
Brian Laundrie's parents faced protests amid search for Gabby Petito. Were they charged?
Brian Laundrie's parents faced protests amid search for Gabby Petito. Were they charged?
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Gabby Petito's parents reach settlement
The parents of Gabby Petito have reached a settlement in a civil lawsuit against Brian Laundrie's parents and their attorney, Steve Bertolino.
Fox - 10 Phoenix
A new docuseries on the investigation into the 2021 killing of Gabby Petito has brought a fresh wave of attention on the parents of her alleged killer and their controversial actions amid the search for Petito.
The docuseries, "American Murder: Gabby Petito," showed Christopher and Roberta Laundrie stonewaling investigators and Petito's family amid a high-profile search for the 22-year-old who went missing while on a cross-country roadtrip with Brian Laundrie.
Petito was reported missing after Laundrie returned, without Petito, to his Florida home, where he was living with his parents. As the search for Petito gained national attention, the Laundries mostly ignored relentless protesters assembled outside their house amid constant surveillance from law enforcement.
"Speak up!" demanded one protest sign seen at their North Port, Florida, home.
The documentary showed evidence that Laundries retained a lawyer before the search for Petito began and refused to cooperate with police as they started to investigate Petito's disappearance.
Though speculation over the extent of their involvement was rampant, the Laundries were never charged with a crime. (Petito's parents filed suit against the Laundries for emotional distress and settled last year out of court.)
Legal experts in Florida consulted by USA TODAY were unsurprised by the lack of charges.
The Laundrie parents were not legally obligated to speak to authorities or to Petito's family even if they did know something, said University of Miami law professor Craig Trocino, who also directs the school's Innocence Clinic.
"There are a lot of facts that don't look good," he said. "It's a bad case. It's horrible any way you dice it... but the law is the law."
The documentary also depicts the events leading to Brian Laundrie's death.
While authorities searched the country for Petito, Brian Laundrie also went missing. Petito's body was found near a Wyoming campground on Sept. 19, 2021, and investigators said she had been strangled.
The documentary shows a massive, weekslong search for Laundrie that only ended with the discovery of his body when his parents joined the search. Authorities believe Laundrie died by suicide.
The Laundries' attorney, Steven Bertolino, issued a statement to USA TODAY that was critical of the documentary, saying it "contained many inaccuracies, incorrect juxtapositions of timelines, and misstatements and omissions of fact - perhaps deliberate to capture their 'truth,' perhaps due to simple error.
The statement continues: "We all know Brian took Gabby's life and Brian then took his own as well. Let the parents of both Gabby and Brian mourn and remember them in peace."
The right to remain silent
Any person generally has the right to remain silent when speaking with police, which can lead to some moral quandaries, experts said.
"If I'm walking down the street and I see you shoot somebody, morally, I'm compelled to call the police and say, 'I just saw this.' Legally, I don't believe you have any obligations to do that," Trocino said. "Especially if it puts you in the crosshairs, if it implicates you."
In the Laundries' case, it's also unclear what the parents knew about Gabby Petito's death, said Randolph Braccialarghe, a law professor at the Nova Southeastern University College of Law, in an email.
"The difficulty with charging the parents was that the police did not know what Brian Laundrie had told his parents," Braccialarghe wrote.
(The issue came up in a deposition for the civil suit, where the Laundries said they weren't sure that Petito was dead when a panicked Brian contacted them on Aug. 29 and asked them to call a lawyer.)
But questions of "who knew what, when?" aren't the most important legal consideration, according to Trocino, who said the parents would have been within their rights to withhold information from police and direct questions to their lawyer.
That's exactly what footage in the documentary shows, when Florida officers starting their investigation asked to speak with Brian.
"He's not going to talk to anybody," Christopher Laundrie told Florida officers. "Goodbye for now. You can call our attorney."
Law enforcement may have considered charges like being an accessory to the crimes their son allegedly committed, Trocino said. But those charges would have required evidence they had helped him evade capture while knowing he had killed Petito.
What about the 'burn after reading' letter?
The docuseries also highlighted a letter Roberta Laundrie acknowledged she wrote to her son, contained in an envelope that said "burn after reading."
"If you're in jail, I will bake a cake with a file in it. If you need to dispose of a body, I will show up with a shovel and garbage bags," she wrote in the letter that was undated.
See the letter: Brian Laundrie's mom wrote him letter saying she would help 'dispose of a body'
Roberta Laundrie said in statements through a lawyer she wrote the letter months before Petito's death, but Petito's family argued in court documents in their civil suit that it was evidence the Laundrie parents knew about their daughter's death.
"It is really bad. That's kind of a messed up thing for a mother to write to a son, even jokingly. But is it criminal?" Not by itself, Trocino said.
What happened to Gabby Petito?
Petito and Brian Laundrie, 22 and 23 at the time, were an engaged couple who set out on a cross-country road trip in a van in July of 2021. Petito's friends and family said in the documentary that she wanted to build a large following on social media by making "van life" videos, and her footage and posts to social media depict a blissful couple in love and on the adventure of their lives.
But the next month, a passerby called 911 to report a domestic dispute between them: "the gentleman was slapping the girl," the caller said. Police in Moab, Utah, responded and separated the couple for the night, and believing that Petito was the aggressor, found Brian Laundrie a place to stay.
Brian Laundrie returned home to North Port, Florida, with the van but without Petito in early September. After she didn't respond to her parents' texts or calls for days, they reported her missing in their home state of New York.
After he and his parents refused to speak to law enforcement, Brian Laundrie soon vanished as well, telling his family he was going hiking in a vast reserve near the home on Sept. 13, slipping out of the house undetected by law enforcement keeping watch. His parents reported him missing on Sept. 17.
By the time Petito's body was found in Wyoming on Sept. 19, 2021, the search for Laundrie as the prime suspect turned into a massive manhunt that lasted weeks before his body was also found on Oct. 20.
Authorities found a journal with his belongings in which they said he confessed to killing Petito.
Contributing: Grace Pateras Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Border Patrol agents' government vehicle pelted with rocks
Border Patrol agents attempting to leave an anti-ICE protest in Paramount, California, on Saturday had their vehicle pelted with rocks, stones and concrete while driving. (Exclusive to FOX provided via Federal Source)


USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Macklemore's home robbed with children inside, nanny doused with bear spray, police say
Macklemore's home robbed with children inside, nanny doused with bear spray, police say Show Caption Hide Caption Macklemore responds to backlash, calls for unity Macklemore responds to condemnation and being dropped from festivals after denouncing America at a Seattle Palestinian festival Fox - Seattle Macklemore's home in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle was the site of a home invasion as his nanny was maced with bear spray and his three children were present, according to law enforcement. A police report from June 7 shared with USA TODAY said shortly before 1 a.m., a nanny for three kids was sprayed with bear mace before leading two suspects to a master bedroom where they rummaged through drawers, cabinets, and "raided" a closet full of clothing, jewelry and shoes. The mostly redacted police report features the unredacted last name Davis, the legal name of Macklemore's wife, Tricia Davis, and refers to a homeowner as a "high-profile individual." Macklemore and Davis share three children: Sloane, Colette and Hugo. Macklemore clarifies remark made at pro-Palestine concert in Seattle: 'Sometimes I slip up' The report does not state if Macklemore, whose legal name is Benjamin Haggerty, was home at the time. The police report also said the nanny "believed the crime may have been politically motivated for some reason." In recent months, Macklemore has made headlines for pro-Palestine posts and was removed from a Las Vegas festival performance lineup for the inaugural Neon City Festival in Las Vegas after he referred to America with an expletive during the 'Palestine Will Live Forever' event in his hometown of Seattle. Contributing: Jonathan Limehouse

USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Kilmar Abrego Garcia charged with migrant smuggling after return from El Salvador
Kilmar Abrego Garcia charged with migrant smuggling after return from El Salvador On Saturday's episode of The Excerpt podcast: Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been returned to the U.S. He now faces human trafficking charges. USA TODAY White House Correspondent Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy discusses some of the concerns from LGBTQ+ advocates this Pride Month over Trump administration actions. The Supreme Court blocks the disclosure of DOGE operations. Plus, the court lets DOGE access Social Security data. USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers talks about new Trump executive orders centered on flying cars and high speed air travel. Nonalcoholic beer is on track to become the world's second-largest beer category. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@ Hit play on the player below to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript beneath it. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text. Podcasts: True crime, in-depth interviews and more USA TODAY podcasts right here Taylor Wilson: Good morning. I'm Taylor Wilson, and today is Saturday, June 7th, 2025. This is The Excerpt. Today the latest on Kilmar Abrego Garcia's return to the country and the charges he faces. Plus, how advocates call out the Trump administration over some of its moves ahead of Pride Month, and new executive orders have to do with the future of flying cars. ♦ Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been returned to the US. The man mistakenly deported from Maryland to El Salvador by the Trump administration will now face criminal charges of transporting illegal immigrants within the US. Pam Bondi: The grand jury found that over the past nine years, Abrego Garcia has played a significant role in an alien smuggling ring. Taylor Wilson: That's Attorney General Pam Bondi. If convicted, Abrego Garcia would be deported to El Salvador after serving his sentence, according to Bondi. The Trump administration has said Abrego Garcia was a member of the MS-13 gang, which his lawyers deny. Trump said the Justice Department made a decision "to bring him back, show everybody how horrible this guy is." Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said on social media he sent Abrego Garcia to the US at the Trump administration's request. His explanation came after the administration spent weeks telling judges it could not compel Abrego Garcia's return. His attorney, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, said the government disappeared Kilmar to a foreign prison in violation of a court order. He said that now, after months of delay and secrecy, they're bringing him back not to correct their error but to prosecute him. You can read more with the link in today's show notes. ♦ With Pride Month in full swing, LGBTQ+ advocates see some of President Trump's actions as bullying. I spoke with USA TODAY White House correspondent Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy for more. Swapna, always a pleasure having you stop by. How are you today? Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy: Very good. Thank you, Taylor, for having me. Taylor Wilson: This is Pride Month, but the Education Department has billed it Title IX Month. Why are advocates upset about this? Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy: So on his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to recognize only two genders: male and female. So earlier this month, the education department announced that it was recognizing June as a Title IX month to mark the 53rd anniversary of it becoming a law. Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any educational setting that receives federal funding. So now the Biden administration rule, which extended existing protections on the basis of sex to include gender identity, is seen as failing to protect women, which they say was the true purpose of Title IX. Taylor Wilson: Advocates are concerned about a number of other Trump actions during Pride Month. Let's talk about this move to take away Harvey Milk's name from a Navy ship. Just remind us, Swapna, who Harvey Milk was and how the administration is handling this. Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy: So Harvey Milk was one of the first openly gay elected officials in the US, having won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. He was a civil rights activist and also a Navy veteran who was pushed out of the Navy in the mid-1950s due to his sexual orientation. So earlier this month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed the US Navy to rename an oil tanker that was named after him. A Pentagon spokesperson told USA TODAY that Hegseth just wants all the names on Department of Defense assets to reflect the president's priorities. Taylor Wilson: We know gender-affirming care has been in and out of the news for years. What is the FBI doing as it pertains to looking for tipsters on this front? Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy: So earlier this month, the FBI posted on X asking people for tips on providers who offer gender-affirming care to minors. They asked for tips on hospitals, clinics, practitioners performing these surgical procedures on children. This, of course, reflects Trump's January executive order, which directs federal agencies to take action against hospitals that continue to provide such care, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy. And so, the executive order, in fact, characterized this kind of gender-affirming care as chemical and surgical mutilation. Taylor Wilson: Is Trump an outlier with his approach here, Swapna? How does he compare historically on Pride issues? Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy: So the federal government first honored Pride Month on the 30th anniversary of Stonewall in 1999. This was under President Bill Clinton. And so, following that, the next two Democratic administrations, which included President Barack Obama and President Biden, they continue doing this, recognizing June as Pride Month. But when you look at the Republican administrations of Presidents George W. Bush or the first term of President Trump, they did not recognize June as Pride Month. So it's basically been along party line so far. Taylor Wilson: All right. Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy covers the White House for USA TODAY. Thanks, Swapna. Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy: Thank you, Taylor. ♦ Taylor Wilson: The Department of Government Efficiency does not have to turn over records and answer questions about its operations for now. That's what the Supreme Court said yesterday, intervening in a dispute between the Trump administration and a watchdog group over DOGE's role in slashing federal jobs and remaking the federal government. In a brief unsigned order, the majority said separation of powers concerns council, judicial deference, and restraint when directing the executive branch to hand over internal communications. ♦ President Trump's newest executive orders aim to speed the development of new-age technology, including high-speed flights and flying cars. My colleague Dana Taylor spoke with USA TODAY White House correspondent Francesca Chambers to learn more. Dana Taylor: Francesca, thanks for hopping on. Francesca Chambers: Thanks so much for having me. Dana Taylor: As part of President Trump's move here, he directed the FAA to allow manufacturers to begin testing flying cars. Let's start with that headline-grabbing decision. Francesca Chambers: Yeah, so I wouldn't necessarily expect that you're going to be able to get a flying car anytime soon. They'll still be quite expensive. However, this is something that the administration says that they're doing to try and speed that up and accelerate that timeline. The administration's saying on a call with reporters that they're very concerned that the United States, that once it had been a leader in aviation, is falling behind. Dana Taylor: He also directed the FAA to tackle commercial operations that retailers like Amazon have said are crucial to scaling drone deliveries and also for delivering medical supplies in hard to reach places. How else did he approach drones in this order? Francesca Chambers: In a series of executive orders that looked at those drone deliveries, as well as things like hypersonic flight, the president also established a task force that is set to review and propose solutions to threats to America's airspace from personal unmanned aircraft. He also asked his administration to step up enforcement of civil and criminal laws against drone operators. Now that could be drone operators who endanger the public or violate airspace restrictions. The administration said that this was coming in response to those drone sightings that took place over New Jersey, but also as it starts to look ahead to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics. Dana Taylor: Meanwhile, he removed regulatory barriers, his administration says, or preventing high-speed passenger flights from being introduced in the country. A generation after the last Concorde flights, could similar rapid air travel make a return? Francesca Chambers: This is one of the parts of the executive order that had been most anticipated, because the ability to have overland supersonic flights, which the administration now says are sustainable and commercially viable, but federal regulations had grounded prior to this, were weakening the United States companies' competitiveness. But it's also something that they say that average Americans should care about, because if this were to be further developed, Americans could fly from places like New York to Los Angeles in potentially under four hours. Dana Taylor: Another order deals with supersonic technology instructing the FAA to establish a standard for noise certification. What should listeners know here? Francesca Chambers: Well, this goes back to the supersonic flights. That is something that has been standing in the way, the administration and the industry says, to Americans being able to have these high-speed flights that would go across the United States. So it isn't just the fact that they were banned, it had to do with sound restrictions as well that the administration now says that it will be lifting. Dana Taylor: Francesca Chambers is a White House correspondent for USA TODAY. Thank you for joining me, Francesca. Francesca Chambers: Thanks so much. ♦ Taylor Wilson: Non-alcoholic beer is on track to become the world's second largest beer category. Beverage industry analysis firm IWSR found non-alcoholic beer volume jumped 9% last year, and it ranked number three by making up 2% of global volume, outranking wheat beers and stouts. The beer faces a big gap, though, below lagers, which is by far the largest beer category at 92% of global volume. Still, non-alcoholic beer sales have been on the upward trend since 2018, according to the analysis firm. Between 2019 and 2024, non-alcoholic beer volume in the US grew 175%, moving the country's ranking from the category sixth largest market to third largest. Experts pointed to waning alcohol sales and growing health concerns as major drivers. Former Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy in January released an advisory warning of the direct link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk. That same month, advertising and sales measurement technology firm NCSolutions released a survey that found 49% of Americans plan to drink less in 2025, up from 41% in 2024. You can take a closer look at some of this trend data and what folks around the industry are saying with a link in today's show notes. ♦ Coming up on Sunday, Jim Obergefell and partner John Author never thought of themselves as trailblazers or activists in the gay rights movement, but when their last-minute marriage in Maryland to declare their love before John's death wasn't recognized by their home state Ohio, their priorities changed. Jim Obergefell: So not something I ever thought would happen, but it's amazing what'll happen when you love someone enough, when you're willing to fight for what you know is right, and when you're angry. Taylor Wilson: Tune in for a moving conversation led by my colleague, national reporter Zach Wichter, with Jim Obergefell, the lead plaintiff on the Supreme Court case that paved the way for nationwide gay marriage. That's tomorrow beginning at 5:00 AM, Eastern Time, right here on this feed. ♦ Thanks for listening to The Excerpt. You can get the podcast wherever you get your audio. If you're on a smart speaker, just ask for The Excerpt. I'm Taylor Wilson. I'll be back Monday with more of The Excerpt from USA TODAY.