City of Moab to launch investigation into police handling of Gabby Petito case

Moab, Utah is launching an investigation into police handling of the Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie case that garnered attention nationwide. According to Fox News, an outside party filed the request with the department to conduct research.

"With the weeks-long search for Ms. Petito across the western U.S., news that a call to Grand County Dispatch on August 12 reported a possible domestic dispute between Ms. Petito and Brian Laundrie here in Moab has naturally led to questions from the media and the public about the call," the city of Moab said Thursday in a statement.

"During the past week, our police officers have been both praised and criticized for their response and their resolution of the incident involving Ms. Petito and Mr. Laundrie."

"At this time, the City of Moab is unaware of any breach of Police Department policy during this incident," the statement continued. "However, the City will conduct a formal investigation and, based on the results, will take any next steps that may be appropriate."

The city statement continued, "we understand that individuals can view the same situation in very different ways, and we recognize how the death of Ms. Petito more than two weeks later in Wyoming might lead to speculation, in hindsight, about actions taken. During the incident in Moab."

Petito's body was found in Wyoming on Sunday. In a release tweeted Tuesday, FBI Denver said the coroner ruled the manner of death to be homicide. A cause of death will be issued pending final autopsy results.

Attorneys for the Petito family previously released a statement claiming Laundrie was not "missing."

"All of Gabby's family want the world to know that Brian is not missing, he is hiding. Gabby is missing," read the statement from the law firm of Richard B. Stafford.

Petito's family pled for the Laundrie family to ask their son where he last saw her. Petito and Laundrie were childhood sweethearts who met while growing up on Long Island, New York. His parents later moved to North Port, about 35 miles south of Sarasota.

Her family filed a missing persons report September 11.

Laundrie, who is a person of interest, remains missing and is suspected to be in hiding. His North Port Florida residence was raided by the FBI Monday, while a search is active and ongoing.