‘People are drawn to it’: how the Gabby Petito case fascinated internet sleuths

As the case unfolded on social media, people have pored over the wealth of online video and photos for clues

The disappearance and death of Gabby Petito and the police hunt for her boyfriend have generated a whirlwind online, with a multitude of armchair detectives and others sharing tips, possible sightings and theories by way of TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

Whether the frenzy of attention and internet sleuthing has helped the investigation is not clear, but it has illuminated the intersection between social media and the public's fascination with true-crime stories.