Gabby Petito’s loved ones, supporters attend viewing at Long Island funeral home a week after her death
Gabby Petito’s loved ones and supporters came together at a Long Island funeral home Sunday to honor the 22-year-old a week after she was found dead in Wyoming.
A large crowd lined up for a public viewing at Moloney’s Holbrook Funeral Home in Holbrook, days after Petito’s death was ruled a homicide.
“She was always willing to help someone else,” Lexi Ruiz, who had worked with Petito at a Patchogue restaurant, told The Associated Press. “She was just such a light. Anywhere she went the room lit up. It’s nice to see so many people come together and support her family.”
Petito, who was from Long Island, embarked on a cross-country road trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, in July. Her family reported her missing on Sept. 11, and her body was found in a national forest in Teton County on Sept. 19.
Laundrie returned to Florida alone on Sept. 1. An exhaustive manhunt for Laundrie, who was last seen on Sept. 14, is ongoing. He has been described as a “person of interest” in the case.
Authorities have not determined the circumstances that led to Petito’s death. Officials ruled her death a homicide last week following an autopsy.
Flowers and photos of Petito filled the funeral home during Sunday’s viewing, while tributes lined a fence outside. Firetrucks were parked on either side of the building.
Family and friends attended the service, as did supporters who didn’t know Petito personally.
“She was a beautiful soul; she was full of life, always smiling,” Desiree Keeffe, who is friends with Petito’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, told The AP. “She gave you love. She was just a beautiful soul. She touched everybody like she did now.”
A poem titled “Let It Be” that attendees received at the service read, “Do not grieve for me for I am free.”
Laundrie was charged Thursday in Wyoming with bank-card fraud.
On Sunday, FBI agents went to Laundrie’s home in search of personal items “to assist them with DNA matching,” an attorney for his family told ABC News.
The attorney noted that Laundrie’s parents provided “what they could” to the agents.
Petito’s father and an attorney for her family announced last week that the visitation would take place Sunday afternoon and be open to the public. Attendees were asked to donate to the future Gabby Petito Foundation instead of buying flowers.
Petito’s mother shared a Facebook post late Friday in her first public comments since her daughter’s death.
“As I scroll through all the posts, my heart is full of love,” Schmidt wrote. “I wish I could reach out and hug each and every one of you!!! Your support has been so overwhelming and we are so filled with gratitude.”
She continued, “Please know what you are all doing for us does not go unnoticed, and with all of you by our side, we will get #justiceforgabby.”
Petito’s father, meanwhile, shared an Instagram photo last Sunday, shortly after her body was found, that showed his daughter standing in front of an angel wings mural.
“She touched the world,” Joseph Petito captioned the post, along with a broken heart emoji.
Petito, who was from Blue Point, L.I., had lived in Florida for several years.
Her family has said they last spoke with Petito in August while she was on the road trip.
Petito’s case led to widespread attention on social media, with the #justiceforgabby commonly used to support her.
With News Wire Services
