 'mental health...](https://kutv.com/news/local/moab-pd-describe-incident-between-gabby-petito-boyfriend-as-mental-health-crisis)** > > An incident last month involving a missing woman and her boyfriend in Moab was described by police officers as a “mental health crisis,” and no charges were pursued against either of them, according to a police report. Instead, according to the... ---
**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/70 "2021-09-16T02:49:01Z")
> [@TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](#): > > They could monitor him to see if he goes back to dispose of the body, or if he enlists someone’s help to do that remotely on his behalf. Hard to imagine a sane person doing either of these. > [@](#): > > … they can wiretap his phone lines in the event he blows his cover to a friend. Or this. ---
**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 16, 2021, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/71 "2021-09-16T02:51:25Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > Virtual Vanning? Van From Home? Sorry it was lame. Between living online, remote control vehicles, self-driving cars, and covid restrictions, I read the words “virtual vanning” and I thought … maybe? [I won’t pretend to understand what young people are doing nowadays.](https://cdn.tattoosboygirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Worst-Tattoos.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/72 "2021-09-16T02:57:59Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > It’s a little bit weird that [this couple](https://www.thedailybeast.com/kylen-schulte-and-crystal-beck-found-shot-to-death-in-moab) was murdered a couple of days after the van lifers had the domestic incident near the moonflower Co-op. That _is_ strange. 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/73 "2021-09-16T06:50:22Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > A 24/7 relationship in a relatively small box on wheels is a whole other rodeo, even when young. _ **especially** _ when young. ---
**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 16, 2021, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/74 "2021-09-16T08:39:51Z")
The first thing they’re likely to look at is the couple’s data. They can open up social media & email accounts. They can look at Google searches. They’ll look at financial activity. If he was smart enough to cover all his tracks, that will make their investigation harder but not impossible. They’ll also try to pinpoint the last known location. He was smart to lawyer up, but that will only make law enforcement more determined to investigate him as a prime suspect in a case of suspected foul play using whatever legal means they have at their disposal. Chances are good that this guy slipped up somewhere along the way. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/75 "2021-09-16T12:11:40Z")
Like everyone else, I expect that it will turn out that he murdered her. Despite this, I hope that the police don’t get so fixated that they ignore other possibilities because people is weird and sometimes we’re wrong. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/76 "2021-09-16T12:51:03Z")
Bodycam video (note it’s an hour and 17 minutes long): [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/zJafbksSnJc/maxresdefault.jpg "FULL VIDEO: Bodycam video of Utah police encounter with Gabby Petito and boyfriend Brian Laundrie") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJafbksSnJc) ---
**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/77 "2021-09-16T14:05:05Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Chances are good that this guy slipped up somewhere along the way. Chances are at least good the van can be traced to a place fairly close to where he and she parted ways. Vans need gas & people need food; lots of video surveillance of parking lots & roads. Motorists who might have been in areas of interest can be asked to check dashcam video. It’s probably hard to enter a park or campground without leaving some sort of evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/78 "2021-09-16T14:08:45Z")
It’s been a while though. He was home on September 1, while her parents didn’t start asking about her until ten days later or so. So any useful surveillance is at least two weeks ago. How long are these recordings stored? ---
**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 16, 2021, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/79 "2021-09-16T16:02:25Z")
A Tip of the hat to the Moab police. They put a lot of time into this stop. Separating them for the night makes sense. Brian didn’t seem inclined to strike back. But, that may have changed the next time they fought. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2021, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/80 "2021-09-16T16:07:46Z")
Corporate convenience stores upload video to the cloud and keep it forever. Independent stores have standalone loop recording systems that may only have the last week. Dashcams may just have the last 8 hours of video. The authorities will likely use credit card and phone data to identify the stores to visit to see if they have usable video. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604.md?page=5)