Gabby Petito's Parents ‘Forgive' Her Killer Brian Laundrie After Her Body Was Found 3 Weeks After She Disappeared
The tragic murder of Gabby Petito by her fiancé Brian Laundrie is the focus of Netflix's American Murder: Gabby Petito, a three-part documentary that looks not just to provide answers about what happened, but to give the public a better idea of who Gabby Petito was, her relationship with Brian Laundrie. The documentary also examines the events that led to her tragic death, and what happened afterward.
Featuring real text messages, video footage, and personal journals from Petito, as well as never-seen-before interviews with members of her family, including her parents Nichole and Joseph, and her stepparents, the documentary doesn't provide much in the way of new information, but it does provide context on what happened between Petito and Laundrie.
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With American Murder: Gabby Petito now out, there's been a renewed interest in the case and in what exactly happened to the 'van life' vlogger. But how exactly did Petito die? How and where did they find Gabby Petito's body? Here's everything we know.
Gabby Petito was first reported missing on September 11, 2021, after she failed to contact her parents for weeks. Nichole Schmidt and Joe Petito had previously tried to contact Brian Laundrie's parents, Roberta and Christopher, but their messages went unanswered. That day, when the police arrived at the Laundrie's home, they were informed that Brian Laundrie was indeed back, but his parents refused to answer any other questions and redirected the police to their attorney.
A few days later, police arrived at Laundrie's house only to be informed he had been missing for days after heading out on a hike in the nearby Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. This all happened before Gabby Petito's death was confirmed and Laundrie was named a person of interest in the investigation.
Just eight days after being reported missing and three weeks after the last confirmed sighting of Petito, on surveillance footage walking with Brian Laundrie through a Whole Foods in Jackson, Wyoming, her body was found at the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping area in Wyoming after thousands of tips are received, one which mentioned a Ford Transit Connect van—like the one Petito and Laundrie were in. The area where her body was discovered is near the border of Grand Teton National Park.
Her death was ruled a homicide, with the cause of death confirmed to be strangulation and blunt-force injuries to the head and neck. By the time her body was found, Petito had been dead for approximately three weeks. Her family was immediately notified.
Just a few days later, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Brian Laundrie. However, almost a month later, Laundrie's remains were found. Police determined he died by suicide from a gunshot wound.
Alongside his remains, police found a notebook that contained a confession letter. In it, Laundrie claimed the killing was 'merciful,' and the result of Gabby suffering a head injury in a fall. 'Please do not make life harder for my family,' Brian Laundrie wrote. 'They lost a son and a daughter. The most wonderful girl in the world. Gabby I'm sorry.'
Nichole Schidmt, Gabby Petito's mother, said at CrimeCon 2024, 'I speak for myself here when I say Brian, I forgive you.' She, however, wasn't feeling so charitable about his parents, particularly his mother Roberta. 'As for you, Roberta — and I call you out individually because you are evidently the mastermind that shattered your family and mind with your evil ways — I see no empathy in your eyes, no remorse in your heart, and no willingness to take responsibility for your actions,' she said, adding, 'You do not deserve forgiveness. You deserve to be forgotten and dehumanized. You epitomize pure evil.'
In 2022, Gabby Petito's parents filed a lawsuit against Brian Laundrie's parents, accusing them of helping their son cover up Gabby's murder and trying to help him flee the country. That lawsuit has since been settled. There are no public details available about the settlement.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233) for confidential support.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, help is available. Call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free and confidential counseling.
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