Gabby Petito's Parents Sue Brian Laundrie's Parents For Helping Son Flee Authorities
By Afouda Bamidele on March 12, 2022 at 4:00 PM EST
Gabby Petito's parents aren't giving up on getting justice for their beloved daughter whose life was cut short by her boyfriend Brian Laundrie.
Per reports, the aggrieved parents have filed a new lawsuit against Laundrie's parents for their indirect involvement in their daughter's death.
Gabby Petito's Parents File Lawsuit Against Brian Laundrie's Parents
Per TMZ, Gabby’s parents, Joseph Petito and Nicole Schmidt filed a lawsuit yesterday at a Florida court suing Chris and Roberta Laundrie for knowing more about their daughter’s death than they let on.
As you might know, the 22-year-old began making headlines in August when she had gone missing during a country trip with her then-boyfriend, Brian.
A nationwide search began for Gabby, with news surfacing that Brian had abandoned her on the trip and returned home to his parents without informing anyone about her safety or whereabouts.
By September, the unimaginable happened as Gabby’s body was found in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. Brian, who was nowhere to be found throughout the search, was later discovered dead in October due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Given the circumstances of their daughter’s death, Joseph and Nicole believe Chris and Roberta colluded with their son to hide Gabby's murder.
In the lawsuit, the Petitos claim that late Brian had confided in his parents that he killed their daughter and they helped him flee the state before authorities could apprehend him.
They alleged that on August 28, the day after it was believed Gabby died, Brian immediately told his parents about the situation, and on that same day they hired a lawyer for him.
It is believed and therefore averred that … Brian Laundrie advised his parents, Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie, that he had murdered Gabrielle Petito. On that same date, Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie spoke with Attorney Steve Bertolino, and sent him a retainer on Sept. 2, 2021.
Joseph and Nicole also claim in the lawsuit that the Laundries kept information about their son’s whereabouts a secret, not cooperating with the authorities.
The lawsuit speaks to the Petitos’ belief that after their daughter passed, Brian kept using her phone to send text messages in a bid to make it seem like she was alive.
In fact, in one of the texts sent by Brian, he referred to Gabby’s grandfather by his real name, something the late young woman would never do, therefore sparking suspicions.
Laundrie’s Parents Blocked The Petitos On Social Media
According to the heartbroken parents, everything was good between both families wrote Gabby’s disappearance.
However, as soon as news broke that she was missing, Brian’s mom Roberta reportedly blocked Gabby’s mom's cellphone and on Facebook.
Joseph and Nicole say they have suffered emotional distress and are seeking at least $100,000 in damages for the anguish caused by the Laundrie family.
"Christopher and Roberta Laundrie exhibited extreme and outrageous conduct which constitutes behavior, under the circumstances, which goes beyond all possible bounds of decency and is regarded as shocking, atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community," the lawsuit reads.
Brian Wrote About Gabby’s Murder In Notebook
The new lawsuit comes a month after the FBI ended the investigation into Gabby’s murder and declared Brian responsible for her death.
As The Blast reported, the notebook discovered by the FBI contained confessions from Brian shortly before he took his own life that he killed his fiancée.
The details of the killing weren't shared by the authorities, but the late murderer also confessed to sending text messages between his and Gabby's phones to make authorities think she was still alive.
Michael Schneider, the Agent in Charge of FBI Denver Division Special, released a statement concluding the investigation that read, "All logical investigative steps have been concluded in this case. The investigation did not identify any other individuals other than Brian Laundrie directly involved in the tragic death of Gabby Petito. The FBI’s primary focus throughout the investigation was to bring justice to Gabby and her family."
The late Gabby died of homicidal strangulation with new details in the Petitos' lawsuit adding that she suffered blunt force injuries to both her head and neck
