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Gabby Petito: Coroner says body’s remains are of YouTuber as police hunt swamp for boyfriend Brian Laundrie

 (AP)
(AP)

A coroner has confirmed that the human remains found by police in a national park are of travel influencer Gabby Petito as police intensify the search in the Florida swamps where her boyfriend is believed to be hiding out.

Ms Petito, 22, disappeared months after she set out on a cross-country road trip to visit national parks with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie, 23.

Coroner Brent Blue determined Petito was a killed by another person, but did not disclose a cause of death pending final autopsy results.

Her body was found Sunday near an undeveloped camping area in remote northern Wyoming along the border of Grand Teton National Park.

Meanwhile, authorities continued to search a swampy Florida preserve area near the home of Ms Petito’s boyfriend.

Police in North Port, Florida, said investigators returned on Tuesday to the Carlton Reserve to look for Brian Laundrie, 23. Nothing of note was found, and the search was expected to continue on Wednesday.

Investigators began searching the 24,000-acre (9,700-hectare) Florida nature preserve over the weekend, focusing on the area after Mr Laundrie’s parents told police he may have gone there.

Handout photo of Gabrielle Petito and Brian Laundrie (via REUTERS)
Handout photo of Gabrielle Petito and Brian Laundrie (via REUTERS)

Authorities are using helicopters, drones, dogs and officers in all-terrain vehicles in their search for Laundrie. About 75 per cent of the search area is underwater.

On Monday, the FBI went to Mr Laundrie’s parents’ home in North Port and removed several boxes. They also towed away a car neighbours said Mr Laundrie’s mother typically used.

The family claimed he went on a hike and did not return.

Members of the media camped out near the home of Brian Laundrie (Getty Images)
Members of the media camped out near the home of Brian Laundrie (Getty Images)

The young couple had set out in July in a converted van to visit national parks in the West.

They got into a fight along the way and police released body camera footage captured on 12 August of an argument between the couple in a bid to track down Ms Petito.

The video shows her being pulled over during a cross-country journey in a converted camper van driven by Mr Laundrie, after it was seen speeding and hit a curb near the entrance to Arches National Park, Utah.

In the video Mr Laundrie can be seen lying to officers claiming “to not really having a phone” before then pulling it out to give them his number.

Mr Laundrie was alone when he returned in the van to his parents’ home September 1, police said.

He has been named a person of interest in the case, but his whereabouts in recent days were unknown.

Ms Petito’s father, Joseph, posted on social media an image of a broken heart above a picture of his daughter, with the message: “She touched the world.”

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