Murder charges in Gabby Petito’s death ‘are imminent,’ Florida state attorney says after strangulation autopsy

A FLORIDA state attorney thinks murder charges in Gabby Petito’s death are “imminent” after an autopsy revealed the vlogger was strangled to death.

Coroners in Wyoming revealed Tuesday that the YouTuber's cause of death was “manual strangulation”.

Moments after the autopsy results were revealed, Dave Aronberg, State Attorney for Palm Beach County, tweeted: “Gabby Petito’s death was previously ruled a homicide.

“Today we learned that the cause of death was strangulation. This most likely means that murder charges are imminent.”

The attorney told WPTV Tuesday: “We’re moving towards filing charges but prosecutors are in no rush to file charges because once you file those charges, you have speedy trial rules and you have to try the case within 180 days.

“Prosecutors are going to make sure they have enough evidence before they file charges.”

The Laundrie family attorney Steve Bertolino had no comment when approached by The Sun.

Coroners announced Gabby's cause of death weeks after a preliminary autopsy ruled the manner of death a homicide.

Teton County Coroner Dr Brent Blue added that the vlogger's predicted death was three to four weeks before her body was found.

The body was outside "in the wilderness" for this time.

Read our Gabby Petito live blog for the very latest news and updates...

In an interview with NewsNationNow, Blue said a body lying outside for a lengthy period of time is prone to decomposition.

He said: “In a situation where any body that is outside whether’s it’s exposed to the elements and insects and animals – there’s various forms of decomposition.

“Decomposition usually runs its various course.”

The doctor also confirmed that YouTuber was not pregnant at the time of her death.

He added that a toxicology report was unable to be released at this time.

Gabby’s family are heading to Wyoming so they can be “reunited” with their daughter, Fox News reports.

They plan to have her body cremated before returning to New York with her ashes, according to TMZ.

'TOUCHING TRIBUTE'

While in Wyoming, the family will also meet with law enforcement for an update on the case.

A mural in Gabby's hometown of Blue Point has been designed as a tribute to the vlogger.

It looks similar to a photograph Gabby shared on social media where she's standing in front of an angel with brightly colored wings.

The vlogger's dad Joe Petito shared the artwork on his Instagram page.

A high school friend was left "sick to her stomach" after the autopsy findings were disclosed.

Alyssa Chen, who went to school with the vlogger in Long Island, told PEOPLE: “It makes me sick to my stomach. I wonder what was going through her mind, knowing she was probably about to die. She must’ve been so scared.”

Residents in North Port, Florida have also expressed their sympathies to the vlogger's family.

'MY HEART SINKS'

Sandra Vaughn told WWSB: “My heart just sunk into my stomach, very upsetting.

“Gabby’s parents, I am so so sorry, my heart really breaks for you.”

Laundrie and Gabby were weeks into a planned four-month cross-country road trip touring America's midwest before she vanished.

He quietly returned home to Florida without his fiancée on September 1.

Gabby was eventually reported missing by her family on September 11 and her remains were found by cops in a Wyoming national park a week later.

Days later, Laundrie vanished after allegedly telling his parents he was going hiking at Carlton Reserve. The fugitive was reported missing on September 17.

A four-week search for the fugitive has so far yielded no leads beyond speculation and a handful of potential sightings.

There have been alleged sightings in parts of Florida, Montana, along the Appalachian Trail.

Internet sleuths claim they have spotted the fugitive in Canada and Mexico, but most potential leads have led to dead ends.